Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Athletics Saturday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2016-08-06T18:05:51-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/120997772016-08-06T18:05:51-05:002016-08-06T18:05:51-05:00Cubs 4, Athletics 0: Throwing Back
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MiQTTAPN1m6IAd_Eall77fW7K_8=/0x0:4528x3019/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50312159/usa-today-9426923.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs won their sixth in a row with more timely hitting and solid pitching.</p> <p>In the early innings of Saturday's game, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> hit quite a number of deep fly balls that stayed in the vast reaches of the Oakland Coliseum for outs.</p>
<p>And then they got a few bloop hits that scored a couple of runs and one RBI single that died in the grass in front of third base. That, plus another solid outing from <span>Jake Arrieta</span>, was enough for <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2016_08_06_chnmlb_oakmlb_1" target="_blank">a 4-0 Cubs win over the Athletics</a>, the team's sixth consecutive win and 10th by shutout this year.</p>
<p>The Cubs plated their first runs in the third inning when <span>Willson Contreras</span> and <span>Dexter Fowler</span> hit some soft singles, advanced on a groundout, and both scored on a single by <span>Ben Zobrist</span>. None of those balls hit off A's starter <span>Sonny Gray</span> seemed hit very hard, but the Cubs made the most of the opportunity.</p>
<p>Three innings later, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> was on third base with one out after a double. He went to third on a grounder by Zobrist, and then <span>Addison Russell</span> hit <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/v1017940683/?c_id=mlb" target="_blank">this 70-foot ground ball [VIDEO]</a> down the third-base line. As Len & JD mentioned on the telecast, Russell couldn't have rolled it out there any better; Rizzo scored to make it 3-0. Russell then stole second without drawing a throw, and <span>Jorge Soler</span> hit a ball that glanced off the glove of A's third baseman <span>Ryon Healy</span> for an RBI double.</p>
<p>All of this was off <span>Liam Hendriks</span>, who was a Cub for 10 days in the 2013-14 offseason, acquired on waivers from the the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>, then claimed on waivers by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a>, and he never played for Baltimore either -- he was waived and claimed by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> before the 2014 season began.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Arrieta was dealing. He allowed just three hits and a walk in eight solid innings, throwing 66 strikes in 108 pitches. This, following his excellent outing against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> last weekend, give some indication that perhaps Jake is back to being <i><b>Jake!</b></i>, and he can dominate the last two months of 2016 the same way he did in 2015. (Of course, I realize last year's dominance by Jake was almost unprecedented. I'd settle for maybe 85-90 percent of "unprecedented" this year.) Jake has now allowed just five hits and two runs over his last 15 innings. Jake's 13th win of the season was his first since June 27 against the Reds, hopefully beginning another winning streak for him.</p>
<p>The Cubs also won a challenge on this obvious bad call in the seventh, which helped Jake get an out:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1018043583&topic_id=63817564&width=600&height=336&property=mlb" frameborder="0" height="336" width="600">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>It was good to see Soler again get a hit and drive in a run. He seems to be hitting with much more confidence than he was before he went on the disabled list back in June. Getting a hot-hitting Soler back would be a huge boost to this offense, not that they've had that much trouble scoring runs over the last week or so.</p>
<p><span>Travis Wood</span> finished up with an uneventful ninth inning in which he allowed a single.</p>
<p>Now, some thoughts on the throwback uniforms worn by the teams Saturday afternoon, 1981-vintage togs. I never cared for this style when it was the Cubs' road uniform from 1978-81, but as a one-off throwback, it seemed pretty cool. They did a very good job on the style, too. Here's Dexter Fowler modeling the Saturday throwback:</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C6HqgMFkErvS8EDA7VeQwU11BE8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6900459/GettyImages-586443070.0.0.jpg">
<cite>Jason O. Watson/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<font size="1">Jason O. Watson/Getty Images</font></p>
<p>Here's a photo of Bill Buckner, taken during the 1981 season:</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QMiMQ-czuFNUQknyQZJCfbLkOFQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3971720/GettyImages-129752690.0.jpg">
<cite>Focus on Sport/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<font size="1">Focus On Sport/Getty Images</font></p>
<p>They matched everything, even the size of the numbers, which was a bit larger on the 1981 version of the uniform than on the 1978-80 editions.</p>
