caulfield12

It was assumed that Jimenez was going to help offset that...but so many hitters who are in the equivalent of spring training mode now (think when FA hitters used to sign in June or July) never get really back in synch until the following season.

Why is a strike call 100% on the catcher?

Between Rodon, Giolito and Kopech... the 2nd and 3rd starters for a playoff series are becoming question marks. Yet it's really hard to trust Cease, although he might actually end up retaining the best stuff at season's end. Of course, some of it's too much familiarity with Giolito on the part of KC, but seemingly hasn't impacted Hernandez.

Like the last time against the White Sox?

It has been this way against the Royals for the last sixteen years...not a shock. The only real surprise is the Twins.

Cue a list of all the World Series winners who had .500ish or below records against bad divisional opponents...

They’re really playing up that spin rate… 24-3, could be 25-3 with a win tonight, in multi homer games is pretty crazy…used to be our victory percentage against lefties about two months into the season and then that kind of faded.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31943005/there-no-reason-go-halfway-next-chicago-cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-teardown

Did they base it on Robert's first month of 2021 or just last season? And it's not only those two plus Grandal, but difference with the production actually being received... so maybe 1.5 difference at second?

How do you know how many games he will be able to play when he pulled the hamstring so completely? Have a hard time imagining him suddenly being a 3.5-4.0 fWAR player when he can never seem to avoid injuries.

Did he have to poop?

Because he has never had the arm to play that position…Vaughn should be there, if Eloy was actually not injured yet again.

I

That was completely deflating. There’s no way this team has the defense, middle relief and fundamentals/baserunning to go anywhere in the playoffs as currently constituted. Two months to figure things out.

Thanks to Abreu catch…

Dansby Swanson has seven RBI’s tonight, just two homers… ATL only four games out of first.

Why is Moncada swinging first pitch when you have a reliever going for a five out save?

He’s doing the clock ticking thing like Flavor Flav?

Tempura wouldn’t even make it in a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant…

Abreu now 2 for his last 26… 10 xb hits for CLE a season high. Zavala up fifth next inning…he almost has to come up next inning, right?

Or Goodwin…

Clase throwing 102 consistently in that inning… Kimbrel in.

Still out at first…sigh.

Ouch…the one thing that couldn’t happen there. Juggling at first or didn’t have his foot on the bag?