May 23, 2019: That’s Almora

No walk off win required in this one. The Cubs played long ball in a beautiful night at Wrigley on Hump Day night. Rizzo started it with a 3 run bomb off the Budweiser sign, and Baez ended it with a solo blast, but in between it was Albert Almora Jr who blew the tie game wide open. How do you blow a tie game wide open? Only one way… The grand salami! That’s Almora!

Who gave up on Almora? I did not, but I sure wished his hitting would somehow catch up to his defense. We’ve been waiting for this. An A+ defender who could never really put it together at the plate. He looks like he may be breaking through. I never slept on him, except during this game, where I nodded off earlier in the inning only to awake with Albert rounding the bases. How could we forget Theo’s first draft pick? The kid whose Dad built him a batting cage in his backyard. The kid who was in the middle of the biggest game in Cubs history, smartly tagging up on Bryant’s deep fly ball in the 10th inning of Game 7…scoring the go ahead run on the Zobrist double…making sure he stepped on home plate. How about all the highlight reel catches? He’s one of the best defensive center fielders in the game; I don’t think I’m being overly biased here. His hitting has been the issue. First a platoon guy against lefties. He worked on his ABs against righties. Now, on a pretty hot streak, hot enough for somebody to grab him in our fantasy league, who enjoyed the spoils of the grand slam. Little early to crown him, but man, if he keeps this up…how deep are the Cubs?

Let’s talk about another guy: another guy who if he keeps this up adds great depth to the pitching staff. Tyler Chatwood for God’s sake. For some strange reason, most of the games I went to last year, featured Chatty on the mound. Most of the games I was pissed, watching him walk guy after guy. At first I thought maybe it was just a guy trying to control his phenomenal movement; he could never control it. He lost his starting job. He became another poster child of bad free agent signings for Theo. And now, he’s been pitching really, really good. I’m a lot more surprised with this development…very happily surprised. Again, too early to cast the comeback player of the year award vote, but let’s enjoy this unlikely ride.

Baseball be fun right now. Winning is tops. First place rocks. Getting contributions from just about everybody makes for a scary team. Forget the way 2017-2018 ended; I’m thinking 2016 all over again. And yes, to keep with the common theme, way too early, but I’m all aboard this joy ride. Keep, it, rolling, boys. Go Cubs!