RealGM

cubs (59-74) @ cardinals (71-61)

doubleheader on 8/30

game 1: hendricks vs. miller 7:15 pm
game 2: doubront vs. masterson 1:15 pm
game 3: wada vs. TBA 7:15 pm
game 4: wood vs. lackey 1:15 pm

doubront gets a crack at starting

go cubs!

soler

SOLER AGAIN JESUS CHRIST

That kid is something special. Best bat out of the group of prospects breaking in this year and next. Soler and Rizzo will lead the charge to the playoffs in the near future.

Amazing. I think Soler kind of flew under the radar a bit due to the injuries and such. Great to get a win against St. Louis to boot.

Baez: "We're just waiting for Bryant now."

btw, it's really fun to check out Cardinals message boards tonight. Even the St. Louis homers can't deny we're going to be awesome.

GYBE wrote:btw, it's really fun to check out Cardinals message boards tonight. Even the St. Louis homers can't deny we're going to be awesome.

Yep. I know one Cards fan say that he expects the Cubs to "cub it up", whatever the hell that means. Most seem to be resign to the fact that the Cubs are going to be more than a thorn in their sides for probably the next decade.

GYBE wrote:Baez: "We're just waiting for Bryant now."

Baez and Hendricks were basically begging for the Cubs to call up Kris so he can join the part. I am still holding out hope for a Bryant promotion, even though it's not likely.

Jorge "The Cuban Missile Crisis" Soler dropping bombs.

wow, home run city for the cubs

any word on the seriousness of rizzo's injury? he's been out a few games now

doubront had a nice start and more homers in game 1, not as much so far in game 2 though - aside from another soler hit

hermes wrote:any word on the seriousness of rizzo's injury? he's been out a few games now

It's being called back tightness. I'm assuming if it were serious he would have been put on the DL so I expect him back sometime in the next few days.

cubs are 5th in the league in home runs

they really spread it around to everyone too, aside from rizzo having a big portion of them

Second in the NL to only Colorado. Fifth overall. With a full season of Soler and Baez along with Bryant next year they could lead the NL in HRs. The problem with the offense is simple. Only the Padres have a worse OBP than the Cubs. You can contribute a large chunk of that to Olt, Valaika, Schierholtz, Lake and Barney. All had .265 or lower OBPs and have had significant playing time. The other player that sticks out is Baez, who is going through rookie struggles.

Schierholtz and Barney won't be back next year. I would be surprised if Valaika is back next year. It doesn't look like Lake or Olt will get another shot at starting, although they could both be on the bench next year. There is reason for optimism with Baez as he started this way at every new level before adjusting. Baez has looked better in his approach recently, although he hasn't been able to start converting the batted balls into hits at a reasonable rate yet.