My frendts: Clearly, reports of the Brewers fading away haven’t panned out…and the Cardinals are now lurking only 3 games back.

Yes, the Cubs have been saddled with injuries all year long, affecting key players expected to make a difference. But they are not alone: this is something that all teams must deal with. They just can’t keep it going. The weather postponements have likely affected them….I had a bad feeling when the game that Lester started Fri 9/7 was cancelled. They responded by dropping both games of the 9/8 doubleheader. Sun 9/9 was again postponed. Mondays response? Carl Edwards Jr. wild pitches in the winning run in a loss to…the Brewers.

I haven’t had the luxury of seeing many games this year on tv, but I keep up online and thru box scores. Seems to me the pitching has far too often been inconsistent (again) and same goes for the hitting. Hot and cold.

Daniel Murphy appears to be calm…
http://www.espn.com/core/video/iframe?id=24639317&endcard=false

I was very young at the time…but I faintly remember the infamous 1969 choke job (the Ghost of Leo Durocher just crapped in his grave). Please….not again.

Your thoughts and rants welcomed.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24437992/washington-nationals-trade-daniel-murphy-chicago-cubs-matt-adams-st-louis-cardinals

Does anybody remember the 2015 NLCS? I sure as hell do….by the end of it, I was almost as disgusted with Murphy as I still am to this day by the thought of Steve Garvey (google it). Murphy was a one-man wrecking crew.

Hopefully he inspire the offense to wake up…the pitching isn’t going to be enough for a deep run in the playoffs, IMOP.

Yu Darvish done for season with injuries to right elbow, triceps

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24439216/yu-darvish-chicago-cubs-miss-rest-season-elbow-triceps-injuries

Too bad…….but he still gets paid!

Cubs win!!

David Bote walk off grand slam…keep him on the team!

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1028841261027840002/video/1

WTF?

NO WAY the Cubs win anything this year if the mediocre starting pitching isn’t fixed…SOON.

“A stunned sold out Wrigley Field watched Jon Lester walk off the field after pitching just 3.2 innings while giving up eight earned runs against the Nationals. The outing raised his 2nd half ERA to 10.33 after compiling a 2.58 first half mark. The start contributed to the Cubs pitching woes — they ranked 9th in starter’s ERA in the NL coming into the game.” — Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer

Cubs are barely holding onto 1st place, and only 6 games separate the Cubs, Brewers, Cards and Pirates.

Cubs pitching has been suspect, and they almost blew it today against the Padres.

What do you think?

Javier Baez steals home again as Cubs rally for sixth straight comeback win

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24000138/javier-baez-steals-home-again-chicago-cubs-rally-6th-straight-comeback-win

The bats have come alive (Chili Davis appears to be an upgrade). Lester is pitching like an ace. Bullpen has been better of late.

If the pitching staff gets healthy and settles down, I like their chances. Milwaukee is playing well but they have to prove that they can go the distance.

Hoping that Hendricks returns to a better form, and that Darvish doesn’t turn out to be a bust.

My frendts, what do you think?

Interesting article…I am a Joe maddon fan…but I would have left Hendricks in yesterday…(to be clear, the photo is from a different game).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-pirates-20180610-story.html

Thoughts? Ernie, don’t hold back! 🙂

What do you think?

The Cubs are playing well…largest run differential in NL, but they still trail the Brewers and Cards/Pirates are 1 1/2 back.

I’ll start. Arrieta. Was it too soon to part ways?

(from http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/30145/jake-arrieta)

News: Arrieta (5-2) picked up the win Tuesday, throwing seven shutout innings with five strikeouts while allowing six hits and two walks against the Dodgers. (Wed May 30)

Spin: Arrieta wasn’t in much trouble most of the night, as all six hits allowed were singles. He’s now struck out 12 and gone 13.2 innings without allowing a run over the last two starts, and finishes May with a microscopic 0.90 ERA over five starts and 30 innings. His 6.2 K/9 is still significantly down from past years — 8.7 K/9 was his lowest mark in four full seasons with the Cubs — but he’ll carry a tidy 2.16 ERA and 1.15 WHIP into his next start Sunday against the Giants.

yeah, right…the season just started.

Arrieta, so far. Darvish?  pfffft.

Arrieta 2018

Thoughts?