Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Pirates Friday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2017-06-19T09:30:02-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/155799512017-06-19T09:30:02-05:002017-06-19T09:30:02-05:00Cubs Heroes and Goats weekend wrap: Games 66-68
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<figcaption>Willson Contreras with two hero podium appearances on the weekend | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs win two of three to move back to .500.</p> <p id="6iP5Q4">I have returned from my vacation and let’s see what there is to see. I last recapped a <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> win on June 5, their fourth straight win to move to 29-27. Since that time, the Cubs have won just five of 12 games and once again they are at .500. If I’m counting right, this is 14 times that the Cubs have been at .500 so far this season. That includes every other day since June 9 as the Cubs have been alternating one loss and one win. </p>
<p id="T8nSwc">This weekend, the Cubs took two of three from the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>. I, along with many of you I’m sure, keep hoping that this team is going to get hot. It sure would be nice if they had a good week this week behind the decent weekend in Pittsburgh as the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> loom next week and figure to be a very formidable opponent, though they’ve cooled off from their blistering start to the season a little bit. Alas, can’t look forward before we look back, so let’s get to it.</p>
<p id="1cVocC">As a reminder, the Heroes and Goats themselves are determined by WPA (Win Probability Added — <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/misc/wpa/">here’s a good explanation of how WPA works</a>) and are not in any way subjective. Many days WPA will not tell the story of what happened, but often it can give at least a glimpse to who rose to the occasion in a high leverage moment or who didn’t get the job done in that moment. Also note, for the purposes of Heroes and Goats, we ignore the results of pitchers while they are batting and hitters while they are pitching. With that, we get to the results.</p>
<p id="7sPU8u"><strong>Game Chart for Friday, June 16:</strong></p>
<div id="x5pUEs">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-16&team=Pirates&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-16&team=Pirates&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="a1YoKi"><strong>THE THREE HEROES: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="4QXsOD">
<strong>Superhero - </strong><span>Willson Contreras</span> (.516). Two run double in the first and an RBI double in the ninth to tie the game. The latter was worth .320 by itself. </li>
<li id="KU7CjX">
<strong>Hero - </strong><span>Jason Heyward</span> (.208). Jason and Willson were a bit of a dynamic duo in this one with Heyward walking ahead of one Contreras double and doubling ahead of the other and scored on each.</li>
<li id="2Eb9gd">
<strong>Sidekick - </strong><span>Ian Happ</span> (.205). I’m not always sure what to make of Happ. I’ve thought at times that he should be back in AAA, but in June he has a line of .234/.321/.681. With all of the bumps and bruises and with a slugging percentage that is now at .544 over his first 118 plate appearances, he continues to contribute to the struggling offense.</li>
</ul>
<p id="BxZcEE"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="UjqFVy">
<strong>Billy Goat - </strong><span>Eddie Butler</span> (-.170). Over seven starts, Eddie is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA at home and 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA on the road. The peripherals aren’t massively different though, so maybe not a thing. But something I’m keeping an eye on.</li>
<li id="NYJQRR">
<strong>Goat - </strong><span>Kyle Schwarber</span> (-.159). Ugh. Kyle was hitless in five plate appearances. He did get to score a run after reaching on a fielder’s choice, but it was not a great day at the plate. If you were looking for a positive, he didn’t strike out.</li>
<li id="IDkb6N">
<strong>Kid - </strong>Pedro Strop (-.144). Came into a tie game with a man on third and promptly allowed a go ahead single before getting out of the inning.</li>
</ul>
<p id="g43n6B"><strong>Game Chart for Saturday, June 17:</strong></p>
<div id="r0WMHp">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-17&team=Pirates&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-17&team=Pirates&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="CiJk8i"><strong>THE THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="myFEzL">
<strong>Superhero - </strong><span>Brian Duensing</span> (.065). Well, it’s never going to be good when A) .065 is up here and B) a middle reliever who only faced one batter is up here. But kudos for Duensing for getting out of a bases loaded jam and preserve a one run deficit.</li>
<li id="oo6P4C">
<strong>Hero - </strong>Carl Edwards (.040). One scoreless seventh inning in a one run game. Nice to see a couple of scoreless outings after that rough one he had in New York.</li>
<li id="aLYcjP">
<strong>Sidekick - </strong>Pedro Strop (.028). Clean sweep for the bullpen. Pedro worked the scoreless eighth inning as the Cubs bullpen did everything they could to try to give the bats a chance to pull this one out.</li>
