6/17 Pirates (Liriano) @ Cubs (Arrieta) 1:20PM CDT ABC7, MLBN

[Clem Fandango]

Didn't realize it was my turn to do the game threads again. That can only mean one thing: The Cubs have lost too many games recently. None of us should have records under .500 as game thread starters. I am currently 1-1. I have the utmost confidence in not having a losing record because of the following:

 

http://i.imgur.com/qoiqEb9.jpg?1

 

People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive pitches today. Also, he happens to be really good at throwing baseballs and is going for his 11th win of the season. Should he get it (come on), he'll be the first in the National League to reach that mark.

 

He'll be going up against this guy:

 

http://i.imgur.com/6KYlANV.jpg?1

 

Francisco Liriano, usually, is also good at throwing baseballs, but not this year. He has a 4.92 ERA and has walked a STAGGERING 41 batters in 67.2 innings this season, a league leader! As it just so happens, the Cubs are really good at drawing walks, so... you do the math.

 

Awesome pitcher vs. bad pitcher who issues too many free passes to our patient offense?

 

http://reactiongif.org/wp-content/uploads/GIF/2014/08/GIF-Colbert-congratulations-gif-good-job-happy-high-five-proud-success-GIF.gif

[Banedon]

https://gfycat.com/VigilantCaringChinesecrocodilelizard

[UMFan83]

I used to be scared of facing Liriano, and probably still would be despite his shitty numbers if he hadn't tee'd off on him the last time we played. Jake pitches 8 strong, Willson gets a PH double, and Cubs win easily.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

[Sammy Sofa]

Didn't realize it was my turn to do the game threads again. That can only mean one thing: The Cubs have lost too many games recently. None of us should have records under .500 as game thread starters. I am currently 1-1. I have the utmost confidence in not having a losing record because of the following:

 

http://i.imgur.com/qoiqEb9.jpg?1

 

http://i.giphy.com/l2QZZOWmMM6tbBvFK.gif

[weis21]

https://gfycat.com/VigilantCaringChinesecrocodilelizard

[Thed Hoyerstein]

Didn't realize it was my turn to do the game threads again. That can only mean one thing: The Cubs have lost too many games recently. None of us should have records under .500 as game thread starters. I am currently 1-1. I have the utmost confidence in not having a losing record because of the following:

 

http://i.imgur.com/qoiqEb9.jpg?1

 

http://cdn29.elitedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/tumblr_inline_muolt4lDhB1rfz01q.gif

[Omar]

Pirates v. Arrieta

Name                 PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Andrew McCutchen     38  33 11  3  0  0   1  4  9 .333 .421 .424  .845  0  0   0   1         0
Gregory Polanco      26  26  4  0  0  0   1  0  9 .154 .154 .154  .308  0  0   0   0         0
Starling Marte       25  24  4  0  0  0   0  0  8 .167 .200 .167  .367  0  0   0   1         1
Matthew Joyce        20  17  7  2  0  1   4  2  0 .412 .450 .706 1.156  0  1   0   0         0
Josh Harrison        17  16  1  1  0  0   0  0  5 .063 .118 .125  .243  0  0   0   1         1
Jung Ho Kang         15  13  2  0  0  0   0  1  2 .154 .267 .154  .421  0  0   0   1         1
John Jaso            14  12  1  0  0  0   0  2  2 .083 .214 .083  .298  0  0   0   0         0
Jordy Mercer         11  11  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         1
David Freese          3   3  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Erik Kratz            3   3  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Sean Rodriguez        3   3  1  0  0  0   0  0  1 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Francisco Liriano     2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jeff Locke            2   1  0  0  0  0   0  1  0 .000 .500 .000  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Jon Niese             1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total               180 165 32  6  0  1   6 10 41 .194 .256 .248  .504  0  1   0   4         4
Has not faced: Chris Stewart & Has not faced pitchers: Arquimedes Caminero, Neftali Feliz, Jared Hughes, Cory Luebke, Mark Melancon, Juan Nicasio, Rob Scahill, A.J. Schugel, Jameson Taillon and Tony Watson

 

