Cubby-Blue

Anthony Rizzo breaks out of the no-homers-in-a-while in grand style.

Well that was a little bit of a monkey off Anthony Rizzo's back.
Couldn't have come at a better time.
We were in a meeting when Oif said, "Wanna know what just happened with 2 outs? Almora. Single. Baez single. Bryant walks. Anthony Rizzo..."
"GRAND SLAM?!"
That second part was me.
So sweet, but this game was far from over.
Rizzo gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead right then, but that lead would turn into a tie twice more before David Bote would knock in Russell in a weird bases loaded situation. Bote hits a weaky grounder to third, Machado gets Rizzo at home, Padre catcher Francisco Meija throws to first to complete the double play, but Eric Hosmer never caught the ball. Russell goes home when the ball escapes.
Pretty big E there, Eric.
In the middle there, Javy Baez hit his 23rd dinger of 2019. 
On the mound, Jon Lester... guy's just an animal. 6 innings, 12 hits, 4 runs, 6 Ks, and 105 pitches in what felt like 105 degree temp, I'm sure.
Because oh man it was hot.
I only got to hear about the last 2 innings, and Pat Hughes is just the freaking master of just knowing how to tell a baseball game like a story.
How happy are you with Craig Kimbrel?
An actual closer.
1 walk, 3 Ks.
Victory.
Just as I got to my garage, too.

Today is our block party.
Again, it's gonna be super hot.
I got 10 pounds of pork shoulder smoking at about 7, so that'll be ready early this evening.
In between there?
Jose Quintana vs Joey Lucchesi.
26 year old lefty with a 3.92 ERA and 7 wins, 4 losses.
This is the absolute definition of a hot summer day, and I'll have the radio on.

Go Cubs.

Darvish captures his first Wrigley W.

Not sure how many losses and no decisions he had at Wrigley before his first win on Wednesday.
And I'm not looking it up because it's depressing, BUT... 
You could see that Yu Darvish had turned a corner last Friday vs the Pirates in his first start after the All Star break.
Then Wednesday vs the Reds, a team that the Cubs seem to just have a really hard time with, he did about the exact same thing.
6 innings, 7 strike outs, 2 hits, no walks and no runs.
Beautiful.
(And it happened the day after Chance the Snapper finally got caught by the alligator guy from Florida.)
Confidence seems to be that thing Darvish has trouble with, and perhaps he found it.
Both small and big picture, that's some seriously great news.
If he became dependable rather than a lucky strike extra, that's steamroller stuff.

Okay, when I was saying SOMEbody in the Central is gonna get hot and go on a big streak and leave the others behind... I'm dreaming but what if this was the start of that?
Bryant seems to be picking up. Schwarber is more threatening lately. Seems like all good news from Hamels...
Theo's still for sure gonna do something more, but a bunch of July wins would be just what the doc ordered.

Okay here are other photos I promised from Tues nite.

Cubs 4 Reds 3. Epic game and I was there.

Well that didn't take long.
I'd been in the park for less than 5 minutes, got a Lagunitas IPA and this dog, sat down.
Look at that dog, man.
It's so perfect.
I took one bite and about a nickel sized blob of the mustard on the left of the picture abandoned ship and went right on the front of my shorts.
Didn't take a pic of that.
In fact, I took almost all my pics with my trusty pocket sized Olympus 10X optical zoom camera, which I left at home so... you'll see those tomorrow.

It was a night to celebrate the '69 Cubs, and I missed being one of the first 10,000 to get a '69 jersey "by 3 minutes" the guy at the door said.
And I was SO early.

Some guys I work with at a production/post production house named Optimus took me and another guy from the agency.
The seats were insane - 2nd row behind the "FRIENDLY" on the Reds' dugout.