<li id="XM1Vh6">Honorable Mention - <span>Jake Arrieta</span> (.229). We don’t include pitcher’s hitting, but that was clearly the bright spot of this game as his two run homer tied the game at two in the fifth. (And was one of the few home runs I’ve called this year!)</li>
</ul>
<p id="APKv1M"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="h4CDN4">
<strong>Billy Goat - </strong>Jake Arrieta (-.237). Same old story, generally looks very good, but whenever he is off a little bit, he’s getting hit a whole lot. Not at all the season we expected heading into free agency.</li>
<li id="5tF4Z7">
<strong>Goat - </strong><span>Javier Baez</span> (-.123). Two fly outs, a sacrifice bunt and a strike out. </li>
<li id="V86wAY">
<strong>Kid - </strong><span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> (-.106). Got the call to pinch hit with two on and one out in a one run game in the eighth and flew out. </li>
</ul>
<p id="6al54N"><strong>Game Chart for Sunday, June 18:</strong></p>
<div id="6GEFFR">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2017-06-18&team=Pirates&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-18&team=Pirates&dh=0&season=2017">FanGraphs</a></span>
</div>
<p id="cJe6Hz"><strong>THE THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="iRRx7z">
<strong>Superhero - </strong><span>John Lackey</span> (.219). Can’t sugar coat that this has been a tough season for John, but this was a good one. Only five base runners over six innings of work. </li>
<li id="ST0IxV">
<strong>Hero - </strong><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> (.195). It would be so easy to cherry pick the games since he was moved to the lead off spot or his twelve game hitting streak, but let’s go back further. Over the last 61 games, Anthony has hit .274/.408/.544. 277 plate appearances of a 43 home run, 120 RBI pace. Basically sacrificing a little batting average for a fair amount more on base percentage from last year. Very quietly until recently, having his usual awesome season.</li>
<li id="e4WNMy">
<strong>Sidekick - </strong>Willson Contreras (.176). Drove in the first three runs with two doubles in the first three innings. Not quite as flashy as last Father’s Day against these Pirates, but twice on the hero podium in two starts was a very strong weekend performance.</li>
</ul>
<p id="XqTe0C"><strong>THE THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="CWAF52">
<strong>Billy Goat - </strong>Albert Almora Jr. (-.084). Got the rare start in the fifth spot in the order. Line out, strike out, ground out, strike out. Three times he made the last out of an inning and in total left four men on base, all in scoring position.</li>
<li id="raSLev">
<strong>Goat - </strong><span>Tommy La Stella</span> (-.064). Also got a rare start, in the sixth spot. Ground out, ground out, ground out, fly out. The biggest difference is that he was generally making the first out of the inning. </li>
<li id="kEoevV">
<strong>Kid - </strong>Jason Heyward (-.054). Grounded out and lined out to second before becoming the most recent Cub to leave a game injured. </li>
</ul>
<p id="VGrOO0">Before we go, we’ll look at our year to date standings for Heroes and Goats. As a reminder, we award three points for Superhero, two for Hero, and one for Sidekick. And we deduct -3 points for Billy Goat, -2 for Goat and -1 for Kid. Here then are the standings.</p>
<p id="H5RbVh"><strong>Year to Date Standings (</strong><em><strong>italics</strong></em><strong> means player no longer in the organization):</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="YrqpsY">Anthony Rizzo 36</li>
<li id="60CY9M">Kyle Schwarber 10</li>
<li id="Rle5b8">
<span>Wade Davis</span> 9</li>
<li id="QLCaAj">
<span>Mike Montgomery</span> 7</li>
<li id="3WHXGo">Willson Contreras 7</li>
<li id="S5sT84">
<span>Kris Bryant</span> 7</li>
<li id="LMJK5W">Tommy La Stella 6</li>
<li id="z4CoGt">
<span>Kyle Hendricks</span> 4</li>
<li id="UtyLkR">
<span>Jon Jay</span> 4</li>
<li id="Oq5amz">
<span>Miguel Montero</span> 3</li>
<li id="FQdgCb">
<span>Felix Pena</span> 3</li>
<li id="i77eiq">
<span><em>Matt Szczur</em></span><em> 2</em>
</li>
<li id="52JLX6">
<span>Justin Grimm</span> 2</li>
<li id="yzElyf">Ian Happ 2</li>
<li id="qJKmO5">Brian Duensing 1</li>
<li id="vPqhXv">Eddie Butler -1</li>
<li id="Vd0MLW">Albert Almora -1</li>
<li id="CHstey">Carl Edwards -1</li>
<li id="MHqPLa">
<span>Seth Frankoff</span> -1</li>
<li id="MnsQB5">
<span>Hector Rondon</span> -2</li>
<li id="jO3zQ6">
<span>Pierce Johnson</span> -3</li>
<li id="UtToJ3">Jason Heyward -4</li>
<li id="NKDTq3">Pedro Strop -4</li>
<li id="HQ87Cj">
<span>Brett Anderson</span> -5</li>
<li id="DwYPd8">
<span>Jeimer Candelario</span> -5</li>
<li id="n2xLd7">
<span>Addison Russell</span> -6</li>
<li id="uVSyrR">Koji Uehara -7</li>
<li id="aZGl5H">Ben Zobrist -8</li>
<li id="czkV19">
<span>Jon Lester</span> -10</li>
<li id="5JQrkI">Jake Arrieta -11</li>
<li id="76ZxIZ">John Lackey -14</li>
<li id="dzaWXO">Javier Baez -21</li>
</ul>
<p id="qTYGI1">Anthony Rizzo has been a fixture at the top of the Heroes and Goats lists for much of the last three seasons, so that much is business as usual. Last year, most of his closest competition came from the starting rotation. This year, the starting rotation occupies three of the bottom four spots on this list. Those three pitchers are going to have to get it in gear if this team is going to take control of the NL Central at any point.</p>
<p id="Ge9MBZ">As always, I will leave you with a poll. This time, we’ll again look at player of the week. I suspect this one will be a landslide, but let’s take a look.</p>
<div id="FEhKSl"><div data-anthem-component="poll:498301"></div></div>
<p id="pgKcHg">The Cubs return home tonight against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>. Jon Lester will be on the mound against old friend Clayton Richard. The Cubs will be looking to avenge the sweep they suffered a few weeks ago at the hands of a very bad Padres team.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/19/15828904/cubs-heroes-and-goats-weekend-wrap-games-66-68Thomas Smith2017-06-17T08:00:06-05:002017-06-17T08:00:06-05:00Cubs 9, Pirates 5: In the big inning
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<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Well, that was different, in just about every way.</p> <p id="f6hB0w"><a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2017_06_16_chnmlb_pitmlb_1">The Cubs’ 9-5 win over the Pirates</a> Friday evening was again one of those games, and the Cubs have had a few of them this year, where you think: If they do come back and win the N.L. Central, this is a game you could look back at and say, “That all started right here.”</p>
<p id="vHk744">Let’s begin at the end, since that was the fun part. Trailing 4-3 and having had only two baserunners from the third through eighth innings, the Cubs put together a six-run rally that was highlighted by some really good situational hitting, something that’s been mostly missing this year.</p>
<p id="y7y5Q9"><span>Jason Heyward</span> led off with a double. Then <span>Willson Contreras</span> <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1505978383/1497665213676/asset_1800K.mp4">did this [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="0jA4RC">That’s a really good piece of hitting, inside-outing the ball to right field. Cubs hitters did a lot of this in 2016, calling it their “B hack,” in other words, shortening up their swing and going with the pitch. They haven’t done that as much this year and it was great to see Contreras do just that.</p>
<p id="wWhuNC">That tied the game. <span>Tommy La Stella</span> followed with a single and Contreras was held at third. <span>Kris Bryant</span> was given a Manfred to load the bases, and then <span>Jon Jay</span> was sent up to hit for <span>Koji Uehara</span>. The Pirates countered with lefthander <span>Tony Watson</span>. <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1506048783/1497665894402/asset_1800K.mp4">That didn’t work out well at all for the Bucs [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="po7fic"><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/mp4/2017/06/17/1506048783/1497665894402/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="gG0ARH">Jay sent Watson’s first pitch into left field for an RBI single to give the Cubs the lead. It was his 10th pinch hit of the season. The Cubs’ team record is 20, set by Thad Bosley in 1985, tied by Dave Clark in 1997. Jay has a real shot at breaking that mark.</p>
<p id="MGBoLt">Anyway, it’s now 5-4 Cubs but they’re not anywhere near done. <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> singled in runs number 6 and 7, and after another out with the bases still loaded, <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> hit into a force play scoring run number 8.</p>
<p id="8wcJL6">Rizzo is now on third and Schwarber is on first <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1506085983/1497666387968/asset_1800K.mp4">for Addison Russell [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="0BM9O9"><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/mp4/2017/06/17/1506085983/1497666387968/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="7IzJ8u">Watching Schwarber lumber around third base and make a really nice slide around <span>Francisco Cervelli</span> on Russell’s long double to complete the scoring made me imagine that’s what Babe Ruth must have looked like in similar situations. No, really!</p>
<div id="kysfvT">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Baseball legend Babe Ruth running the bases back in the day...tags third & he's heading home! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLB?src=hash">#MLB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GIF?src=hash">#GIF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlashbackFriday?src=hash">#FlashbackFriday</a> <a href="https://t.co/aAjm47GJ6I">pic.twitter.com/aAjm47GJ6I</a></p>— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSmile/status/875797143675654145">June 16, 2017</a>
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<p id="5Nkc2C">You know, all of what I’ve written just up to here would have made a great game recap all by itself, but this game had lots of weird happenings before the first inning was over, so let’s rewind back to that.</p>
<p id="rWpMrf">Leading off for the third straight game, Rizzo hit what appeared at first to be a home run. It was initially called fair on the field, then the umpires conferred and signaled “foul.” Joe Maddon asked for a crew chief review (remember, home run reviews are different from the other parts of the review system and not subject to challenge), upon which it was “call stands.”</p>
