Fun with the Walk-Off, Sheriff Nico, Swanson Defense, Depth Starters, and Other Cubs Bullets
I have now given it two days of space, so is it fair to comment – non-specifically – on ‘Succession’? Because holy crap, what they pulled off on Sunday was unbelievable. The decision on when to do it (brilliant), and the execution of HOW to do it/show it/experience it (BRILLIANT). I cannot believe we are losing this show this year.
On to the Cubs, who did their own Succeeding last night … sorry … sorry …
- The Cubs win last night was their 4th in their last 5 games, and their first walk-off of the year. If it felt rare, it was: the Cubs had just TWO walk-off wins all of last season. I hope they either have a TON MORE this year, or they have very few again this year … because they haven’t need for them, having already been up by 15 runs in the 9th so often. That’d be fine.
- More views of the walk-off Nico Hoerner hit:
- Nico Hoerner got the post-walk-off water treatment from Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom, albeit very mildly:
- And in the clubhouse, Hoerner got a cowboy hat for his efforts:
- Thanks to Yan Gomes for making the cowboy hat happen – he just happened to see it in the clubhouse and popped it on Hoerner’s head – and here’s hoping we see it pop up periodically throughout the season. Organically. Don’t force it.
- Hoerner with some high praise for his fellow sheriff:
- If you missed it as part of the post-win celebration, the (quite bright and successful) new LED lights at Wrigley Field now dance along to ‘Go Cubs Go,’ which is fun.
- Eric Hosmer is hitting .320/.393/.400/119 wRC+. I don’t THINK the .400 BABIP is going to last forever, but he’s certainly done his part so far.
- Each of the Brewers, Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates lost yesterday as the Cubs won, so that’s fun. The Cardinals currently have the worst record in the National League. That’s even more fun.
- Stray note on something you’ve probably noticed about Dansby Swanson’s defensive approach at shortstop:
- David Ross confirmed that Javier Assad would be stretched back out as a starter now that he’s headed down to Iowa (Montemurro). That doesn’t preclude a return as a reliever at some point, but honestly, I have some concerns about how Adrian Sampson and Caleb Kilian have performed through their first two starts at Iowa this year, so having another starting option at Iowa on the 40-man roster seems like a sound idea right now.
- The Iowa rotation is currently Sampson, Kilian, Riley Thompson (keep your eyes out for him … ), Roenis Elias, and Nick Neidert. My guess is Assad replaces one of the latter two in the rotation, with that guy off to the bullpen or let go. Ideally you wouldn’t lose anyone from the org this early in the year, but some opt outs might be coming in a few weeks anyway.
- Andrew Heaney tied an AL record by striking out nine straight batters:
- He’s good. Can’t argue it. He’s good:
