It’s about time to find me some pumpkin donuts, my friends …
- While Jameson Taillon has had better statistical lines this season in some starts, you’d have to regard yesterday’s against that Yankees lineup – as one of his better outings: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K. The yakker was working:
- The outing, for whatever reason, had me thinking about all that Taillon has gone through in his baseball career to be where he is now. Tommy John surgery, sure. But also a sports hernia surgery that cost him a year. Plus a 105 mph line drive to the head. Plus a flexor tendon surgery and second Tommy John. And, of course, the fight with testicular cancer. It’s incredible that he’s gone through all that and still came out on the other side a very successful big league pitcher, and one who pretty clearly brings tremendous perspective to his profession and his life.
- It all started back in 2016 when Taillon came up as a big-time Pirates prospect, ultimately getting more starts at that time because another young star Pirates pitcher had to miss a little time. That guy was Gerrit Cole, whom Taillon beat yesterday, who with whom he is still very good friends:
- Side note on Taillon: after his start yesterday, he has now been almost exactly average in his time with the Cubs by ERA-, FIP-, and WAR. You always hope for better than average, but a league average starter who throws a typical volume of innings is a reasonably valuable player. If you can find a way for that guy to be your 4 or 5 starter, then you’re really in good shape. Consider that a goal for next season.
- Big part of what makes Porter Hodge so good? His fastball simply does not go where the batter’s brain tells him it is supposed to go:
- The team nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award were announced today, and Patrick Wisdom will represent the Cubs:
- The award: “The Roberto Clemente Award is bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
- Isaac Paredes had the big hit yesterday, but that’s been mighty rare so far at Wrigley Field:
- Sample still too small for me to say it DEFINITELY means something, but you could at least imagine him pressing a bit at Wrigley post-trade because (1) the normal want-to-impress-new-team stuff, and (2) the whole “can his style play at Wrigley?” stuff maybe getting in his head.
- Anthony Rizzo ALMOST pulled off another tarp catch:
- Shohei Ohtani’s inhuman success continues:
- Ohtani is seriously going to get to 50-50, and yes, that will deserve an in-game video montage when it happens.