<p id="nUO6Io">That brought Joe Maddon out of the dugout and <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/16/1504904583/1497655407602/asset_1800K.mp4">man, was he upset! [VIDEO]</a></p>
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<p id="d5ffev">Maddon was ejected — after three pitches! — and so had to watch the rest of the game in his throwback duds from the visiting manager’s office. Here’s why he was so upset:</p>
<div id="50EpEM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Maddon: There's no way you can tell me that was the right procedure. The instant replay system was neutered in the 1st inning tonight</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/875915055329673216">June 17, 2017</a>
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<div id="DOlqSn">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1st base ump called the ball fair, then they conferred and thought it was foul. Then, they look at replay. ... MORE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> 1st</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/875915340852715520">June 17, 2017</a>
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<div id="XEr6lY">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Once call is changed to foul, burden of proof is stands or confirmed. They didn't see enough to overturn foul call so it stands. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a></p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/875915491071713282">June 17, 2017</a>
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<p id="cXViK4">Maddon has a fair point. The review could have been asked for by Clint Hurdle after the initial call of “fair.” If it’s “call stands” after that, then Rizzo would have had his third consecutive leadoff homer. But by changing the call before the review... well, you see Maddon’s point, I think.</p>
<p id="FbNt9W">To be fair (so to speak), the ball did in fact appear to be foul on the video, so they got the call right.</p>
<p id="kJEmwv">Rizzo eventually walked, <span>Ian Happ</span> singled and Schwarber hit what looked like a bloop single to left. But Rizzo had to hold in between bases to make sure the ball would drop and was forced at third. After another force out, Heyward walked to load the bases. </p>
<p id="SFUQos">Happ scored on a wild pitch and then <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/16/1505036283/1497656992615/asset_1800K.mp4">Contreras came to bat [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="xRFAlI"><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/mp4/2017/06/16/1505036283/1497656992615/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="DKvlaE">Contreras’ two-run double made it 3-0. He did have a shot at third base but a good throw from <span>Gregory Polanco</span> to <span>Jordy Mercer</span> to <span>David Freese</span> got him. At the time it didn’t seem that significant, but when the Cubs entered the ninth losing 4-3...</p>
<p id="L4Ur7v">Anyway, <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1505043183/1497659182799/asset_1800K.mp4">the wackiness continued in the bottom of the first [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="uvKZjg"><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/mp4/2017/06/17/1505043183/1497659182799/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="bV0I8F"><span>Eddie Butler</span> had to have the long sleeves on his undershirt cut off. White undershirts aren’t allowed for pitchers, because hitters might have a tough time seeing a white baseball come out of that background. Why a white undershirt was left out for Butler (or any of the pitchers, for that matter) is beyond me, although it turns out Butler knew this was going to happen:</p>
<div id="L4ndOx">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Butler knew wouldn't be allowed to wear white long sleeves under throwback uni. "We figured it wasn't going to last long"</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/875917679340769280">June 17, 2017</a>
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<p id="Qa4QOv">Butler actually pitched very, very well, which is really encouraging. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and came within one out of posting a quality start. <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1506278283/1497667733933/asset_1800K.mp4">He got some defensive help from Heyward in the first [VIDEO].</a></p>
<div id="swzJuR"><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/mp4/2017/06/17/1506278283/1497667733933/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="uIVgrK">And he got a replay review call in his favor in the second <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/06/17/1505163083/1497658195128/asset_1800K.mp4">when he picked off McCutchen [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="ZqXD5K"><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/mp4/2017/06/17/1505163083/1497658195128/asset_1800K.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></div></div>
<p id="Qxqjbs"><span>Josh Bell</span> hit a long home run off him in the fifth to make it 3-1, and after Butler gave up a single and a walk in the sixth, Bell tripled to tie the game.</p>