So close I got to watch Yasiel Puig file his nails.
What else did I get to see?
The guy who caught Chance the Snapper threw out the first pitch.
A gaggle of the '69 Cubs were introduced including Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Randy Hundley.
The Cubs wore the same uniforms those guys did back in the day, and they're just. so. cool.
So like, Anthony Rizzo was standing right there wearing that uni, and he just looked like a guy from back then.
I got to see Alec Mills look like a lost punching bag in the first, then recover and go 6 solid like a stud.
Eugenio Suarez hit a homer off him, but the next couple times Mills K'd him and made him look like comedy.
I couldn't believe Mills went 6 and only gave up the 3 in the first.
Albert Almora made a catch in center running full speed at the bricks, slid like the wall was 2nd base and made as gorgeous a catch as you'll ever see.
Joey Votto SMOKED that ball and Almora... that's just a baseball play that's as good as it gets. 
I got to see that.
I got to see Robel Garcia's 2-run homer.
El Mago make an impossible sliding stop in short right on a shift, turn and throw whoever the Red was out.
He absolutely owns the air and ground around him like a mean bulldog, but he moves like a dancer. Like he knows what's gonna happen before it does because he's been practicing the choreography.
Saw that.
One of the guys with us went to the men's, came back in literally 4 minutes.
The next time there were two outs, I thought I'd beat that time so I was looking at the only other dude in the bathroom - he was standing on the other side of the trough wall - when Pat Hughes said, "Here's Kris Bryant," and I knew I'd made a terrible mistake.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M TAKING A LEAK WHEN KRIS BRYANT HITS A HOMER!" I yelled at the guy right after Bryant hit it.
Okay it was actually way more profane than that, and I was still back in 4 minutes.
So I didn't see that.
I got to see Puig bat against Pedro Strop, and was expecting something extra to happen.
Instead?
Just a regular Pedro K.
The crowd was impressive and so into the game - lots of standing during dramatic parts.
Craig Kimbrel breathes drama.
I know he's supposed to have been throwing and working out the whole time he was out not getting the contract he desired, but still the guy's probably only about 3/4 of the way through Spring Training. So I don't expect him to be razor sharp yet. And he wasn't.
Scooter Gennett got a hit off him and Kimbrel walked a guy, but man he's so good.
And if the Cubs go where we all think/hope they will, Kimbrel's gonna be huge.
I told everyone I was going to scram after the 10th, so it was mighty convenient of Kyle Schwarber to smack that walk-off homer so high... and it took so long that I stood with my hands in the air like a ref indicating the kick was good, screaming for all my breath.
After, I realized that I screamed "MAJESTIC".
That's a really odd word to scream out loud, don't think I've ever done that before.
I walked over to Toons, got out my phone and in 7 minutes got in a Lyft.
You know how they say the drivers are sort of "taught" to be friendly, to engage in conversation?
I never talk to them.
But this guy said his fav player of all time was Derek Lee.
We told stories for 20 minutes on the way home.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this season I'm 3-0 having seen the Cardinals lose twice with the second game being Hendricks' 84 pitch complete game masterpiece.
And now this game against the Reds.
Such a treasure.
Thank you so much Tom, Randy and Brian.

Cubs sweep! Plus... trouble in Bratsville: Hader is giving up home runs.

So much good happened this weekend with the Cubs' fantastic sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Heyward, Almora and Schwarber homers yesterday were truly awesome, with power into a wind that made Wrigley a much, much bigger ballpark.
But also situational, clutch, not just homer hitting.
Newbie Robel Garcia with a couple doubles, one knocking in I believe his first Cub RBI.
Anthony Rizzo, who is about to go on a multi homer spree at any moment, is such a cool calm presence at the plate. 
Whoops, he missed a couple big swings?
Here's a single the other way, and he'll cross the plate for dessert.
Victor Caratini went 2 for 3, but his every at bat ended with a smashed liner. The outs were just luck for Pittsburgh (although one ended up being a nice sacrifice for VC).
Even Jose Quintana got in on the action, hitting a 2-out liner to right which knocked in Garcia.
The D is the highlight reel real thing - the double plays started by El Mago, Garcia and Russell were all jawdroppers. The one that ended the game Saturday will be shown all year long.
And pitching. 
Darvish was at his best - ace stuff.
Lester was Lester and I can't compliment higher than that.
Quintana got dinged and you thought he'd get taken out, but he rebounded for the victory.
Pedro Strop was the lone fart in the elevator, and I promise he'll be great his next time out.
So you're feeling way fabulous, right?

Well the way fabulouser thing is... the Milwaukees bullpen.
Friday it was 5-4 with the Crew up over the Giants in the 8th.
Bring in Josh Hader and shut it down, right?
Wrong - he gave up 2 homers, 1 in the 8th, 1 in the 9th. 
(That brings Hader's total this year to 9 HRs, which matches the 9 he gave up ALL last year.)
The one in the 9th gave the Giants the lead, Brewers tie it in the bottom half.
Then Albers gave up a Posey grand salami in the 10th for the Giants win.
The Brewers drop 2 of 3 at home to start the second half.
Even More Fabulouser!

Cubs 10 Pirates 4, and Jon Lester has a huge day.

What a day for Jon Lester.
2 hits including a homer and a 2-run single that knocked in J-Hey and Russell.
(Right after he hit the single, he looked into the Cubs dugout and did the little hand-wave thing I drew. The tongue part I added.)
Oh yeah, he also pitched just like himself, going 6 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs.
But honestly, you give Lester a 7 run lead in the first, that game is pretty much over.

The last time Jordan Lyles faced the Cubs, he authored the Joe Maddon screaming at the Pirates' bench scene by throwing lots of chin music.
The Pirates also lost that game 3-11 with Lyles giving up 7 runs in 4 innings.
Yesterday, he couldn't get through the first inning.
4 hits, 4 walks (2 by Schwarber), 7 runs, 2 outs and he was done.
It was SO gratifying watching him walk off the mound after getting mugged by Cubs.
Add on Lester's homer and a 2-run scoring play on a Russell single with Contreras and Heyward on base (helped by 2 Pirate E's), and it was 10 to nothin' at the end of the 4th.
A laugher.
Willson Contreras hit his 19th homer, and I was reminded of the graphic they showed during the All Star Game - each position player's name and how many homers he had.
Contreras's 18 homers were the lowest of anyone on the team, which made my jaw drop.

