In the aggregate, I feel worse about the two losses of the last two days than I do about the no-hit streak coming to an end. It was always a fun aside (and I loved the no-hit streak Twitter account), but it’s not like I derived a great deal of fan-related pleasure from the Cubs not having been no-hit in 50 years. Streaks don’t last forever, and, hey, we got to see something historic (well, most of us, anyway).
Like it or lump it, yesterday’s game was a really, really big deal for a lot of reasons, so it dominates the Bullets today …
No, Cole Hamels’ trade value did not increase by no-hitting the Cubs any more than it decreased by him getting smacked around the two starts before. Is he healthy? Does the stuff look normal? Do the mechanics look typical of him? That’s it when it comes to a guy with his track record. Perhaps, if you’re an interested team, you needed to see him look good (which is “normal” for him) one last time before pulling the trigger on a deal – in that respect, I suppose you could technically say yesterday’s outing changed things. But to say Hamels’ value increased because he threw a no-hitter or even because he had one solitary dominant outing (against a struggling offense on a day with the wind blowing in) … that would be a mistake. On a wind-neutral day, Hamels gives up two or three homers. And, what, suddenly you’re not interested in trading for him?
For me, though, the small question I have is whether the near 130 pitches it took to get the no-hitter make you concerned at all. Maybe it was just Johan Santana sticking out in my head, but it feels like you see guys throw a ton of pitches in one of these special starts, and then they aren’t quite the same thereafter, at least for the rest of the year. Then again, it wasn’t a particularly stressful day for Hamels, who was cruising the entire game.
Speaking of that: crazy that, on a day when he gave up no hits and just two walks, the Cubs still forced Hamels to throw so many pitches. I know it doesn’t mean much for now, but at least it’s something the Cubs’ offense still does well. (Negative Nancy retort: it takes a lot of pitches to strike so many guys out.)
Lotta folks asking whether Kris Bryant’s fly ball to end the game would have been scored a hit or an error if it had dropped – it’s a fun thought exercise, and it would have been a brutal decision for the scorekeeper. I’m sure there was a lot of relief there that the guy just caught the ball. For me, just based on the play, I probably would have gone with error.
Unsurprising Cubs reaction to Hamels’ outing: dude was good (Cubs.com). No-hitters are a flukey thing, but you can’t argue that part. Hamels looked really, really good.
It was a discussion point on Twitter during the game – it always is – but, for those wondering: yes, Hamels did get a few calls outside the strike zone, but it wasn’t all that uneven throughout the game, and, in total, it was a well-called strike zone. There was only one egregiously bad call, which came late in the game, way down out of the zone … against Jorge Soler. Naturally. In the end, I think it seemed like Hamels was getting such a large zone because he was commanding the ball so well – he was all along the border of the strike zone all day long.
Here’s Hamels discussing the no-no after the game:
Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here.
Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.
For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...
What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....
So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...
CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...
Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....
With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...
Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...
Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...
Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...
In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...
Bailey Ober takes the ball for the Minnesota Twins (9-13) when they host starter Mike Soroka and the Chicago White Sox (3-20) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to...
On Thursday, going for a series sweep, Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs (14-9) play the Houston Astros (7-17), with first pitch scheduled for 2:20 PM ET at Wrigley Field.The article below will give you everything you need to watch...
Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals (14-10) host Daulton Varsho and the Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) on Thursday in a rubber match, with first pitch at 2:10 PM ET.See how to watch the Kansas City-Toronto matchup below.When is Royals...
Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (16-8) host Abraham Toro and the Oakland Athletics (9-15) on Thursday in a rubber match, with first pitch at 7:05 PM ET.The article below will give you everything you need to watch New...
For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...
The Philadelphia Phillies (15-9), led by Alec Bohm, visit Elly De La Cruz and the Cincinnati Reds (13-10) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday in the rubber match of the series.The article below will provide you with everything you need...
The Milwaukee Brewers (14-8), with Freddy Peralta on the mound, visit the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-11) who will hand the ball to Mitch Keller, at 12:35 PM ET on Thursday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch...
Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (14-11) visit the Washington Nationals (10-12) on Thursday, with first pitch at 4:05 PM ET, and the Dodgers looking for a series sweep.The article below will give you everything you need to know...
The Cleveland Cavaliers are slight 1.5-point underdogs for Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Thursday, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET on NBA. The Cavaliers have a 2-0...
What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....
NEWSLETTER
Another morning of shaking it off, eh?