<p id="y2RKOg">That brought in <span>Pedro Strop</span>, who got <span>Andrew McCutchen</span> to hit a weak little ground ball toward third base. TLS made a nice play on it but his throw was too late to get McCutchen and the Pirates had a 4-3 lead.</p>
<p id="DpKcW8">After that, though, the Cubs’ bullpen did an excellent job of holding the Pirates down. <span>Justin Grimm</span>, who’s been really, really good since his recall from Triple-A Iowa, threw a 1-2-3 seventh and Uehara a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikeouts, setting up the Cubs’ victorious ninth.</p>
<p id="I2aAyT">Here’s where I’m going to open the complaint department door just a tad. While the Cubs were posting the six-run ninth — during which the Pirates made two pitching changes — they could have sat <span>Wade Davis</span>, who was warming up for a potential save opportunity, down and got someone else up. Closers often struggle a bit in non-save situations and this outing was no exception for Davis, who gave up hits to the first three batters he faced, making it 9-5. Eventually the bases were loaded on a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate with only one out. <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> did get up at this point.</p>
<p id="A7Vkh4">Davis struck out <span>Josh Harrison</span> and Polanco to end it, but he struggled through a 31-pitch inning, meaning he might not be available for Saturday night’s game.</p>
<p id="OCrEWO">But in general this was excellent entertainment, and the ninth-inning rally was just about the reverse of what happened to the Cubs in New York Thursday night, where a close game was broken open by a five-run <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> rally. Best of all in this game was the fact that just about everyone contributed offensively.</p>
<p id="1Z46WD">Rizzo, in particular, is on one of his patented hot streaks. He’s having an excellent June (.354/.500/.667, 17-for-48, three home runs) and since being moved to the leadoff spot he’s hitting .308/.400/.846 (4-for-13) with two home runs and two walks. I suppose Joe Maddon will continue leading him off as long as the team is generating runs with that lineup and winning games.</p>
<p id="343Mde">The Cubs thus return to the .500 mark — again. It’s the 14th different time they’ve been at exactly .500. Maybe playing in PNC Park will allow them to get over and stay over the break-even point. They’re now 16-8 at PNC since the start of 2015 (including the 2015 wild-card game). The Brewers won in extras Friday night, so the Cubs still trail by 2½ games, though they’re down only one in the loss column.</p>
<p id="WfsXf8">Many people didn’t seem to care for the Cubs’ throwback uniforms (from what I saw on Twitter) but I liked them. They commemorated a little-known part of African-American baseball history and were faithful to the original design, although at first it appeared Contreras didn’t get the memo about the matte-finish black batting helmets:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/UniWatch">@UniWatch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilHecken">@PhilHecken</a> Wilson Contreras was on deck with his standard blue helmet. Someone caught it before he got up to the plate... <a href="https://t.co/kNakkIIvpJ">pic.twitter.com/kNakkIIvpJ</a></p>— Todd Pratt (@ToddPratt7) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddPratt7/status/875858984120401921">June 16, 2017</a>
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<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="rOR6xa">Saturday evening, the Cubs go for a series win. <span>Jake Arrieta</span> takes the mound for the Cubs against the Pirates’ <span>Ivan Nova</span>.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/17/15823788/cubs-pirates-recap-willson-contreras-jon-jay-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2017-06-16T20:05:02-05:002017-06-16T20:05:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Pirates, Friday 6/16, 6:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HCDYIhuEVfb6ub8GOLa8BjyvdmM=/0x0:3536x2357/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55271947/696060636.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Mimwhm">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/16/15795226/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-pirates-friday-6-16-6-05-ctAl Yellon2017-06-16T19:05:01-05:002017-06-16T19:05:01-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Pirates, Friday 6/16, 6:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iVklzLiw8ybofXagwzMXwmFvD1U=/0x0:2521x1681/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55255373/696068628.1497457410.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="Mimwhm">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/16/15795192/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-pirates-friday-6-16-6-05-ctAl Yellon2017-06-16T16:00:02-05:002017-06-16T16:00:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Friday 6/16, 6:05 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g8t_VjdjMHVH0MPr5dXMdA7aPao=/0x0:3073x2049/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55271935/696069322.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Time to get back on the winning track.</p> <p>The Cubs and Pirates will honor the history of the Negro Leagues by <a href="http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/236732536/cubs-pirates-to-honor-negro-leagues-on-friday/" target="_blank">wearing throwback uniforms</a> for tonight's game, an annual event at PNC Park:</p>