Today is Jose Quintana vs Trevor Williams, the guy who started that horrible 5-18 loss before the break.
Williams did, however, give up 9 hits, 3 walks and 5 runs in the 5 2/3 innings he pitched.
It seems like the bats are hot, and it would be so fantastic to see another eruption today.

Last thing, a dumb story.
We got a new water heater from ABT a couple years ago.
Right after we got it, these little blue bits got loose in the pipes and would clog our shower.
We had a warranty and ABT came out to try to fix it but blah blah blah they never did and blamed it on our pipes.
A neighbor showed me how to clean the filter (there's a filter in this capsule behind the knobs) to get water pressure back:
Turn off the water, let the water "bleed" out by turning on the shower knob, use a screwdriver to take off the plate that exposes the capsule, use a wrench to pull out the capsule and clean off the blue bits. 
Great water pressure for awhile, but the bits always came back... all told I'd done this cleaning like 50 times over the last 2 years and just... lost my mind.
WE ARE GETTING A NEW WATER HEATER!
We call this other company, they send an expert out to assess everything and while I've shown the blue bits to maybe 3 other plumbers, I can't wait to show this new guy. Each "expert" has their own opinion.
So the guy calls from his truck and says he'll be here in 5 minutes.
I go turn off the water.
Doorbell rings.
I say, "Come on. Let me show you what the problem is."
I'm kinda cocky.
Every other plumber was highly impressed at my skillful shower knowledge when I disassembled the thing to show the blue thingies.
I unscrew the plate.
I unscrew the capsule.
I also forgot to "bleed" the pipes.
Water shoots out all over my face and drenches my chest, then loses pressure and dribbles out the rest of the way.
And I guess when the water shot out it must have knocked out all the blue bits because none were in the filter.
With water dripping off my glasses and chin, I hold the capsule up for the guy to see.
Now, this guy doesn't want to laugh, right?
Maybe I'll get mad and throw him out.
So with a serious expression he inspects the clear filter and says, "Hmmm."
I say, "Yeah. Well, that's where the blue bits usually are. Right there. In that capsule thing."

Anyway, he knew all about the blue bits, we got the new water heater and so far IT'S ALL FIXED!

Cubs 4 Pirates 3. The Joy of Jay Hey.

He's been so good this year, Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward.
Little bits of excellence sprinkled all over the field.
They happen all the time, too.
Like catching a downward breaking knuckleball line drive off the bat of Jacob Stallings in the 3rd. 
Yu Darvish was pitching just so well. 
Groundout, K, K, K, lineout, K, popout and then.. the not so routine diving catch from Heyward who rolled with his momentum, tossed the ball back in while Darvish gave him a standing O.
Fantastic.
But it was the bottom of the 8th that he clutched a glorious single to left that scored Kris Bryant from 2nd to retake the lead.
This was after Pedro Strop gave up a total dagger-to-the-heart 3 run homer to Starling Marte that tied a game that felt pretty much under Cub Control.
Strop just... does that once in awhile - it's horrible when it happens but whatever, I'm kind of used to it.
He'll be lights out next time.
I just wish with this year's Cub team that I had that same expectation for a clutch hit from literally anyone.
I was at a music session, me and 2 others had the game on our own At Bats while listening.
In the 7th, the Cubs had the nice rally to score 3 and the bases were still loaded with 1 out and Kyle Schwarber comes up... I said, "Schwarber's gonna ground into a double play."
Which he did and that's exactly what I mean... WHY CAN'T I EXPECT A LITTLE CLUTCH?
A little excellence?
But then... Jay Hey.
Made up for it with the single, or that Schwarber at bat would be the signature of this game.
There were 2 out, Heyward hits the first pitch.
Bryant took off on contact, Heyward's line drive bounced twice and Pirate left fielder Bryan Reynolds scooped and threw a once bouncer that Bryant beat by an eyelash.
The Cubs start of the second half with a big win on a clutch hit.
Just what you, me, Joe and Theo needed more than anything.

The other thing was Darvish.
Just hallway Cubs talkin', we've been trying to out-do "filthy" as a pitching descriptor, so lately we've been saying... porn.
Darvish's stuff was porn.
He can be SO good, and if he can repeat that kind of performance for the rest of this season everyone will forget completely about last year.
6 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 8 strike outs and no Pirate crossed the plate.
Filthy ace stuff.
Porn.
So encouraging.

It's super gorgeous out today and Jon Lester is on the mound.
I'm supposed to power wash off old deck stain and re-coat the whole deal.
But...right after I post this, I'm going to propose a Wrigley escape to the boss, see what she says.
If I end up on the deck, at least I'll have Pat. 

Go Cubs.