KaiserCesar

What a win, makes it easy to forget the two outs at the plate on great throws and tags. Rollison the latest to step up and eat quality innings and keep this going.

Also what seems to be missed by the broadcast is the win streak and the obvious excitement to keep it going.

Aside form the Pages non-catch at the wall, feels like defense for both teams has been able to make every close play.

I think he'll play against T&T in the qualifier in September if a result is still needed at that point and probably some of the early hex games.

What a closeout. Zusi came up huge in the last 10 minutes or so. Brooks was absolutely other-wordly.

Same lineup against Paraguay. Was there a secret head coaching change?

Maybe playing matchups with Hendricks. Pittsburgh hit him about as hard as anyone last year.

2001 is the only big recent example I can think of. The 2009 team faded down the stretch, but the start was pretty middling.

My plan would be to play Bryant in the outfield 1 day per week with Javy at 3rd. Javy can get the rest of his time on Zobrist and Russell off days. After that, I'd look to Szczur in LF against any starting pitcher with tough breaking stuff. That would probably give him a couple of starts per week at least. When Soler starts, keep bringing Szczur in during the 7th inning for defense. After the all star break, check in on Almora. If ready, call him up by the first week of August to get a good read on whether he could contribute in the playoffs.

Thank god technology hasn't advanced yet to allow for immediate communication between multiple people, else our game wouldnt remain pure. guy in CF still has to walkie somebody, who then has to flash a signal to a guy that is concentrating on a pitch that has to be on its way by this time. I remain of the opinion that if they are able to do all that and it works then good for them. The signal to the batter would probably be verbal in some pre-determined fashion. I'd think it would be reserved for the more crucial situations later in the game. For all we know, that guy was just collecting info for later use.

Castro! Tomorrow I'll add any ex-cubs in the AL on my ballot. I went that route today. Castro, Valbuena, Jackson and Chirinos.

Enough already

Just watched the condensed replay of that match and the Galaxy looked formidable, even without Rogers, Lletget, de Jong and Keane. They might start racking up points very quickly, even without Zardes/Keane/dos Santos for part of the summer.

Thinking about what could be traded from the Cubs system this year, it seems that a lot of teams looking to deal a controllable SP have wanted at least some near-ML level pitching in return. The first group of pitchers from the post-Hendry drafts is now in the upper-minors and could be a valuable asset that the front office didn't have at prior deadlines. None can really be a centerpiece of a deal, but they could help get a deal done that may not have been possible in prior years.