What a dumb and stupid and silly and ugly and bad and also dumb and stupid game that was.
From terrible control by Cubs pitchers to terrible mistakes to a terrible strike zone to a terrible decision to continue play through terrible conditions, there was just nothing I feel like taking away from this game. Flush it.
Eddie Butler battled his command from the get-go, and was not really able to recover before he hit his pitch count limit. Still, the Cubs managed to overcome an early hole and briefly take a 3-2 lead, which could have been a lot more if not for an explicable decision by Javy Baez to try to bunt for a hit with nobody out and runners on first and second with the pitcher behind him. That rally was killed, and then Mike Montgomery came in, only to battle the same command issues (and strike zone – it really both things).
The game really could have – should have? – been suspended in what became the decisive fifth inning, but I imagine the thinking at the time was “just get through this inning in case we can’t resume play.” I won’t fault the umps too much on that one, but there was a lot of sloppy ridiculousness before the game ultimately did enter a rain delay.
Like I said, I just want to flush this one.