Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rockies Friday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-06-09T18:10:04-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/155176412017-06-09T18:10:04-05:002017-06-09T18:10:04-05:00Rockies 5, Cubs 3: Some walks in the park
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<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs kept getting baserunners, but could not get them home.</p> <p id="UVmmJs">These are the kinds of games that would make me tear the hair off my head, if I had any.</p>
<p id="BBOqPi">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> had only three hits off six <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> pitchers Friday afternoon. But they had baserunners galore: nine walks and three hit batters made for Cubs runners all over the ballpark. And in general, that’s where they stayed: 11 men left on base, 1-for-11 with RISP, and leaving the bases loaded twice produced a frustrating <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_06_09_colmlb_chnmlb_1">5-3 defeat at the hands of the Rockies</a>.</p>
<p id="jhyKv3">The ninth inning was the worst, so let’s start with that. Rockies closer <span>Greg Holland</span> has been lights-out all year. He had walked only eight hitters all season of the 83 he’d faced coming into Friday’s game. He hadn’t walked three in an outing in more than two years — 65 appearances ago.</p>
<p id="bbTdB9">And so what does he do? Walk the bases full of Cubs with one out in the ninth. That put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base with <span>Ben Zobrist</span> due up.</p>
<p id="pudYRp">Holland, at this point, has thrown 21 pitches, a season high. He’s thrown 13 balls and eight strikes.</p>
<p id="9ga7rx">So what does Zobrist do? Swings at the first pitch and pops it into short left field.</p>
<p id="HrZEWj">Grrrr. Then Holland struck out <span>Jason Heyward</span> to end it.</p>
<p id="bEIJi8">I think Zobrist has to at least take one pitch, make a guy who doesn’t appear to have command give him a better pitch to hit. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rockies-vs-cubs/2017/06/09/491008#game_state=final,game_tab=play-by-play,game=491008">Gameday</a> says that pitch was a four-seamer, and Holland wasn’t doing well with command with either his fastball or slider.</p>
<p id="wIyF1U">Obviously, this wasn’t the only reason the Cubs lost this game but they certainly had an excellent opportunity against the guy who’s been the game’s best closer this year.</p>
<p id="ND3hRi">The Cubs actually took a 2-0 lead in this game when with two out in the first, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> walked and Zobrist singled. <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/09/1479736583/1497034470196/asset_1800K.mp4">That brought Heyward to the plate [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="XTRbw8"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/09/1479736583/1497034470196/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="zybugv">Heyward’s single scored one run and when <span>Charlie Blackmon</span> briefly fumbled the ball, Zobrist also scored.</p>
<p id="ULCp5o">As has been the case so often this year, that Cubs lead barely lasted five minutes. <span>Mike Montgomery</span> served up a two-run homer to Ryan Hanigan. It stayed 2-2 through four, when Montgomery left for pinch-hitter <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> after throwing 73 pitches. Again, Montgomery didn’t have good command, issuing three walks, otherwise maybe Joe Maddon lets him throw another inning.</p>
<p id="yEwsEv"><span>Seth Frankoff</span> then made his major-league debut. It did not go well. The first big-league hitter he faced was former Cub Chris Rusin, who singled. Blackmon followed with a home run to make it 4-2. <span>Frankoff</span> finished two innings, allowing four hits and the two runs. I honestly don’t see anything special with him — he barely touched 90 with most of his fastballs, peaking at 91. I imagine he was brought up simply to piggyback with Montgomery and hope for the best. After his two innings and 37 pitches, he’s likely headed back to Iowa and I suspect <span>Pierce Johnson</span> might be back to fill the last spot in the pen.</p>
<p id="h6Bfpk">The Cubs scored a run in the fifth to close to within 4-3. The inning started better than it ended, with a walk and a single by <span>Kris Bryant</span> and Rizzo, respectively, but Zobrist got Bryant hung up in a rundown between third and home where he was tagged out. Heyward beat a relay throw to first on a possible double-play ball to score the run, which the Cubs gave back two innings later when <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> hit pinch-hitter <span>Raimel Tapia</span>, who then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Willson Contreras. CJ struck out the next two hitters and had a 2-2 count on <span>Nolan Arenado</span> when Arenado singled in the Rockies’ fifth run.</p>
<p id="eGBZyK">Worth looking at is Contreras’ throw nailing <span>Ian Desmond</span> trying to steal second <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/09/1480006183/1497043888853/asset_1800K.mp4">to end the eighth inning [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="BtMNyk"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><video controls="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.<source src="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/09/1480006183/1497043888853/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="2XaBec">The review crew ruled that “call stands.”</p>
<p id="FQCSq4">I honestly don’t know what else to say about this one. The weather was beautiful and Wrigley Field was packed and granted, the Rockies are a very good team but this was a winnable game. The Cubs had baserunners everywhere and in scoring position in the first, third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings. They cashed in on a couple of those chances (first and fifth), but the others... grrrrr again.</p>
<p id="aSgC3A">The nine walks, for whatever it’s worth, give the Cubs 243 for the season and, pending Friday night’s action, the league lead over the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> by 11. That’s an average of 4.05 per game and a pace for 656, which would tie the franchise record set last year.</p>
<p id="rDfk9c">And that doesn’t really mean anything unless you can actually get some of those baserunners to score runs.</p>
<p id="4EhNz2">A depressing fact about this game:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most times held to 3 or fewer hits this season<br>7 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a><br>5 Six teams tied</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/873308189244129282">June 9, 2017</a>
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<p id="w5gskX">A depressing fact about <span>Kyle Schwarber</span>, who went 0-for-3 with a walk in this one:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">From May 18th to present, 448 different players have at least one single.<br>But not Kyle Schwarber. He still hasn't singled since May 17th.</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/873299487627911168">June 9, 2017</a>
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<p id="iUFBsV">The Cubs drop to .500 at 30-30 and will need to win the last two games of this series just to split it. Former Rockies pitcher <span>Eddie Butler</span> will go for the Cubs Saturday against Colorado’s <span>Jeff Hoffman</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/9/15773204/cubs-rockies-recap-mike-montgomery-jason-heyward-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-06-09T16:05:02-05:002017-06-09T16:05:02-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Rockies, Friday 6/9, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="8kR0jk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/9/15724708/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-rockies-friday-6-9-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-06-09T15:20:02-05:002017-06-09T15:20:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Rockies, Friday 6/9, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="8kR0jk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/9/15724604/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-rockies-friday-6-9-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-06-09T14:20:02-05:002017-06-09T14:20:02-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Rockies, Friday 6/9, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="8kR0jk">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/9/15724588/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-rockies-friday-6-9-1-20-ctAl Yellon2017-06-09T11:30:02-05:002017-06-09T11:30:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies preview, Friday 6/9, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs look to even up their series against the Rockies.</p> <p><span>Seth Frankoff</span>, who the Cubs added to the 40-man roster Thursday, also joined the 25-man roster when <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> was placed on the disabled list.</p>
<p>Frankoff could be an unlikely success story. He was a 27th-round pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in 2010 and has yet to appear in the big leagues. The Cubs signed him to a minor-league deal last November after he spent 2016 in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> organization. He's posted a 2.77 ERA and 0.940 WHIP in 11 appearances (nine starts) at Triple-A Iowa with 59 strikeouts in 55⅓ innings.</p>
<p>Just two other players chosen in that 2010 round have played in the major leagues: <span>Alex Claudio</span>, a reliever for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>, and <span>Brandon Cunniff</span>, who pitched briefly for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> in 2015 and 2016. The Cubs' pick in that round, Bryce Harper's brother Bryan Harper, didn't sign with the Cubs and was picked the following year by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>. He's now out of baseball.</p>
<p>Here's hoping for better than that for Seth Frankoff, who's thrilled about coming to the big leagues for the first time:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Words can't describe the emotions I felt putting on a <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs">@Cubs</a> uniform for the 1st time tonight. Thank y'all for the kind&thoughtful comments!</p>
— Seth Frankoff (@frankoff34) <a href="https://twitter.com/frankoff34/status/873022084653490177">June 9, 2017</a>
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<p id="xd18M6">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Yv7Z7W"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Happ CF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Heyward RF, Baez SS, Montero C, Montgomery P, Schwarber LF</blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> starting lineup.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/HcHkGAylEz">https://t.co/HcHkGAylEz</a> <a href="https://t.co/hmzly0NcKw">pic.twitter.com/hmzly0NcKw</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/873187115198283777">June 9, 2017</a>
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<p id="FbwPnv"><a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Blackmon CF, LeMahieu 2B, Arenado 3B, Reynolds 1B, Gonzalez RF, Desmond LF, Story SS, Hanigan C, Marquez P</blockquote>
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<span>Mike Montgomery</span> vs. <span>German Marquez</span>
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<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p>Mike Montgomery has been solid in long relief this year, posting two saves of 3⅓ innings or longer, including one last Monday.</p>
<p>He is making his first start since <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201609150.shtml">September 15, 2016</a>, when he threw six innings against the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brewers</a> and allowed three runs (one earned) with one walk and seven strikeouts.</p>
<p>That would be a good result from today's outing. Montgomery's issue has always been command and control. Despite generally good results this year, he's walked 20 in 36⅔ innings. That's 4.9 walks per nine, above his career rate of 3.8.</p>
<p>If he can keep the walks down, he could do well today.</p>
<p>German Marquez threw eight shutout innings against the Cubs <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL201705100.shtml">May 10 in Denver</a>. That can't happen again... can it?</p>
<p>My guess is "probably not." Marquez has a 4.15 ERA and 1.569 WHIP since then in four starts. He has a lifetime 4.99 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) away from Coors Field.</p>
<p>At least the Cubs have seen this guy before. Maybe that experience will help.</p>
<p id="WcvA7O">Today's game is on CSN Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Denver markets).</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=6/9/2017">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_06_09_colmlb_chnmlb_1#game=2017_06_09_colmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/CHN201706090.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/522491/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> site <a href="http://www.purplerow.com/">Purple Row</a>. If you do go there to interact with Rockies 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>
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<p id="bul4Yq">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/9/15724836/chicago-cubs-colorado-rockies-preview-fridayAl Yellon