I would be stunned if he wasn’t on a pitch count. Whatever. Brewers weren’t touching him and these games are too important. Maybe that’s just an old school mindset.
All on Maddon. Darvish should never have come out. People love to talk about players not executing and the Bryzzo strikeouts last inning are a great example, but this game was doomed from the start with Zobrist and Contreras out and Almora leading off.
Nats down 1-0. Catching them is our best hope. Why? It's still a one-game coin flip. Catching Washington isn't a worthwhile goal Sorry, poorly phrased. The division is obviously our best “hope.” It just feels like we aren’t catching St. Louis.
Freakin Cincinnati. If the Cubs miss the playoffs, the Reds will be the #2 culprit, behind the Cubs themselves. Looks like we need to win tonight or face being just 1.5 games up on a playoff spot.
Bote needs to become the regular shortstop. Trotting Russell out there as anything but a late-inning defensive replacement is active self-sabotage as far as I’m concerned.
He was a really really good defender with some power who otherwise wasn't a black hole offensively. 100% a valuable player at ages 20-21 and under team control. IIRC he also took his walks and generally gave you a good plate appearance. Now he is basically 0-2 before he steps into the box.