<p>If you were watching the A's broadcast on CSN California, they got into the spirit of things with some 1980s-style graphics:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dang <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNAuthentic">@CSNAuthentic</a> is turning back the clock for A's—Cubs, too! ( : brodiebrazilCSN) <a href="https://t.co/0LVs0HIObl">pic.twitter.com/0LVs0HIObl</a></p>
— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/762040540816736256">August 6, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Len & JD mentioned this during the broadcast, but I thought I'd also note that only three current Cubs were alive in 1981: <span>David Ross</span> (born 1977), <span>John Lackey</span> (born 1979) and Zobrist (born 1981). In 1981 Joe Maddon was the 27-year-old manager of the Idaho Falls <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> in the short-season Pioneer League.</p>
<p>Tempus fugit, indeed. I remember the 1981 Cubs well; they were one of the worst teams in franchise history, the last gasp of the poor management style of the Wrigley ownership before Tribune Company took over. The Cubs finished 38-65 in that strike-shortened season, a pace for a 60-102 season, but were 15-37 before the strike and almost certainly would have set a franchise record for losses if not for the work stoppage. Only decent play for about six weeks after the season resumed saved them from that fate, and given that it's a weekend and the Cubs won the game easily, that brings me to a story about the 1981 Cubs that I've told before, but given today's throwback, is worth telling again.</p>
<p>Due to the wrongheaded decision to make the pre-strike standings the "first half," teams essentially started fresh when the season resumed. (In practice, this wound up meaning that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, who had the best overall record in their respective divisions, didn't make the playoffs at all, because they didn't have the best record in either half. What they should have done is had the second-half "champion" meet the <i>overall</i> best record, and if that was the same team, <i>then</i> you substitute the first-half "winner.")</p>
<p>Anyway, the Cubs played near .500 ball for a few weeks, and after a 10-9 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> September 24, the "second-half" N.L. East standings looked like this:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre> W L GB
Expos 24 19 --
Cardinals 22 20 1.5
Cubs 20 21 3.0
Mets 20 23 4.0
<span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a></span> 19 23 4.5
<span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a></span> 17 26 7.0</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>Only 2,555 attended <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198109240.shtml" target="_blank">that September 24 game</a>, in which the Cubs blew leads of 7-3 and 9-8 and eventually won on a home run hit by Bobby Bonds, his last in the big leagues. And WGN radio's Lou Boudreau blasted the fans on the air after the win, saying, "Where is everyone? We're in a pennant race!" He was further quoted in the <i>Tribune</i>:</p>
<blockquote>"There should be at least 10- or 15,000 people here," Boudreau said. "The fans have been crying for a championship, and the Cubs have a chance to give them one. I don't understand why the crowds have been so small this week. <br><br> "If anyone had told them the Cubs would be three games out of first place on Sept. 24, they would all be out here. Now everybody in the division is playing each other, so all the games mean something. Getting a few more people in the park for the weekend series with Philadelphia would help the Cubs play better, I'm sure."</blockquote>
<p>Well, of course that "race" was a joke. But there it was, the Cubs three games out of first place with 10 games to go. If they'd won, it would have been a real embarrassment to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn; the Cubs would have been in the postseason with a record more than 20 games under .500. But they lost seven of their last 10 to end any chance of that.</p>
<p>The 1981 throwback uniforms just reminded me of that story. I like this year's team, and its postseason chances, much better. Don't you?</p>
<p>The Cubs go for the series sweep Sunday, with <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> on the mound for the Cubs and <span>Sean Manaea</span> for the A's.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/8/6/12394812/cubs-athletics-recap-jake-arrieta-addison-russell-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2016-08-06T17:50:02-05:002016-08-06T17:50:02-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs Athletics, Saturday 8/6
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ok_UEJcZaaucDpVi0WphlRpCSrk=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50309865/GettyImages-586321326.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/8/6/12335788/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-athletics-saturday-8-6-3-05-ctAl Yellon2016-08-06T17:05:03-05:002016-08-06T17:05:03-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Athletics, Saturday 8/6