<blockquote>To mark the occasion, the Pirates will wear throwback uniforms honoring the Homestead Grays while the Cubs' uniforms will honor the Leland Giants. <br><br> The Cubs' uniform selection commemorates a three-game series between the Cubs and Leland Giants played in October 1909, which was the first time the Cubs played an African-American team. <br><br> Baseball historian Ed Hartig says former player Frank Leland organized, managed and owned several African-American teams in Chicago, beginning in the late 1880s. In 1901, Leland merged two teams, the Chicago Unions and Columbia Giants, to form the Chicago Union Giants, one of the top Negro teams in the Midwest.</blockquote>
<p>Here's a look at what the Cubs will be wearing (model: Lester Strode):</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> uniforms tonight <a href="https://t.co/epDBVfLGN6">pic.twitter.com/epDBVfLGN6</a></p>
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/875802698897129473">June 16, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
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<p id="FbwPnv">A couple of Anthony Rizzo home run notes</p>
<ul>
<li> His home run Wednesday was his 148th as a Cub. That ties him with Mark Grace for 14th place on the all-time Cubs list. Next up: Andre Dawson, 174. </li>
<li> According to Elias, Rizzo is the first Cub since 1920 (and probably ever, since so few homers were hit before then) to hit home runs in his first two games batting leadoff. Last player overall to do that: Didi Gregorius, June 4 and 6, 2014. </li>
<li> Tuesday, he became the first Cubs first baseman to lead off a game with a home run since Rick Monday September 11, 1976. (H/T: Ed Hartig) </li>
</ul>
<p>Hope he goes deep to lead off the game again tonight!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Rizzo 1B, Happ 2B, Schwarber LF, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Contreras C, La Stella 3B, Butler P, Almora CF</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here's tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> lineup for the series opener in Pittsburgh.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/4998IYQTKU">https://t.co/4998IYQTKU</a> <a href="https://t.co/aEb334K1J2">pic.twitter.com/aEb334K1J2</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/875807856074915841">June 16, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<p>Just a day off for Kris Bryant.</p>
<p id="5LlpRP"><a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Frazier LF, Harrison 2B, Polanco RF, Freese 3B, Bell 1B, McCutchen CF, Cervelli C, Mercer SS, Williams P</blockquote>
<h2 id="A8TaYe">
<span>Eddie Butler</span> vs. <span>Trevor Williams</span>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zyDB6LG6FGa9I7z2KYPbjdYA1Ng=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8685297/usa_today_9928135.jpg">
<cite>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HMCRjAyB8E2FE3NNGik_Q49wtSY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8685299/usa_today_9944618.jpg">
<cite>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p>Eddie Butler. Man, I don't know what to think of him. He has starts that look good. He has starts that start out good and turn out mediocre. He has starts that are bad.</p>
<p>He has talent. He showed that in spring training and at Iowa. I keep looking for him to be dominant the way he was in his first outing for the Cubs at St. Louis back in early May.</p>
<p>He pitched against the Pirates last year at PNC Park. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201605200.shtml%22">That outing, on May 20,
2016</a>, was very good: six innings, seven hits, one earned run.</p>
<p>I think we'd take that tonight.</p>
<p>Trevor Williams has made two relief appearances against the Cubs this year. The last one, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201704240.shtml">April 24 at PNC Park</a>, was four innings, four hits, two earned runs. He walked three.</p>
<p>Since entering the Pirates rotation, he's made seven starts and posted a 5.05 ERA and 1.234 WHIP with five home runs allowed in 35⅔ innings. Three of those starts could be categorized as "good," two "mediocre" and two "bad."</p>
<p>What to expect, then? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯</p>
<p id="HtBnkd">Today's game is on WGN.</p>
<p id="y4SIM1"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=6/16/2017">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_16_chnmlb_pitmlb_1#game=2017_06_16_chnmlb_pitmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="cOzi2Y"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2017/PIT201706160.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="G92wAe"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/523246/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%2F6%2F16%2F15786408%2Fchicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-friday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p id="ytjoO2">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/16/15786408/chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates-preview-fridayAl Yellon