Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Monday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2014-05-13T08:00:19-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/54600812014-05-13T08:00:19-05:002014-05-13T08:00:19-05:00Cubs 17, Cardinals 5: Historic
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs did some things Monday that no Cubs team had done in quite some time. And they were all good!</p> <p>What is the next number in this sequence?</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 12, 2, 0, 2, 17</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>If you know what comes after this, let everyone here know before 7:15 p.m. CT Tuesday, because if you can predict the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>' run total for tonight, you've figured out this year's team. (Those are the run totals for the Cubs' last 10 games, in case you didn't recognize them.)</p>
<p>I certainly can't, not after an amazing <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2014_05_12_chnmlb_slnmlb_1" target="_blank">17-5 Cubs win over the Cardinals</a> which posted quite a number of "last time since"s. Let's begin!</p>
<ul>
<li>The last time a Cubs team scored this many runs was <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200908140.shtml" target="_blank">August 14, 2009</a>, when they defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> 17-2 at Wrigley Field. (That one had the potential of being an even bigger blowout -- the Cubs led that game 14-0 after two innings.)</li>
<li>In fact, in the expansion era (since 1961), the Cubs have scored 17 or more runs in a game just 18 times -- that's averaging about once every three years. It's happened just nine times since 1980.</li>
<li>The five runs scored by <span>Emilio Bonifacio</span> ties the club record for such things; that's been done only <em>eleven</em> times since 1914. The last Cub to do that was Jody Davis, in <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198706030.shtml" target="_blank">a 22-7 win over the Astros</a> June 3, 1987.</li>
<li>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> infielder <span>Daniel Descalso</span> got <span>Mike Olt</span> to fly to left for the final out after the Cubs had put up six runs in the ninth inning off Randy Choate. The last position player to pitch against the Cubs before Monday night was Pirates infielder <span>Abraham Nunez</span>, who threw the last out of <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200405300.shtml" target="_blank">a 12-1 Cubs win over the Pirates</a> May 30, 2004 in Pittsburgh.</li>
</ul>
<p>I can't figure out this team. For the last week, the pattern has been: struggle to score runs for three games, then put up double figures. Everyone hit Monday night -- every player in the starting lineup, including pitcher <span>Travis Wood</span>, had at least one hit, everyone scored at least one run except <span>Nate Schierholtz</span> (who drove one in) and everyone drove one in except Wood (who scored twice) and Bonifacio, who was productive enough with four hits and five runs scored. <span>Darwin Barney</span> had three hits, something he hadn't done since last August.</p>
<p>So it didn't matter, really, that Wood gave up bunches of runs himself; he was staked to a 4-0 lead before he threw a pitch, capped by a two-run homer by Mike Olt, and a 7-0 lead before the bottom of the second inning, thanks to a three-run homer from <span>Junior Lake</span>.</p>
<p>Lake and Olt. This is a very, very good thing. Lake still has work to do on his game, but he certainly can hit baseballs a long way. He drove in six runs, a career high.</p>
<p>Olt's batting average is still below .200 (.187), and he strikes out a lot (32 times in 91 at-bats), but his .462 slugging percentage puts him in the range of "useful everyday player." It's been noted here that Olt's hitting characteristics are similar to <span>Mark Reynolds</span>, who also strikes out a ton, but had four straight seasons of 28 or more home runs (and ore of 44). Going back farther in time, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> slugger <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomago01.shtml" target="_blank">Gorman Thomas</a> was noted as a comp, though Thomas wasn't a third baseman. I'd suggest one other comp: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nettlgr01.shtml" target="_blank">Graig Nettles</a>, who was a third baseman, and a good one. Nettles also posted fairly low batting averages while slugging home runs -- 390 of them. 11 times Nettles posted 20 or more home runs in a season. Nettles didn't strike out that much, but that was in an era where sluggers didn't necessarily do that. His lifetime BA was .248.</p>
<p>The top comp on Nettles' bb-ref page is <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/evansda01.shtml" target="_blank">Darrell Evans</a>, another low-average slugger who played third base (also with a .248 lifetime BA) who hit 414 career homers and hit 40 or more twice.</p>
<p>Nettles or Evans would represent Olt's ceiling, I think. We'd all be quite happy, I believe, if he could hit .248. Right now, that would take quite a bit of doing, but it would appear that Olt's recent power surge -- and I would have to attribute that at least partly to playing every day -- will keep him in the lineup. This month Olt is hitting .233/.343/.633 (7-for-30, four home runs, four walks, nine strikeouts). That sort of production would be just fine.</p>
<p>He does need to work on his defense; he's made errors that he shouldn't, and has failed to cover bases when he should, something Len and JD called him out for in the middle innings Monday night while the game was still fairly close at 9-5. Hopefully, the coaching staff can help him with this. If the Cubs have found a third baseman who can hit at least as well as Mark Reynolds, if not as well as Graig Nettles or Darrell Evans, they can possibly move <span>Kris Bryant</span> to the outfield to put some punch where there is none now.</p>
<p>Savor this win. It came out of nowhere. And it's not likely to be repeated any time soon.</p>
<p>The Cubs and Cardinals will go at it again Tuesday night, with <span>Jake Arrieta</span> facing <span>Adam Wainwright</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/13/5712986/cubs-cardinals-recap-mike-olt-emilio-bonifacio-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2014-05-12T21:55:11-05:002014-05-12T21:55:11-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Monday 5/12
