The 2020 BN Trade Deadline Dogathon is here! Short version? We raise money for Make-A-Wish by feeding me only two days of the hot dogs on the Trade Deadline. The more you give, the more I have to eat. I’m scared but committed. Longer explanation here.
• The Cubs won that series against the Cardinals. 3-2. Puppies win. How strange does that sound considering the way the series felt? That’s a good series win anyway (because it’s every time you win 3 out of 5 in baseball!), Having to play five games in three days while using two fill-in starters. The Cardinals were against it too, and lacked some important staff, but really, so were the Cubs. I do not think there is any reason not to feel good about that win of the series.
• Adbert Alzolay was great yesterday, even if you do not consider the context that he did not have REAL STARTS in the minors this year (because there are no minors), and then just had to come up to Wrigley Field and the Cardinals in have the face. Five innings, no deserved runes, two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts? That’s just plain out of any size. His quality of contact was also great, with only one ball with ball above a 50% chance of becoming a hit by xBA. Sure, there was something reversed early on – it must be impossible not to be a little too amped – but he regulated himself quickly, and then just let his game play.
.@ adbert29 appears! 😤 pic.twitter.com/XLtyzNzAI1
Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 20, 2020
• From David Ross (Cubs.com): “Adbert looked really good. The arm is super fast. It’s a boy who’s going to show great innings for us this season. He’s an enormous depth test we have, and you can see tonight where he’s capable. I was very happy. ‘
• Individually, each of Alzolay’s four-seamer, curveball, and substitutes are major pitches of the league, and he can generally throw one of these in each count for a strike. Each can also be a swing-and-miss pitch. For whatever you are looking for, traditionally, in a starting pitcher, Alzolay has it. Going forward, the question is whether he can maintain his health as a starter, whether he can maintain dust and velo, consistently, through six appearances, and whether the change and curveball are there for him every time the ball takes off. Those, all together, have been the questions when you think about the future of Alzolay in the rotation as the bullpen. He’s out of options next year, so it’s going to be one thing or another.
• For now, Alzolay is optional back to South Bend. The Cubs will need a fifth starter early next week, and it is thought he could return for that one if Tyler Chatwood (back) is still out, or if Jose Quintana (thumb) is not ready yet. Otherwise, the Cubs still have another doubleheader 10 days after yesterday, so Alzolay would be perfectly set up for you. It is possible that he will make three straight starts for the Cubs. If not, the Cubs will almost certainly try to figure out how they can get contributions from him in advance at some point in the postseason.
• Amazon’s big summer sales event is underway at the moment, so check it out. #ad
It certainly * felt * like this was true, and it is:
Nico Hoerner still has a lot to work on to improve his approach and maximize hard contact, but he’s also absurdly unhappy so far this year – he has the 10th biggest difference between his actual wOBA and the wOBA you would expect based on quality of contact. pic.twitter.com/zQoMBRIcrT
– Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 20, 2020
The Cubs have actually had a lot of unlucky guys so far – Contreras (-.076), Heyward (-.043), Bote (-.037), Bryant (-.025), and Báez (-.024) . Some of those guys get good results despite the bad luck, others perform poorly * AND IF * unfortunately. The Cubs’ happiest hitter by this measure is Ian Happ (+039), but even his expected wOBA is still a whopping .398, which is 37th in baseball. That he still touches.
• Oh, and by the way, the xwOBA leader of the Cubs? It’s not Happ. It’s actually Jason Heyward at .402. He’s hitting very, very well this year, people.
• From Tuesday night, curated by Bryan:
For the first time in his Cubs career, Rowan Wick threw 4 cutters in a game yesterday. All for strikes, one for a K. Missed place once, other 3 command was great. The field was 91.0-92.9 mph, spun around 2284-2444 rpm (credit: Savant). Looks like a nice extra weapon to add to FB / CV. pic.twitter.com/mvu22JKYIZ
– Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) August 19, 2020
• I’m suddenly against the pitch right now for completely unrelated reasons, but we do not have to go into that:
Fangraphs does not currently have tempo numbers for ’20, but Darvish’s tempo has remained very conscious. And hey, he has a start of the 2nd half last year a 2.50 ERA with 152 K and 12 BB. Take your time, Yu.
– Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 19, 2020
• Cubs cast a cool Blast from the Past video:
Blast from the past. pic.twitter.com/ym3C9sTYpa
Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 19, 2020
• Today is the NBA Draft Lottery, which is CHILD OF A BIG DEAL for the Bulls. Make sure you follow Eli’s coverage:
Good morning Bulls fans simulated !!! pic.twitter.com/5kvqBi3mEl
– Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) August 20, 2020