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p8xXh6YCmbwXnFOwPibszbylaLc=/0x0:3921x2614/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50309861/usa-today-9424539.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/8/6/12335792/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-athletics-saturday-8-6-3-05-ctAl Yellon2016-08-06T16:05:02-05:002016-08-06T16:05:02-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs Athletics, Saturday 8/6
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e2fE4z4rnBu5nYCpB0dvt14mi20=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50309851/GettyImages-586321340.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/8/6/12335794/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-athletics-saturday-8-6-3-05-ctAl Yellon2016-08-06T13:00:04-05:002016-08-06T13:00:04-05:00Cubs vs. Athletics Preview, Saturday 8/6, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xbUSyNfETboiRQy8u3hRUSw72qI=/0x346:4472x3327/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50309821/usa-today-9424437.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for their sixth win in a row.</p> <p>The last time the Cubs won six straight was May 24-30 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> (two), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> (three) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> (one). That was when they were blowing their way through the first-half schedule.</p>
<p>They seem almost back to that kind of winning and dominance. Since July 10, the last game before the All-Star break, the Cubs are now 15-6 and have outscored their opponents 95-57 in those 21 games.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the A's have lost six of their last seven. I don't want to seem overconfident, but the Cubs do have a very good chance to sweep this series.</p>
<p>The A's are hosting "1980s Turn Back The Clock Day" today and will be wearing retro uniforms. My understanding is that the Cubs will be joining in on this promotion with a retro uniform, possibly the late-70s, early-80s baby-blue pinstripe "pajama" look.</p>
<p>Here are today's particulars.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Fowler CF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Soler DH, Montero C, Contreras LF</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JArrieta34">@JArrieta34</a> takes the mound today in Oakland.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/mKjpvb3tRY">https://t.co/mKjpvb3tRY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGo?src=hash">#LetsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/lI6r8H8Axo">pic.twitter.com/lI6r8H8Axo</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/761962500715753473">August 6, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Athletics lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Crisp LF, Muncy 2B, Vogt C, Davis DH, Valencia RF, Alonso 1B, Semien SS, Smolinski CF, Healy 3B</blockquote>
<center>
<p><span><img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6215621/jakearrieta2016.0.jpg"></span></p>
<span> </span>
<h2><span>Jake Arrieta</span></h2>
<h2>vs</h2>
<p><span><img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6888285/sonnygray.0.jpg"></span></p>
<span> </span>
<h2><span>Sonny Gray</span></h2>
</center>
<p>Jake Arrieta's last outing, in which he allowed just two hits and two runs to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, suggests maybe he's back on track to have a good second half. He hasn't faced the A's since 2012, and just one current member of the A's roster played in that game (<span>Coco Crisp</span>). Current members of the A's roster are a small-sample-size 9-for-43 (.209) against Jake. Much of that is <span>Khris Davis</span>, the former Brewer, who's 4-for-19 against Jake with two doubles.</p>
<p>Sonny Gray was thought to be a Cubs trade target earlier this year, and who knows? He still could be next offseason. After a very good 2015 in which he finished third in A.L. Cy Young voting, Gray has had an awful 2016. He missed a couple of starts in late May with a strained trapezius, but hasn't been any better since his return: 5.57 ERA, 1.429 WHIP, 10 home runs allowed in 11 starts covering 63 innings. Only three current Cubs have ever faced him: <span>Dexter Fowler</span> (2-for-4), <span>Ben Zobrist</span> (2-for-5, two doubles) and <span>Jason Heyward</span> (0-for-3).</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=8/6/2016">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_08_06_chnmlb_oakmlb_1#game=2016_08_06_chnmlb_oakmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/CHC.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/508338/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athleticss</a> site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com">Athletics Nation</a>. If you do go there to interact with A's fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p>The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.</p>
<p>You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).</p>
<p>At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.</p>
<p>You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.</p>
<p>The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/8/6/12297370/chicago-cubs-oakland-athletics-preview-lineupsAl Yellon