Barring injuries, I think the Cubs have the best chance of any team to lead the NL in runs scored and slugging. I LOVE Maddon’s decision to bat catcher Willson Contreras in the cleanup spot and outfielder Kyle Schwarber in the five hole. Contreras will see better pitches and I have always viewed Schwarber as a natural number-five batter (i.e., slow-running slugger). The Cubs could conceivably have four guys hit 30 or more home runs this year (Kris Bryant, Rizzo, Contreras and Schwarber); Happ is also capable of hitting 30 if he gets enough playing time (seems Maddon intends to platoon him with Almora). This Cubs lineup is a nightmare for opposing pitchers; the only batter you can really challenge is the Cubs’ pitcher. If only Javier Báez would stop swinging at bad pitches, he could be a real terror; as it is, he’ll give left-handers fits.
Even the best offenses have bad games, and the bad news for the Cubs was that they were unable to score after a third-inning solo home run from Bryant in their second game, a 2-1 loss in the 17th inning to the Marlins. The marathon game, which ended with the Marlins celebrating and jumping as though they’d just won the World Series, did show us, however, just how good the Cubs’ bullpen can be this year. Starter Kyle Hendricks gave up only one run in six innings, and the relievers yielded only one over the next 11 innings. Despite being credited for a tough loss, Eddie Butler (aided by a couple of great catches by outfielders Jason Heyward and Ian Happ) was outstanding, throwing a total of 90 pitches across seven innings. Also encouraging was to see and hear thousands of Cubs fans cheering their team on in Miami well after midnight!
The bigger story of the night’s proceedings, though, was both teams’ honoring Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School victims, with four MSD families throwing ceremonial first pitches. The pre-game ceremony included a presentation of a check, as MSD alum Anthony Rizzo and his foundation raised $305,000 for the victims’ families.
Yu Darvish makes his Cubs debut tonight, against the Marlins. Let’s go, Cubs!
– Robert BC Carlson
