2021-04-14: Cubs (Arrieta) at Brewers (Burnes) [Brewers win, 7-0 -- Burnes historic start to the season continues]

[BruisedCrew]

If I saw this right, 7 of the 8 position players in the Cubs starting lineup today have current BA’s under .200, and the lone exception is Baez at .220. Even the Brewers getaway day lineup only has 4.

[KeithStone53151]

If I saw this right, 7 of the 8 position players in the Cubs starting lineup today have current BA’s under .200, and that’s Baez at .220. Even the Brewers getaway day lineup only has 4.

 

The Cubs are the only team in baseball with a worse AVG and OPS than the Brewers.

[owbc]

MLB batting average is .235 so far this year, historically sigma=.027 so we're at the stage where 10% of MLB hitters would be expected to be batting under .200 over a full season.

[jerichoholicninja]

Continuing from yesterday's Contreras drama I wonder if something more comes of it today. I don't want to see Burnes get tossed out of the game, definitely don't want a suspension but it rubs me the wrong way how the Cubs chose to retaliate by throwing at a pitcher instead of a regular guy in the batting order. That's garbage in my view. Woody wasn't the only guy to hit Contreras, did they feel like with Yelich not being in the game that Woody was the only Brewers star worthy of being thrown at? That's kind of pathetic.

 

Contreras has been hit a bunch, none of them had any feeling of purpose behind it. They seem to think Brewers pitchers shouldn't pitch inside, that's not how it works. If they're going to get worked up over it might as well make it worth our while at some point but it should depend on the game situation. Maybe it doesn't happen today and gets filed away for future consideration.

 

Many Cubs players have said they don't believe it's intentional, but are calling us out for being sloppy on how we pitch inside and need to be better at it. Their whining should be treated completely as white noise. Many players on that team crowd the plate, but HBP hasn't been an issue because others like Rizzo(notorious plate crowder) aren't whiny man-babies and understand that crowding the plate results in more HBP. AND...there's plenty of evidence of Contreras actually leaning into pitches trying to get hit. My opinion is the Brewers shouldn't change their approach one iota. Keep pitching inside, try not to hit guys for strategy reasons(we don't want baserunners)...not because Contreras might get mad and have a temper tantrum. And absolutely no intentional HBP for message purposes. We aren't the Cardinals and screw the unwritten rules(though apparently the Cubs are now subscribing after that pitch by Tepera). I'd much rather one of the Brewers do a Castellanos when he gets to home plate after a HR right in Contreras face...much better message.

 

Ballplayers are all members of the same uber wealthy fraternity. Any sort of suggestion of a feud over intentional HBPs is just journalists stirring things up to get clicks. Every ball player in the major leagues knows HBPs are part of the game, and they've probably all been hit countless times (Contreras was hit 14 times in just 57 games last year). Not a single member of the fraternity wants to intentionally do something to a fellow member that can take away their membership in the club.

 

Contreras had a gripe where he got hit, not because he got hit. I think he even said he was upset because getting hit high and tight can end careers.

 

I believe there's a lot of truth to that but it's far from universal or else there wouldn't be as many beanball wars as there are every year.

[adambr2]

Vogelbach needs to start hitting. He surely isn't on this roster for any other purpose.

[adambr2]

Atta boy Shaw.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Travis Shaw just looks completely different from the player we saw in 2019. His eye, approach, and confidence have all seemingly improved.

[KeithStone53151]

What's with this umpire? 2 terrible calls already. Is it angel hernandez? Both benefit us but I'd much rather calls be correct...

[pacopete4]

Vogelbach needs to start hitting. He surely isn't on this roster for any other purpose.

 

I agree but it isn’t like his last at bat was bad. Hit it hard and worked a count.

[adambr2]

What's with this umpire? 2 terrible calls already. Is it angel hernandez? Both benefit us but I'd much rather calls be correct...

 

Romine seems like a brutal framer. I think he's cost Arrieta 2 strikes already this game.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

It irks me that Jake Arrieta, who was basically the Cubs' version of the Jordan Zimmermann signing, is seemingly good again. I'm sick of low-risk signings working out for the Cubs. It's time for that team to crawl back into its mismanaged hole.

 

I've been bitten by the small sample once again!

[Eye Black]

Brewers are just smoking the ball in today’s first inning. Great to see.

[adambr2]

Dang, just missed it. At least we've had 2 productive outs this inning.

[Simba2020]

And of course Hiura would still manage to strike out.

[jjfanec]

Already more runs they when have scored for Burnes in his previous two starts

[adambr2]

Ugh. Omar's got to catch that.

[Sixtofan]

Nice play by McKinney

[yfinn6]

Narvaez just does his job and this inning is completely different.

[MrTPlush]

And of course Hiura would still manage to strike out.

 

Keston Hiura with two strikes on him is almost an automatic out.

[adambr2]

Womp womp for the Cubs.

 

Great defense by McKinney that inning.

[Guest]

I was kind of hoping for a 4k inning there but that'll do. Burnes still only at 24 pitches too.

[markedman5]

Burnes just so impressive. Bote missed that slider by a foot.....lol

[trwi7]

I mean, a 98 mph cutter on the corner. It's just stupid.

[Underachiever]

That's not the first time Happ has reacted like that to an obvious third strike. Sit down.

[adambr2]

Does Happ ever not whine after a K? Obviously your sense of the strike zone kinda sucks because you've gotten rang up on two good pitches that had plenty of the zone the last two days.