Jorge Soler Day was a mixed bag. The namesake hit a monster blast in his first at bat, and added a single later. Jacob Turner’s starting debut was mostly disappointing, even if he flashed quality stuff here and there. The command simply wasn’t where it needed to be. But, hey, that’s the Cubs’ mission, right?
Javy Baez looked ugly striking out early, but later ripped a two-run double, and it was a glorious one: he lined it so hard to the left that the shortstop nearly caught it … and then it still had enough pace on it to reach the wall. (He then took Aroldis Chapman to the warning track in the 9th with two on base and two outs. So close.)
Starlin Castro followed Baez’s double with a deep drive to center that he thought was out off the bat, which wound up costing him a base, because it hit the wall, and he was left standing on first. It was an obvious screw-up, but the vitriol that it brought out in fans and media was really striking. It doesn’t excuse the play, but, given what he went through last week, I just can’t summon the righteous anger to blast Castro too hard right now.
But, back to Soler. It’s not a pun, and I’m just being intentionally silly. So don’t hate!