Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Pirates Sunday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-04-16T18:00:04-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/150635532017-04-16T18:00:04-05:002017-04-16T18:00:04-05:00Pirates 6, Cubs 1: No One For The Defense
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<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs’ usually good defense had a bad day at the worst possible time.</p> <p id="RuWTx3">I said I was going to try to not make comparisons between the 2017 <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> and the 2016 club, because last year was special and unique and that’s not fair to the two teams and the two seasons. Every season’s different and plays out in a unique way.</p>
<p id="opj8p0">However, one of the things that made the 2016 Cubs as good as they were was outstanding defense, not just from one player but from the entire team.</p>
<p id="NpYtcC">Sunday, after seven innings’ worth of magnificent pitcher’s duel between <span>Jon Lester</span> and <span>Jameson Taillon</span>, the Cubs’ defense failed, miserably so, and that resulted in <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_04_16_pitmlb_chnmlb_1">a 6-1 loss to the Pirates</a>. That’s the Cubs’ worst loss of the season to date, and the first time they’ve been swept at Wrigley Field since last June, when the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> took a three-game set. It’s the first time the Pirates have swept a series from the Cubs since September 5-6-7, 2014, when the Bucs won all three games in a Wrigley series.</p>
<p id="pebMZP">The defense did its job early, at least. <span>Willson Contreras</span> threw out <span>Jordy Mercer</span> trying to steal after he led off the game with a four-pitch walk. On that play, <span>Starling Marte</span> struck out for a double play. That was significant because <span>Andrew McCutchen</span> then hit a long fly ball for a triple to right.</p>
<p id="7zdn4W">I’ll just come out and say it. <span>Jason Heyward</span> makes that play. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> didn’t. I, personally, would like to see less of Ben Zobrist in right field.</p>
<p id="4uc9LU">After the triple, Lester retired nine in a row before <span>Addison Russell</span> made a throwing error allowing <span>David Freese</span> to reach base. After a single, <span>Kris Bryant</span> made a fine play at third base to throw out <span>Josh Harrison</span> to end the inning.</p>
<p id="Cj9Tos">Meanwhile, the Cubs were not taking advantage of opportunities. <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> singled to lead off the first. It appeared that Bryant had forced him at second base and was safe at first, but the Pirates challenged that Bryant’s slide was not legal and <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/63817564/v1292442183/?partnerId=as_mlb_20170416_71623546&adbid=853696964822614017&adbpl=tw&adbpr=2305377590">the review crew ruled that the Bucs were right [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="wMsv7a">Even after that the Cubs had a chance to score, as <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> and Zobrist singled. But Russell was called out on strikes.</p>
<p id="7ZJnN0">The Cubs also had RISP in the third and fifth innings but could not score.</p>
<p id="j2jSab">Meanwhile, the Cubs had some good defense in the middle innings. With one out and a runner on first in the fifth, Taillon attempted a bunt that Rizzo, Russell and <span>Javier Baez</span> turned into a double play. Contreras picked Freese off first after a leadoff walk in the seventh and then after Harrison was hit by a pitch, Willson threw him out on a patented Javy play. <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/v1293182683/?c_id=mlb">Here are all three of Contreras’ good plays. [VIDEO]</a></p>
<p id="BEgxd1">Unfortunately, that all stopped after the seventh inning. The Cubs took the lead on an RBI double by <span>Tommy La Stella</span> after a leadoff single by Jason Heyward. Given what had happened earlier in the day with strong pitching, it looked like one run might be enough, especially with <span>Koji Uehara</span> coming in for the eighth. Uehara had been outstanding all year.</p>
<p id="aEoiY4">Until this game. He issued a walk, then <span>Adam Frazier</span> doubled. Another walk loaded the bases, and a pop-fly single just out of the reach of Cubs fielders tied the game. <span>Hector Rondon</span> came in and got Marte to hit a ground ball to Baez. That resulted in a force at the plate, but after that is when the defense broke down.</p>
<p id="ZmXLAK">Another ground ball in the infield, this one to Rizzo, should have resulted in the second out. <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/63817564/v1293045483/?c_id=mlb">Instead, this happened [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="OC2fPk">Contreras’ foot was just off the plate when the ball settled into his glove and the Pirates had a 2-1 lead, and there was still only one out.</p>
<p id="jqoHCD">Then Freese hit a ball to Heyward, fairly shallow, and Heyward threw homeward, and the throw went up the third base line. Still, Contreras should have stopped the ball. Instead, it got through and a third run scored. The error went to Heyward since his throw was offline, but again — Willson has to keep that ball in front of him.</p>
<p id="RKttiw">At 3-1, the Cubs still could have come back, but were retired 1-2-3 by <span>Felipe Rivero</span>, a lefthander the Bucs acquired last summer in the <span>Mark Melancon</span> deal.</p>
<p id="yNqdAH"><span>Justin Grimm</span> had a disastrous ninth, hitting Harrison to lead off the inning, then issuing a walk, then serving up a three-run homer to <span>Frazier</span>. That sent much of the Easter Sunday crowd out of the ballpark, and ruined what was a very pleasant spring afternoon with a game-time temperature of 72.</p>
<p id="ho1X83">Maybe I shouldn’t come down too hard on Contreras, given his strong defense earlier in the game. Credit to him for those, but he really has to make those late-inning plays.</p>
