August 31, 2015: Jake the Great

You would have thought this would have been posted immediately last night.  You would have thought I would have watched every minute of that game.  You would have been wrong.

It’s not like these no hitters happen all the time.  The last time was Carlos Zambrano against Houston in Milwaukee.  I did watch every minute of that one; that was a masterful performance.  This one by Jake last night may have been better.  Yet, I saw none of it!  Out of all games to miss… it’s not like I was just sitting around…

Santana at Ravinia!  That’s where I was on this night.  Awesome show by the way, and if you haven’t been to Ravinia for a concert, you need to get there.  It’s a really great time.  My first time was 2 years ago to see Chicago; now I can check Santana off the list.  As the concert was wrapping up, my phone started to blow up… I couldn’t believe my eyes…. not because I was surprised Jake did it, but because I missed it!

So now I couldn’t wait to get home and watch every single highlight… over and over again.  I was ready to watch the entire game over, as ESPN replayed it starting at 1am.  But there was no way in hell I was going to stay up.  So I had to settle for the last 20 minutes of Comcast, a quick segment on ESPN, and some clips on my wife’s phone.  I woke up early today, even though I didn’t have to go to work, and flipped on MLB and Comcast to get the whole show.  It was only a matter of time before this happened…

Last year about this time, Jake had a couple flashes with brilliance.  I remember at least 2, maybe 3 no hitters taken into the 6th inning or later.  I think even 2 of those were broken up at the same point.  After the all star break last year, he really was pitching well.  Almost any time he went out there, this was a possibility.  Yet, it hadn’t happened yet.  Fast forward to this year, last night… things are a whole lot different.  We aren’t in the final stages of our rebuilding… occupying the basement… playing for pride.  This year the rebuild is over, and the good times are starting.  This year, the Cubs are in the middle of a playoff race.  Jake is still dealing.

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I would have been yelling at the official scorer for ruling that ball an error on Castro, but watching the highlights, I was very happy with that judgment call.  I was also happy that Jake missed that ground ball in the 8th inning that Russell scooped up.  If he would have tipped that, that’s a hit.  So then there was the 9th…

What a way to end it.  Striking out the side to complete the no hitter.  They flashed the stat on the last 2 pitchers to do that… Heston this year for the Giants, and then some guy named Koufax back about 50 years.  It was the only way for this one to end.  Jake deserved this.

6-0 with an 0.43 ERA, 43 Ks and 10 walks in the month of August.  You think people are noticing him now?  You think after tossing this gem on national TV people are noticing him?  We’ve took notice, I’ve took notice the 2nd half of last year… I saw this coming.  Not only has he been a stud for the Cubs, but he’s been the stud on my fantasy team… I made sure I drafted him this year.  He’s been lights out.

Thank you Jake.  Thank you for being our ace and our stopper.  Thank you for bringing a bit of history for us fans, even if I didn’t see it live.  I think it’s safe to give you the new nickname:  Jake the Great.  The resume is getting full… only one thing missing…  How’d you like to pitch in game 163 Jake?