Aug
31

Game 133: Kane County 6 – Beloit 3 and Game 134: Kane County 4 – Beloit 1

I’ve got like no time today, which is a shame because I’m so glad I went to this double header, and I wish I could write a bunch about it.

Quick bullet points

- it’s quite enjoyable to show up to a baseball game in the bottom of the second, and get first row behind home plate tickets – for a double header, for $12.

(even when you get kicked out of that seat. And the next seat you try. And nearly the next seat you try. I really had front row seats, I just thought I’d sit in an empty row rather than right next to a random person, and it backfired after game 1. ALAS.)

- second game Kane County starter Trevor Cahill recent gamelog

07/18: 7.0 IP, 1 ER
07/23: 7.0 IP, 1 ER
07/29: 5.0 IP, 1 ER
08/03: 6.2 IP, 1 ER
08/08: 6.0 IP, 0 ER
08/13: 5.2 IP, 0 ER
08/20: 5.2 IP, 0 ER
08/25: 6.0 IP, 1 ER
08/30: 6.1 IP, 1 ER

I think he may have something here! AND Ozzie Cougar led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday for a man who may have been his father, so it’s all looking good.

With all that, Cahill only took the team ERA lead because Jared Fernandez gave up 3 runs in the opener, “slipping” to 2.77.

- Today’s Standings

                     what's left
Quad Cities    40-25 ---  1 v Peoria, 4 @ Beloit
Cedar Rapids   38-28 ---  1 v Burlington, 3 @ Peoria
Peoria         37-29 1.0  1 @ Quad Cities, 3 v Cedar Rapids
Kane County    36-29 1.5  1 v Beloit, 4 @ Wisconsin

These are second half standings. Top 2 advance to face the first half winners, who are both in the bottom half of the division this time around, so anyone alive can feel like they’ve got a real good shot. Cougars still can’t hit, but it’s pitching might just be enough to get them into the playoffs and who knows how far the hot streak will take them from there.

That’s a Sunday doubleheader in Wisconsin. I almost went to that park about a month ago, and if things keep up, there’s another place I rather be than my fantasy draft on Sunday.

Aug
31

Game 132: Cubs 5 – Brewers 4

Cubs 68-64, +2.5
Brewers 66-67, -2.5

POTG: RP Carlos Marmol (2 IP, H, 5 K)
Runner Up: 3B A Ram (2 H, 2 BB, R), 2B Mark DeRosa (2 RBI, R, H), C Jason Kendall (2 H, BB, CS), RF/LF Matt Murton (2 H, HR)

Well. Now we’re really back to the old “making it waaaaaaaay too intersting” Ryan Dempster. This will kill us all before the end of the season, and it’ll be fun.

How much of an impact has Carlos Marmol made on this season? Hardball Times credits him with 7 win shares. Baseball Prospectus says he’s got a VORP of 26.5, putting him 60th in the ML despite missing the first couple months. That’s 26.5 runs better than the theoretical replacement player, and I’m not sure who the real world replacement player would be. Wuertz had this role and couldn’t hold on, Wood came along late and isn’t that sharp, and no one else really set up. With the way Lou’s set up his bullpen, Marmol’s the guy who comes in early and comes in with runners on while the Cubs have a lead – it’s a high leverage situation, and Marmol’s made a huge difference.

and with all that said, I would not have a problem trading him for (very) good value in the off season, but he’s going to blow out his elbow real soon if he keeps throwing pitches like he was last night. Pitches were nasty, but so was the torque on his arm. I don’t think you can do anything to change it, and you might as well get it all out of him while it can benefit the team a lot.

The difference last night was home runs from Soriano and Murton. Power is good. Looks like they’ll have to do it without Alfonso today.

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