5/6 Dusty Baker's Nats (The Rural Scherzer) @ Cubs (Lackey) 1:20 CDT CSN/MLBN

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs juggernaut continues today behind a couple of starting pitchers who both look like they should be rocking this as their theme song:

 

 

Speaking of dirty white boys:

 

 

Let's go Cubs.

 

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ba7f83_2ea3d3ea5b3a4df2817646990cd281a7.gif

[Omar]

Nats v. Lackey

Name             PA AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Jayson Werth     16 14  7  4  0  1   3  1  4 .500 .500 1.000 1.500  0  1   0   0         0
Stephen Drew      6  6  2  0  0  0   0  0  0 .333 .333  .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Bryce Harper      6  4  0  0  0  0   0  2  1 .000 .333  .000  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Jose Lobaton      6  5  1  0  0  0   0  1  2 .200 .333  .200  .533  0  0   0   0         0
Daniel Murphy     6  6  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .167 .167  .167  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Ryan Zimmerman    6  6  4  1  0  0   2  0  1 .667 .667  .833 1.500  0  0   0   0         0
Danny Espinosa    3  3  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Chris Heisey      3  2  0  0  0  0   0  1  0 .000 .333  .000  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Wilson Ramos      3  3  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Anthony Rendon    3  2  0  0  0  0   0  1  1 .000 .333  .000  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Michael Taylor    3  3  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Gio Gonzalez      2  2  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total            63 56 15  5  0  1   5  6 12 .268 .333  .411  .744  0  1   0   0         0
Has not faced: Matt den Dekker and Clint Robinson & Has not faced pitchers: Shawn Kelley, Jonathan Papelbon, Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit, Felipe Rivero, Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, Max Scherzer, Sammy Solis, Stephen Strasburg and Blake Treinen

 

Cubs v. Scherzer

Name              PA AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Ben Zobrist       24 20  3  0  0  1   2  3  2 .150 .292 .300  .592  0  0   0   1         0
Dexter Fowler     16 16  4  1  0  0   3  0  7 .250 .250 .313  .563  0  0   0   0         0
David Ross        12 11  3  2  0  0   0  0  4 .273 .333 .455  .788  0  0   0   1         0
Jason Heyward      6  6  3  0  0  0   0  0  0 .500 .500 .500 1.000  0  0   0   0         1
Kris Bryant        3  2  0  0  0  0   0  1  1 .000 .333 .000  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Tim Federowicz     3  3  1  1  0  0   0  0  2 .333 .333 .667 1.000  0  0   0   0         0
Anthony Rizzo      3  3  1  0  0  0   0  0  1 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Addison Russell    3  3  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Jason Hammel       2  2  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Ryan Kalish        2  2  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .500 .500 .500 1.000  0  0   0   0         1
Jon Lester         2  2  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total             76 70 17  4  0  1   5  4 22 .243 .303 .343  .645  0  0   0   2         2
Has not faced: Javier Baez, Tommy La Stella and Jorge Soler & Has not faced pitchers: Jake Arrieta, Trevor Cahill, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, Neil Ramirez, Clayton Richard, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Adam Warren and Travis Wood

[fallacy]

Will tomorrow be the day we stop hating Lackey?

 

 

No, it won't.

[The_Achiever]

This team brings me much joy, let's sweep these chumpletons.

[halplm]

Speaking of dirty white boys:

 

 

That has to be one of the greatest gifs ever created involving baseball.

[Sammy Sofa]

Speaking of dirty white boys:

 

 

That has to be one of the greatest gifs ever created involving baseball.

 

He really does look like a blind person jumping when someone told him too.

[bukie]

With last night's win, the Cubs improved to 5-4 in games decided by 3 runs or fewer.

[Banedon]

The Nationals fans are nearly upset enough about that loss last night. Reading through the SBNation game thread...it was mild disappointment at best. Did not satisfy. Need more crushing of dreams.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Nationals fans are nearly upset enough about that loss last night. Reading through the SBNation game thread...it was mild disappointment at best. Did not satisfy. Need more crushing of dreams.

 

They get theirs in the NLCS.