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<figcaption>Scott Cunningham</figcaption>
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<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/12/5696316/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-cardinals-monday-5-12-7-10-ctAl Yellon2014-05-12T21:10:06-05:002014-05-12T21:10:06-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Monday 5/12
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<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/12/5696312/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-cardinals-monday-5-12-7-10-ctAl Yellon2014-05-12T20:10:10-05:002014-05-12T20:10:10-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Monday 5/12
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<figcaption>Scott Cunningham</figcaption>
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<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/12/5696308/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-cardinals-monday-5-12-7-10-ctAl Yellon2014-05-12T17:00:10-05:002014-05-12T17:00:10-05:00Cubs vs. Cardinals Preview, Monday 5/12, 7:10 CT
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<figcaption>Scott Cunningham</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs are riding a three-game losing streak. Somehow, St. Louis doesn't seem like the right place to break that, but the Cubs will try.</p> <p>What, <em>you</em> again?</p>
<p>This is the Cubs' 13th series of the year, and third against the Cardinals. By the time this four-game set ends, the Cubs will have played 10 of their first 40 games of 2014 against their rivals from St. Louis.</p>
<p>Following this, the Cubs won't face the Cardinals until after the All-Star break, the last weekend of July. They'll face them again the last weekend of August and then for the final three Wrigley Field games of 2014 in late September.</p>
<p>Thanks, schedule-makers. This makes little or no sense.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the Cardinals are one of only two teams the Cubs have faced so far this year against whom they don't have a losing record. They're 3-3 against St. Louis and 2-2 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, the other team they have played to a draw. They have a winning record against nobody.</p>
<p>So maybe there's a chance. Maybe. That's why they play the games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Bonifacio CF, Lake LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Olt 3B, Castillo C, Schierholtz RF, Barney 2B, Wood P</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Mike Olt</span> moves up to the 5th spot. Good test, I think, vs. a LHP.</p>
<p>Cardinals lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Carpenter 3B, Peralta SS, Holliday LF, Craig RF, Molina C, Adams 1B, Bourjos CF, Ellis 2B, Lyons P</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>Tyler Lyons is listed as a switch-hitter. Doesn't appear that he's doing this in reality, because he has 19 career PA, all of them hitting lefthanded. We'll see if he hits righty against the lefthanded Travis Wood tonight.</p>
<table cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" border="1" width="680"><tbody>
<tr class="yspsctbg">
<td class="ysptblhdr" align="center" height="18"><center>
<h2><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></h2>
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<td class="ysptblbdr2">
<table class="yspwhitebg" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="680"><tbody>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="45%">
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8630" target="newwindow"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4332729/traviswood.jpg" alt="Travis Wood" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8630" target="newwindow"> </a><center><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8630" target="newwindow">
<h2>Travis Wood</h2>
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<h2>Cubs</h2>
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<td align="center" width="10%">vs.</td>
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<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9401" target="newwindow"><img src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4438515/tylerlyons.jpg" alt="Tyler Lyons" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9401" target="newwindow">
<h2>Tyler Lyons</h2>
</a> <br><h2>Cardinals</h2>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=30515" target="newwindow"><center>
<h2>vs. StL</h2>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=32641" target="newwindow">
<h2>vs. Cubs</h2>
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<p><span>Travis Wood</span> threw seven good innings against the Cardinals and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201405020.shtml" target="_blank">the Cubs defeated the Cardinals</a> May 2 at Wrigley Field, one of two games the Cubs won in that series. Wood did not pitch in the April series at St. Louis; current Cardinals are hitting .328 (57-for-174) against him with eight home runs, three of them by <span>Yadier Molina</span>.</p>
<p><span>Tyler Lyons</span> threw a 1-2-3 inning of relief in the Travis Wood start mentioned above, retiring <span>Starlin Castro</span>, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> and <span>Nate Schierholtz</span>. It's his only career appearance against the Cubs, and he will be making his 12th major-league start tonight.</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago. In some areas this game can be seen on ESPN. Check your cable/satellite listings.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20130401#date=5/12/2014">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=2014_05_12_chnmlb_slnmlb_1&mode=gameday">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/160501/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com">Viva el Birdos</a>.</p>
<p>For 2014, we are going to have the same game-thread routine as 2013. Here's how it works.</p>
<p>You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.</p>
<p>In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.</p>
<p>You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (<a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/game-threads">you can also find them in this section link</a>). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/12/5694792/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-preview-mondayAl Yellon