Cubs v. Liriano

Name               PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Anthony Rizzo      29  26  5  1  0  1   3  2  9 .192 .276  .346  .622  0  0   0   1         0
Jason Heyward      19  14  4  0  0  0   1  5  6 .286 .474  .286  .759  0  0   0   0         0
Ben Zobrist        19  16  4  0  1  0   5  2  7 .250 .316  .375  .691  0  1   0   0         2
Dexter Fowler      16  12  2  0  0  0   0  4  6 .167 .375  .167  .542  0  0   0   0         1
Kris Bryant        10   9  4  2  0  1   4  1  0 .444 .500 1.000 1.500  0  0   0   0         0
David Ross          9   9  2  0  0  1   3  0  2 .222 .222  .556  .778  0  0   0   0         0
Addison Russell     8   6  2  0  0  1   3  2  2 .333 .500  .833 1.333  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Wood         7   6  1  0  0  0   0  1  3 .167 .286  .167  .452  0  0   0   0         0
Javier Baez         3   3  0  0  0  0   0  0  3 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jason Hammel        3   3  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .333 .333  .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
John Lackey         3   1  0  0  0  0   0  1  1 .000 .500  .000  .500  1  0   0   0         0
Matt Szczur         3   3  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jake Arrieta        2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Trevor Cahill       2   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  1  0   0   0         0
Total             133 111 25  3  1  4  19 18 44 .225 .336  .378  .714  2  1   0   1         3
Has not faced: Albert Almora, Chris Coghlan, Tim Federowicz and Miguel Montero & Has not faced pitchers: Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, Clayton Richard, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Adam Warren

[Sammy Sofa]

http://i.imgur.com/qoiqEb9.jpg?1

 

[BigSlick]

Boy I hadn't realized how much the Pirates have swooned lately, they're all the way back to .500

 

This series, with the division already determined, could just as well knock em out of playoff hopes altogether

[weis21]

http://i.imgur.com/qoiqEb9.jpg?1

 

I think the SAXX underwear is just overkill, really. We get it JAKE! My mind is already going there.

 

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0t255pKb91r5cfgh.gif

[Cubswin11]

I wonder if Contreras gets the start today with a lefty and at least rumors that Ross got a little banged up in Washington along with Lester going tomorrow

[Sammys Boombox]

6 game win streak activate!

[Thed Hoyerstein]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Cubswin11]

Did Maddon bring out the Dusty Dice for the lineup today? That being said if guys like Bryant and Heyward are getting off days I guess it's optimal to do it around an off day and especially against a tough lefty in Heyward's case.

[ChiCubsFan]

Not a huge fan of sitting KB today. Not that it really matters. I would have rather gave him Wednesday off vs Strasburg if the idea is to give him a day before or after an off day. I really want to step on the Pirates throat. But again, it doesn't really matter.

[Sammy Sofa]

This lineup is going to score 11 runs.

[David]

Not a huge fan of sitting KB today. Not that it really matters. I would have rather gave him Wednesday off vs Strasburg if the idea is to give him a day before or after an off day. I really want to step on the Pirates throat. But again, it doesn't really matter.

 

In reality, the Nationals games are (rather, were) more important at this point.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Jake is obviously the sexiest but Almora-Baez-Russell (combined age = 69) has got to be the cutest 5-6-7 in the league

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Jake is obviously the sexiest but Almora-Baez-Russell (combined age = 69) has got to be the cutest 5-6-7 in the league

http://i37.tinypic.com/juzbsp.jpg

[Banedon]

Not a huge fan of sitting KB today. Not that it really matters. I would have rather gave him Wednesday off vs Strasburg if the idea is to give him a day before or after an off day. I really want to step on the Pirates throat. But again, it doesn't really matter.

 

Bryant is out with a stomach bug.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

hung over again

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Man that dude cant hold his booze

[Schwarber Fan]

Bryant will hit a pinch hit homer. That's just what he does.

[BigSlick]

Scissors....batting 2nd? Ah well, whatever.

 

I know jokes are jokes, but I remember hearing Kris Bryant was straight edge and never drank, and now I can't even find evidence for that online. So maybe I just imagined it.