Huge series victory to keep the momentum rolling into an off day Thursday and 3-game divisional set with the Reds this weekend. I know the Marlins aren’t as good but that doesn’t mean we need it any less. That’s a huge game and we’ve officially got momentum back after dropping 3 straight two weeks ago.
Now we’re rolling.
Now we’re 6-3 over the last 9 with some fire in our bellies to see Tito Francona’s Reds for the first time this season.
Here’s what I loved most:
Cade Horton looked awesome in his first true road start. And kinda funky too with it being his first true road trip knowing that he’s starting game 3 the whole time. That’s a lot of downtime watching the opposing team and time in your head about how to prepare and pitch. And to see it followed with 5.1 innings of 1ER with 16 whiffs is nothing short of sensational. He looked athletic and sharp and crisp and all that stuff.
Nice thing too is he doesn’t overthrow. There’s nothing about Cade Horton where he doesn’t seem in control. At no point did I think to myself He looks like a young asshole. Now compare that to Ben Brown and there simply is no comparison in that regard.
Meanwhile Kyle Tucker hit his 12th homer of the season
And he could be a 40-40 guy while posting a top 10 OPS and top 10 b/fWAR alongside a 160-something wRC+
Is that good enough for people? Because there was a lot of bitching about him on Monday and then he went 6-9 with two dingers and a bunch of runs and RBI’s. Almost like he’s a really good player capable of doing really good things?
I guess I’m curious when baseball fans become smart enough to realize that REALLY GOOD is a 70% failure rate. It’s still an impossible sport where the good and great can be separated by 7 home runs in a given season.
You would think such margins bring about a better mindset with the elite players but that’s just not the reality. If anything it makes people more upset which is the exact opposite vibe we want to send with our contract offer this winter.
Or maybe we don’t deserve him if so many people are going to complain?
I think, without hesitation or reservation, the stupidest thing any Cubs fan can do is complain about Kyle Tucker under quite literally any set of circumstances you want to cook up. There’s never a reason. Shut up because he’s awesome.
So is Matt Shaw right?
Shut up.
He can’t know that he’s the key to our season and I don’t want to congratulate him for a remarkable first series back in the big leagues. It’s much easier to make him feel unwanted and thus get him to continue to be intense and focused every single game. That’s the plan.
But if we’re being honest with ourselves, the lineup is so much better with him in it hitting 9th to the point that I’m nearing an expectation to be a top 2 seed in the playoffs this season.
Just don’t tell Matt Shaw.
Also nice: scoreless bullpen performance
Even if Palencia is laying cupcakes down broadway in the 9th – it sure beats walks and meatball cement mixers with 2 strikes.
Even if Caleb Thielbar is walking leadoff hitters and Brad Keller is emerging as our primary shutdown arm. Even if that’s kinda akward we just have to ride with the momentum and that’s been a solid collective bullpen effort the last week or so. Which is nice because we don’t have a closer. We just don’t have one.
In other news:
- We’re going to Cincinnati and they’ve got about a +40 run differential despite a .500 record so they’re underperforming is what I mean
- I think we can hang at least 10 runs in one of these 3 games because we always rake in GABP in May
- Matt Busch is arguably the most underrated impact corner infielder in baseball and I’m afraid it could be years before we even realize it
- People don’t like Ian Happ in the leadoff spot right now but I think he’s your 2nd best option for tough at-bats against elite pitching. Kyle Tucker is your #1 option which means he hits 2nd. I think Happ has the best experience, discipline and approach and that’s why I trust him most to set the table for 2-3-4
- I like PCA being apart of the 2-3-4 but maybe not right now? It’s hard to figure out where he should be every day. It’s tempting to say leadoff but not if he’s a .540 slug. Only thing is I just don’t know if he’s a .540 slug or hitting like that to start the year. I think Counsell doesn’t know either and that’s why you’re seeing him in so many different positions on a day-to-day basis
- I’m in love with this team and am at the point where it bothers me they’re off tomorrow. That’s the most rewarding feeling as a baseball fan. Late May and I’m cranky we don’t have a game on Thursday.
We’re so lucky to feel this way.
Go Cubs.