Zounds. This felt like a matchup between the two best teams in the league, didn’t it? If this kind of game happened in the playoffs, this recap would look a lot different because I’d currently be catatonic. Of course, you wouldn’t notice because you would be too. The win probability graph for this one looks […]
Tag: Game Recap
Game 59 Recap: Braves 5 Cubs 1
Sometimes the worst team in baseball beats the best one, and it’s best not to read too heavily into that result. Top Play (WPA): Perhaps the lone bright spot of tonight’s loss is that the Cubs were in the best position to turn this game into a win on Albert Almora’s third inning double to left (+0.066). […]
Game 58 Recap: Cubs 8 Phillies 1
The Gang Does Day Baseball Wednesday day baseball is a rare treat… is such a saccharine statement that my teeth actually hurt. Nevertheless, Wednesday afternoon was indeed a productive one for the Chicago Cubs. Things started ominously for both sides, as Phillies starter Vince Velasquez departed just two pitches into the game (it was later diagnosed […]
Game 54 Recap: Cubs 5 Diamondbacks 3
Top Play (WPA): It was all Hammel, all afternoon in this one. Not only did the pitcher stifle the D-Backs’ offense, but Hammel added to his already-impressive list of RBI singles this season in the fourth. With one out in the inning, Anthony Rizzo hit a high pop fly toward left field. It was one […]
Game 53 Recap: Cubs 6 Diamondbacks 0
The Cubs played well enough to win. The Diamondbacks played badly enough to let the Cubs win big. Top Play (WPA): Archie Bradley shut down the Cubs through five innings, holding them scoreless on just two hits and two walks. Bradley always has good stuff, and early in Friday’s game, he had good command of it. […]
Game 45 Recap: Cubs 9 Cardinals 8
In a divisional rivalry that has been rife with intrigue, particularly since last fall, the last game of this week’s series was bound not to go out with a whimper. This afternoon’s dogfight between the Cubs and Cardinals looked a lot more like what we might expect between these two teams later in the season. Not […]
Game 44 Recap: Cubs 12 Cardinals 3
This was a fun one, huh? Perhaps the Cubs’ week-long fever has finally broken. Then again, perhaps it hasn’t. The world is a cruel and often deeply unpleasant place. Let’s proceed, just in case things are on the upswing. Top Play (WPA): The Cubs struck early in this one, getting to Michael Wacha in the first […]
Game 43 Recap: Cardinals 4 Cubs 3
The Cubs were held to three or fewer runs for the seventh time in eight games, matching the number of such games they had in their first 35 contests. Against the best offense in baseball, three runs is hardly ever enough. Top Play (WPA): The Cardinals nosed out to an early lead on Monday night, but […]
GAME 42 RECAP: GIANTS 1 CUBS 0
Top Play (WPA): This section is less than exciting tonight. The Cubs’ top play of the night was Denard Span’s short fly out to right with one out and a man on third in the fifth (+.060). More on that inning in a second. Tonight’s top offensive play for the Cubs was equally uninspiring: a two-out, eighth inning […]
Game 41 Recap: Giants 5 Cubs 3
Almost, but just not enough tonight. Top Play (WPA): No surprise, but the third inning that featured both Kris Bryant’s deep shot to center and the Ben Zobrist single the preceded a Jorge Soler walk increased the Cubs’ win expectancy the most. After Soler walked, the Cubs win expectancy sat at 36.5%, which was the highest […]