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Seems like the Chicago Cubs are good for at least one frustrating loss every week this season. There’s no doubt the Cubs are good, but the offense has been extremely inconsistent and Joe Maddon didn’t help things out Wednesday night.
The Cleveland Indians swept the short two-game set, winning 1-0 last night and let’s just go to the seventh inning.
So, some dude named Adam Plutko was no-hitting the Cubs through six innings until Anthony Rizzo ripped a double to the right-field corner. Willson Contreras followed with an infield hit, as Jason Kipnis lost his footing trying to throw out Contreras at first. Finally, the Cubs had something cooking and the RBI leader, Javier Baez, was due up.
Plutko came out and Andrew Miller came in. Baez took a mighty hack on the first pitch and fouled off a fastball. Then, Joe Maddon called a bunt and every Cubs fan, rightfully so, lost their collective mind.
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Here’s the thing, we all love Rizzo, but we all know he’s slow, so it would have taken a perfect bunt or a misplay by Cleveland for him to score on the squeeze. Baez’s attempt was the exact opposite, bunting the ball back to the mound, where Miller gloved it and threw out Rizzo by plenty at home.
Not sure why anyone doubted who’s call it was because Rizzo was moving with the pitch, so obviously it was a call from the bench. Maddon confirmed postgame and the explanation was terrible.
Maddon said he called for the bunt from Javy in 7th inning. Thought process: Javy's a good bunter and also very likely to strike out vs. Miller
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) May 24, 2018
I haven’t looked up any stats, but can we honestly say without a doubt that Baez is a good bunter? Besides that point, all Baez had to do was hit a ground ball or fly ball and Rizzo scores. Also…
BAEZ HIT A TRIPLE OFF ANDREW MILLER 24 HOURS EARLIER!
Yes, Miller is nasty, but what does Baez do extremely well? Hit off lefties. What did Baez just do the previous game? Tripled to right field off Miller. Instead a bunt is called with a slow runner at third base.
Yet, that wasn’t the only boner by Maddon in the seventh inning. After the failed Baez bunt, Addison Russell struck out on an awkward swing on a pitch right down the middle of the plate. Then, Jason Heyward came up.
Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Heyward started last night in the outfield, which means Maddon had Albert Almora Jr. and Ben Zobrist available on the bench. Heyward vs. Miller must have meant a pinch hitter right?
Wrong. Maddon left Heyward in and he grounded out to end the inning that started with runners at first and third and no outs.
I love Joe Maddon, but boy did those moves stink.
The Cubs have Thursday off before starting a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Hopefully we don’t see any more dumbass bunts by the Cubs.
