2021 Team

[jeffy]

When did Gordon change his middle name to Strange? Weird.



https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status...5493296131

What the hell?



edit: looked it up. Makes sense now:



"In 2020, he announced that he changed his last name from Gordon to Strange-Gordon to honor his late mother, DeVona Denise Strange. His mother was shot and killed when he was just seven years old."

[1060Ivy]

Latest rant post, noted that the Cubs seem to play up to the level of their competition

 

Here's a blurb from article in The Athletic addressing that point: 

 

"The Cubs are 11-2 against the last two teams to win the World Series (Dodgers and Nationals), the early NL East leader (Mets) and their primary rivals (Cardinals)."

 

https://theathletic.com/2616166/2021/05/...e-process/

 

On the other side of that stat, the Cubs are 15-20 against all other teams - most of which are not good.  

 

Cubs seem to play to better against good teams and suck against mediocre and bad teams so it's great that they have taken 3 games so far against the Pirates this week.  

[funkster]

Here's a wild idea, why don't you just enjoy it dude?

[rok]

Especially since this is likely the last we'll see of this core together. I have no expectations, but am enjoying the last few weeks of solid play.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

I mean, the Nationals are 4 games under .500 and the Cubs have a better record than the Mets. I'm not sure what that factoid is meant to prove.

[jeffy]

I also think they just happened to get hot during that Dodgers series and have had a much better stretch after a rough start. They've been one of the best teams in all of baseball since then.



One of my friends texted me before that series saying the season was over, how much he's going to miss KB/Rizzo/Baez, yadda, yadda... I replied something along the lines of, "Dude, it's April. STFU."

[funkster]

Doom and gloom!

[MrSheps]

So regarding the amazing Javy base running play, if he doesn't make it to first, the run doesn't count, right? That's another layer of what was so interesting about it, and I don't think really explained by JD/Boog. Javy even calls Willson safe at the dish, before then running to first, which as a result then felt like a bonus that he was safe there (and then onto 2nd no less!) but I'm pretty sure the run doesn't count unless he reaches first base safely.

 

Regardless, I have a feeling we'll be seeing that play for years to come. I find myself getting down on Javy sometimes with some of his more outrageous ABs, but his base running and tagging are just so next level, it's hard to even find someone in his class. That play netted 2 runs in that inning and the Cubs win the game as a result. Incredible. 

[funkster]

That's correct, the run would not have counted.  

[Butcher]

What Javy did was incredible, but the Pirates are dumb as shit. At any point during that play if Javy makes an out, the run doesn't count. There could be 15 minutes between when Contreras crossed the plate and one of the Pirates stepped on first base and the run wouldn't have counted. If anyone on the field backed up that play, stepped on 1B, and just waited for someone to toss them the ball, Javy is out, the inning is over, and the run doesn't count.

 

That said, Javy does a lot of Jedi mind trick shit to the defense and they clearly panicked.

[jeffy]

The 2B definitely should've backed up the 1B the instant the dumb mofo started trotting towards Javy. The whole team truly lost their damn minds the moment Javy stopped in his tracks.



You're right, Butchie. Javy is a spell-caster. In my opinion, he's the most entertaining player of my lifetime...possibly of all time.

[funkster]

He forced them into mental mistakes.  

[1060Ivy]

I mean, the Nationals are 4 games under .500 and the Cubs have a better record than the Mets. I'm not sure what that factoid is meant to prove.

 

The other 2 of teams (Dodgers and Cardinals) are currently in the top 10 for wins across MLB.  While the Mets are leading the NL East. 

 

Combined those 4 teams are 104 and 86 which is 55% win % - about the same win % as the Cubs. 

 

A better way to look at the stat is at the time the Cubs played each team but not bored enough to do that exercise. 

 

The factoid supports that Cubs have beaten good teams and had a better record against good teams than bad teams - prior to sweeping the Pirates. 

 

Many have been asking 'what type of team are the 2021 Cubs?'  Which has been a difficult question as the team has developed as the season has.  The bullpen has been and proven to be a strength for most of the season.  The offense has proven it can play small ball so doesn't require homers to win each game.  Starting rotation has been stronger with starters providing quality starts beyond just Hendricks.  Overall, this club has shown great progress over the last weeks and Ross and the squad should be given credit. 

[jstraw]

I've come to hate the phrase "as of late". "Lately", try it, broadcasters...please.

[Butcher]

People have been using that phrase a lot more often as of late.