[JonJayCutler]

I really enjoy the inferiority complex thread, aka the other games thread over at GRB.

[Banedon]

“We’ve been as hot as they have,” Werth said. “We’ll see when the series is over. We’ll have a better feel for it. But right now, it’s just game one of a four-game series.“

 

It's just one quote, but it definitely seems like the Nats are putting some stock into this series.

[Brian707]

I really enjoy the inferiority complex thread, aka the other games thread over at GRB.

 

 

Also reading White Sox Interactive is fun. Before the Pittsburgh series, the Cubs didn't play anybody good, then it was that Pittsburgh isn't going to be good this year. I wonder what they will say after this series if the Cubs were to take 3 of 4 or all 4.

[UMFan83]

“We’ve been as hot as they have,” Werth said. “We’ll see when the series is over. We’ll have a better feel for it. But right now, it’s just game one of a four-game series.“

 

It's just one quote, but it definitely seems like the Nats are putting some stock into this series.

 

Dusty tried to downplay the series in the media but you know he's getting his guys pumped up with some of his best fishing stories.

[jersey cubs fan]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Banedon]

Yay Baez! I like giving Russell a day.

[UMFan83]

He hasn't earned PT and I'm pretty frustrated with him and I love what Javy's been doing, but its a bit sad that Soler has lost the majority of his PT. Maybe they should just send him down for a few weeks and let him get his confidence back in Iowa. I know that we are short handed in the OF right now but if Soler isn't hitting, he really doesn't provide much value with his glove or his baserunning, so there's really no point in keeping him up here.

 

A demotion isn't the end of the world. He just turned 24 and didn't have much minor league time to begin with. Despite all the struggles, I believe he still has the potential needed to be a star, but he's not going to get there sitting on the Cubs bench, nor is he going to increase his trade value there.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Rural Scherzer. I'll never think of him the same from this day forward.

[jersey cubs fan]

He hasn't earned PT and I'm pretty frustrated with him and I love what Javy's been doing, but its a bit sad that Soler has lost the majority of his PT. Maybe they should just send him down for a few weeks and let him get his confidence back in Iowa. I know that we are short handed in the OF right now but if Soler isn't hitting, he really doesn't provide much value with his glove or his baserunning, so there's really no point in keeping him up here.

 

A demotion isn't the end of the world. He just turned 24 and didn't have much minor league time to begin with. Despite all the struggles, I believe he still has the potential needed to be a star, but he's not going to get there sitting on the Cubs bench, nor is he going to increase his trade value there.

You know they are short handed in the OF right now, so you know one very big reason why he should not go to Iowa right now.

[UMFan83]

To finish .500 - 60-75

To win 90 - 69-66

To win 97 - 76-59

To win 100 - 79-56

To win 117 - 96-39

 

If the Cubs.... (round up for odd number of games left)

 

Play .450 the rest of the year (73 win pace): 82-80

Play .500 the rest of the year (81 win pace): 89-73

Play .550 the rest of the year (89 win pace): 95-67

Play .600 the rest of the year (97 win pace): 102-60

Play .617 the rest of the year (100 win pace): 104-58

Play .778 the rest of the year (current pace): 126-36

Edited May 6, 2016 by UMFan83

[BigSlick]

That's probably the best offensive lineup you can put together with the roster right now, so this'll be fun.

[abuck1220]

hadn't really given it much thought, but is there any reason baez shouldn't start over russell on a more consistent basis?

[UMFan83]

[rocket]

[bbvideo=560,315]

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[UMFan83]

hadn't really given it much thought, but is there any reason baez shouldn't start over russell on a more consistent basis?

 

Does it matter? With Bryant and Zobrist both with the ability to play OF and Soler not hitting, you can start them both every day if you wanted to.

 

FWIW, I think Russell still has more offensive upside than Baez and is on par or better as a defender.

[jersey cubs fan]

hadn't really given it much thought, but is there any reason baez shouldn't start over russell on a more consistent basis?

I think the whole wear down the opposing pitcher with patience thing has been working quite well and by all accounts Russell is a more patient hitter than Baez and also an excellent defender. There is plenty of opportunity for Baez to see action while Maddon protects him from himself.