August 2, 2016: The Number Four

We just spoke about Kyle Hendricks, the number five, and what he’s meant for this Cubs team, and what he could mean.  What about the number four pitcher in this rotation, Jason Hammel?  On Tuesday night, he fired 6 shutout innings vs the Marlins, and has been lights out in the 2nd half so far.  So much for that 2nd half swoon…

I was glad to see him on the mound.  This was my 5th Cubs game of the year; I had seen Lackey 3 times and Lester once.  I saw Arrieta late last year; don’t think I had seen Jason on the mound yet.  He followed up Kyle’s 9 shutout innings with 6 of his own.  It was setup for the 7-8-9 formula; Pedro almost blew it.

Obviously the 9th is locked down, and I’m more than comfortable with Rondon in the 8th.  Strop is the one that scares me.  Does the 7th remain his?  Grimm has been pretty good lately; I know they sent him down, but he had been pitching well.  We have Montgomery in the pen too, and now sidewinder Joe Smith… and Wood is no slouch.  Who’s to say the 7th is exclusively Pedro’s when the Cubs have that narrow lead?

I guess the same can be said about the 8th.  Chapman has already been brought in early, to finish out a ball game.  Rondon may not even be exclusive.  The 7-8-9 formula is nice, but by no means, is it a MUST.  Back to trusting in Joe again, to make those calls.  So far so good.

But back to Hammel for a minute…  Does he have a chance to start a playoff game?  Again, with the assumption that we’ll be there, does Joe go with the hot hand?  The 2 hottest are Kyle and Jason right now.
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Maddon was reluctant to start Hammel last year, and rightfully so.  He got hit pretty hard against the Cards if I recall correctly.  Does he feel any different this year?  Last year Jason was hurt too… that had to play a part.  Again, just like with Kyle, it’s a good problem to have, and depending on injuries and who’s hot or not, you just never know.

Now back to the game…  Work was going haywire, so I was sending emails, getting up from my seat to go talk on the phone… I was one of those jerks that I talk about typically.  Still had a good time though.  Sat next to a guy from Texas, and his two sons, who were hitting up Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh after Wrigley on Tuesday night.  Wrigley was packed that evening, and it has been jumping; I told him there was no better place to watch a game.  We were sitting right by the left field foul pole; I was hoping for one of those home runs off the foul pole right in my lap.  Didn’t happen…

But the Cubs did win, and that’s what it’s all about.  After Strop gave up 2, it was a 3-2 ball game.  Rondon took care of business, and then it was Chapman time again.  It’s just awesome when he comes in.  After he hit 104 on the radar gun, I started chanting, 105, 105!!!  He shut the door, and the Cubs won again.

I’m 4-1 now in my 5 Cubs games at this point.  Already have some tickets lined up for a September game; hoping to catch a clincher.  Hope to have another surprise visit before or after then… preferably after… preferably October… preferably… yeah, you know what I mean.  It’s all Cubs, all the time right about now… their winning has been one of the things keeping that smile on my face.  Go Cubs!