<p id="X8kMrs">It’s early and no one should be that concerned about a 6-6 start. However, this team did as well as they did in 2016 in part because they played airtight, outstanding defense. The 2017 team is going to have to tighten things up to win.</p>
<p id="LnAD4Y">Oh, and the late-inning relief is going to have to improve, too.</p>
<p id="Zz6KTG">The Cubs will have a new opponent Monday, a team they just finished taking two of three from in Milwaukee. The <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> begin a three-game series Monday evening. It’ll be <span>John Lackey</span> for the Cubs and <span>Chase Anderson</span> for the Brewers.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/16/15321152/cubs-pirates-recap-jon-lester-willson-contreras-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-04-16T16:05:02-05:002017-04-16T16:05:02-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 4/16, 1:20 CT
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<p id="mplmdo">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/16/15265634/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-4-16-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-04-16T15:20:01-05:002017-04-16T15:20:01-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 4/16, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/16/15265630/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-4-16-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-04-16T14:20:01-05:002017-04-16T14:20:01-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 4/16, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/16/15265622/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-pirates-sunday-4-16-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-04-16T11:30:01-05:002017-04-16T11:30:01-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview, Sunday 4/16, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs try to salvage one game out of their set with the Pirates.</p> <p>Before today, the last time the Cubs entered a game with a losing record at Wrigley Field was September 23, 2014, when they faced the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> with a home record of 39-40.</p>
<p>They beat the Cardinals that day and the next to finish 2014 with a home record of 41-40. In 2015-16 combined the Cubs were 106-56 at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p>They're 2-3 so far at home this year. I'd think that kind of thing would turn around fairly soon. Today would be a good time to start.</p>
<p id="xd18M6">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Yv7Z7W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Schwarber LF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist RF, Russell SS, Heyward CF, Contreras C, Lester P, Baez 2B</blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> lineup for the series finale against the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash">#Pirates</a>. <br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/WTC20XCGwg">https://t.co/WTC20XCGwg</a> <a href="https://t.co/GMVAhu2Bm7">pic.twitter.com/GMVAhu2Bm7</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/853612087905468417">April 16, 2017</a>
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<p id="FbwPnv"><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Mercer SS, Marte CF, McCutchen RF, Freese 1B, Cervelli C, Harrison 3B, Gosselin 2B, Frazier LF, Taillon P</blockquote>
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<span>Jon Lester</span> vs. <span>Jameson Taillon</span>
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<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p>Jon Lester has picked up where he left off last year, making two good starts so far (two earned runs in 11 innings, 14 strikeouts, ). Current Pirates are hitting .254 (34-for-134) against Jon with three home runs (<span>Andrew McCutchen</span>, <span>Jordy Mercer</span>, <span>Chris Stewart</span>). The Cubs need him to step up today in order to take one of this three-game series.</p>
<p>Jameson Taillon has also been very good this year (13 innings, two earned runs, 1.000 WHIP). He made two starts against the Cubs last year. They hit him hard <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201606190.shtml" target="_blank">June 19 at Wrigley Field</a>, but <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201609280.shtml" target="_blank">September 28</a> in Pittsburgh, he allowed just one hit in six innings.</p>
<p>The Cubs really do need to step up their offense. The 46 runs scored so far ranks 10th in the National League.</p>
<p id="jTO5g5">Today's game is on WGN.</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=11/2/2016">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2017_04_16_pitmlb_chnmlb_1#game=2017_04_16_pitmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/CHN201704160.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/523239/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> site <a href="http://www.bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a>. If you do go there to interact with Pirates 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 id="4R9cxt">The 2017 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2016. Here's how it works.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">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 id="Jy7Er2">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 id="F5ehVY">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/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">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 id="14mqou">Get tickets to Cubs games from our partner Stubhub <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchicago-cubs-tickets%2Fperformer%2F5644%2F%3Fgcid%3DchDIG-_-geoUS-_-genAllTix-_-dt170314-_-cmpEvergreenVoxOrganic-_-mktgrBRAND-_-partVox&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2017%2F4%2F16%2F15265392%2Fchicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-sunday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p id="9BqKXK">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/4/16/15265392/chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-sundayAl Yellon