NEWSLETTER
Just a worst case scenario of a game from the Cubs’ roster-management and health perspective. They have a thin bullpen, a starter just placed on the IL, and a double-header tomorrow. Not the kinda day you wanted to go 12 innings, and especially when you lose the dang game anyway.
That game went from a zip-zip pitcher’s duel for much of the day to a complete circus of ridiculousness, in which the Cubs finally took a 1-0 lead in the 7th inning and then proceeded to blow THREE different leads (of varying levels of blameworthiness).
The White Sox tried to blunder their way into losing in the 10th (a couple of mostly free runs for the Cubs), but then the White Sox got their two 10th inning runs on a groundball that snuck through, a sac fly, a check swing call that didn’t go the Cubs’ way, and a base hit. It was very annoying, especially given how the White Sox had tied it in the 9th.
As for the Sox tying it in the 9th, it was pretty eye-rolling. A routine grounder that became a double because of the shift, an excuse-me-check-swing-bunt for a single, and a wild pitch on a swinging strike. That’s how David Robertson “blew” the save. Whatever. Could’ve been very different.
The Cubs had a golden chance to add an insurance run in the top of the 9th, by the way, with Frank Schwindel doubling to lead off the inning and going to third on a wild pitch. But the Cubs went strikeout-strikeout-groundout off of Liam Hendriks to strand Schwindel at third. That loomed large, given everything that followed.
The White Sox very nearly walked it off on an errant Cubs throw in the 11th, but the Sox batter was pretty clearly running inside the foul line and obstructed the throw, so he was (correctly) called out. I mention it because it was a reminder of how easy it is to safely solve that problem – use the safety base that extends into foul territory. Otherwise, you are asking runners to run all the way in foul territory … and then swerve into fair territory at the last second to touch first base. It’s completely stupid, and always has been.
Marcus Stroman was really good today, working efficiently in the zone, getting a big strikeout when needed, but otherwise relying on a particularly sharp defense behind him today. Well, and including him, because he was great with the glove today, too:
.@STR0 fielding 103.1 mph with ease. pic.twitter.com/1VVG5yS6iV
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 29, 2022
Gold glove defense from @STR0. pic.twitter.com/KFQfi89UuI
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 29, 2022
Meanwhile, this stood out …
