Jake and Bryce: No Brotherly Love Here
With the Chicago Cubs off last night, and me really scrounging for anything to write about, I couldn’t really touch on anything that others haven’t already. So I decided to jump in on a new thing I’d like to start on the site, a look around the league. Here I’ll discuss some happenings around baseball, maybe check in on past Cubs, poke fun at the Milwaukee Brewers (I kid), and just put updates from around baseball out there. So, this should be fun, right?
In Monday nights Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets game, Bryce Harper became the first Phillie to get ejected since 2015. Following the game, former Cubs pitcher, Jake Arrieta wasn’t happy that his right fielder took a half day on him, and the team.
Jake Arrieta on Bryce Harper getting ejected from the dugout:
"We need him in right field. I don't care how bad [the umpire] is. I need him in right field. I need him at the plate. And he wasn't there."
— David Adler (@_dadler) April 23, 2019
To be fair, Arrieta criticized the entire Phillies dugout following the 5-1 loss. Claims of being flat, uninspired, and just not ready to play a baseball game.
“I don’t think our guys were ready to play,” Arrieta said. “We were flat. The dugout was flat. The defense wasn’t good. We didn’t throw the ball well as a staff overall. We got beat.”
when asked if this was troubling, Arrieta had this to say
“It’s troubling, yeah,” he said. “I’m out there doing everything I can to win a game. I need my guys behind me and they weren’t.”
This is what Arrieta is, this was a reason the Cubs have missed his presence. Not the Ability to shut down an opposing offense, not being a fighter on the mound, the leadership part of his game. The Phillies, while having a nice start, have hit a rough patch losing four of the last five. With a rather younger roster, it can become easy for them to fall into a swoon during a patch of poor play. Arrieta, as a veteran leader, was there to kick the team in the butt – including the 330 million dollar man.
This was one reason some Cubs fans didn’t want the team to sign Harper. Being ejected from 12 games now, he’s got to find a way to control his tongue when there’s a questionable call made against him. There are a lot of areas in the game an umpire will allow you to have the discussion about, but balls and strikes are off limits.
I get the frustration of being called out on a questionable strike, I’ve personally been on the receiving end of that outcome far too many times. But, a player of Bryce’s ability has got to learn to drop it once it’s over. He’s far too valuable in the lineup than not.
Former Cubs hitting BOMBS
While the Cubs still wait for their biggest sluggers to break out of their power slumps, these former Cubs have more jacks on the season than Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo combined.
Daniel Vogelbach (8)
Jorge Soler (6)
Tommy La Stella (6)
The most surprising of course is La Stella. 3AM isn’t known for a power bat, and right now he only needs 3 HR to tie his Cubs career number.
Before the inevitable response of, why did the Cubs get rid of him!? He would not have gotten the opportunity that he’s gotten in LA. He’s played in all but one game for the Angels, and is averaging over three plate appearances per game he plays. Even with Addison Russell out, La Stella wouldn’t have picked up many extra AB’s with better defensive options on the roster.
Hader might not be the best reliever in the NLC
This is NOT bashing Josh Hader. He is ridiculous. However, Hader has been getting touched a bit of late. He’s given up 3 HRs, including a big one, late, on Easter to Cody Bellinger after Eric Thames blasted a 3-run shot off Kenley Jansen to tie the game in the 8th inning. I don’t think there’s much for the Brewers to be worried about with Hader, but it is certainly something to watch in the coming weeks.
Right now, how can you not be somewhat impressed by Jordan Hicks?
Fastest pitches in @MLB, 2019
1 J. Hicks (STL): 104.2 mph
2 J. Hicks (STL): 103.7
3 J. Hicks (STL): 103.0
4 J. Hicks (STL): 102.8
5 J. Hicks (STL): 102.4
6 J. Hicks (STL): 102.3
7 J. Hicks (STL): 102.3
8 J. Hicks (STL): 102.1
9 J. Hicks (STL): 102.1
10 J. Hicks (STL): 102.1 pic.twitter.com/NaqvKqoKUU— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 22, 2019
Hicks has the 10 fastest pitches thrown in baseball this season. His 2.00 ERA is surprising to me as, how can you hit a ball your eyes and body can’t react fast enough to hit!? I mean that with some jest, but if you have a tenth of a second to react to a 95mph fastball, when throwing 104+ I don’t know if you hit that ball with talent or just guessing.
If he can find a way to produce another elite pitch, Hicks will be a force for a very, very long time.
Slumping superstars
Cubs fans are aggravated with the start by Kris Bryant, and they should be even more worried about the start from Anthony Rizzo. But the two Cubs stars aren’t the only superstars that have started slowly.
Nolan Arenado currently has an OPS of .820, which is well below his career averages. His 96 wRC+ is 30 points lower than his previous two seasons and 20 below his career mark.
While Manny Machado has already produced some web gems, offensively his bat has been slow to adjust to his $300 million price tag. Currently slashing .253/.352/.430, The San Diego Padres aren’t yet getting the production for their dollar. Petco Park is a very tough ballpark to hit in, especially for power, but one would think it is only a matter of time before Machado returns to the .285/.375/.525 type of hitter he is.
Buster Posey will go down as one of this era’s two best catchers. Typically an offensive threat, he’s in a rough way to start 2019. Currently slashing .227/.311/.364. But Buster isn’t the only struggling Giant… Brandon Belt is slashing .213/.314/.453, Joe Panik is slashing a woeful.177/.268/.210, Brandon Crawford is at .208/.282/.234 and Evan Longoria is struggling as well, hitting .220/.256/.366. Now, it is tough to hit in San Francisco early in a season, so there is an expectation that those numbers come up, but the Giants likely aren’t competing or expected to this season.
The good news with any of these struggling stars, one good week can catapult their stats to look good. That’s a bonus of early season baseball.
