Game 101: Cubs 5 – Cardinals 4

box
Cubs blow the game win?, 40-61
Cardinals forget to get the final hit, 58-43

POTG: RP Michael Wuertz (1.2 IP, BB, 2 K)
Runner Ups: C Michael Barrett (2B, HR, R, RBI), RF Jacque Jones (2 H), LF Matt Murton (2B, 2 H), SS Neifi Perez (2 H, R, RBI)

The problem with these wins is that I don’t believe these wins will actually happen till about 5 minutes after the final out, when they haven’t put everyone back on the field to give the opposition because they really need only one more chance. This was certainly not a return to dominant form for Dempster (but perfectly what we should expect from him minute the walks), and it’s not particularly fun to wait for your team to lose, even when they don’t actually do it.

I went back and forth on the POTG, but Wuertz had a high leverage outing and had a nice sac bunt (first ever), and he’s not going to win this any other time, so why not give it to him. Barrett was my other choice, he’ll get plenty, and he didn’t come in with the bases loaded and one out. Good call keeping him around!

I figure Rich Hill thought he did one good inning, and that was about it. He was so much faster in the first inning than the rest of the game, I think his confidence the moment he got into trouble. He’s got to do better than this, and they’ve got to give him another chance to see if he ever will. (Unless an offer comes along in the next few days, and then you pounce. I think it’ll be an off season move, actually.)

No move announced yet, but with a strapped bullpen once again, I wouldn’t be shocked to see it. I think it would be a bad move, and you’re going to have to get another replacement start regardless.

new prediction: Dusty quietly gets a two year extension after the season is over, with both him and Hendry saying he wasn’t given a fair shot. And if they don’t turn it around early next year, they both risk being swept out.