May 2, 2019

All teams have lulls in their seasons. During a pennant chase these can be brutal. The start of the season is the best time for a slump. The Cubs started out 3-9. They scored 76 runs, 6.3 runs per game. The problem was, the supposed strength of team pitching, gave up 78 runs, 6.5 runs per game. The relief pitching was especially awful, leading to the demotion of Carl Edwards Jr. Even with 149 games left, some Cub fans began to worry.

When Jon Lester went on the injured reserve list, the other Cubs pitchers, including relief, started to perform as expected. In the last 15 games they’ve allowed only 44 runs, 3.3 runs per game. Even Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood, in pace of Lester looked good. During this stretch the offense, which at times was a problem last year, has scored 141 runs in 27 games, over 5 per game. This is remarkable considering the lack of production from Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. They offense is being led Jason Hayward, David Bote. Wilson Contreras has regained his batting stroke.  If there is a better shortstop than Javier Baez I have not seen one. He is having another great season and is loads of fun to watch. If the Cubs need play well this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals.  With the next four against the woeful Florida Marlins they can be in first place going into a series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs ae 15-12.

I haven’t seen all the teams play, but I can’t imagine any team with a lousier defense than The White Sox. Countless errors and misplayed balls do not help a young pitching staff. With the exception of Reynaldo Lopez the starters have not improved. The ace of the staff, Carlos Rodon has been on and off. Before being injured, Lucas Giolito did not look like he has progressed. After a couple of decent outings, Ivan Nova has turned into is this year’s version of James Shields. Fifth starter, Erwin Santana has already been jettisoned, replaced by left handed reliever Manny Baneulos.

The biggest problem with the line-up is there are too many automatic outs. Yolander Alonso has been a major disappointment. I don’t know why manager Ricky Renteria bats him fourth in the line-up with the hottest hitter in the league, Tim Anderson batting behind him.  When in the line-up Adam Engel and Welington Castillo are rally killers. James McCann, surprisingly, has been hitting well enough to keep Castillo on the bench. Second baseman Yolmer Sanchez has an on-base percentage under.300. He is a master of singles and strike outs.

 On the positive side is the vast improvement of Yoan Moncada. He isn’t striking out and he’s getting good in the field at third base. Tim Anderson is turning into the player everyone thought he would be. He is leading the league in average and stolen bases. He also has six home runs. Both should be on the Sox for many years. Having Moncada and Anderson makes missing out on Manny Machado palpable. The White Sox are 12-14.

Extra Innings – How are the two big free agents doing?

 Bryce Harper has a .240 Average 6 Home Runs 20 RBI

Manny Machado .231  4 Home Runs 12 RBI

AL Player of the Month – Tim Anderson White Sox

NL Player of the Month -  Cody Bellinger L.A. Dodgers