Another Big Stretch
The Cubs play host this weekend to one of the big surprises of the league this year in the Washington Nationals. I don’t really think the Nationals have turned it around as much as the fact that they had a pretty good ballclub in Montreal, but nobody knew about it. Now, playing in Washington in front of a much bigger crowd and having some nationally televised games, people are starting to realize what a talented team they are. I think all the pieces were there in place and it’s a natural progression from leaving to Montreal as a fairly good team and arriving in Washington and becoming a very good team.
Livan Hernandez starts today. What he throws will depend on what’s working for him on a given day. He has a two-seam fastball, cut fastball, curve, slider, and changeup, plus he will change his arm angle on all those pitches. He really doesn’t know himself until he goes down to the bullpen what might be his best pitch. What also makes him tough is that during the course of a ballgame, he may start out with a good curve or cut fastball, then lose it for a couple innings, then regain it later on. It makes it especially tough for an opposing hitter because you really cannot advance him. You do not know what he will do on a given day. You just have to react to what you see.
The team know this is a big stretch with games against Washington, Atlanta, and Florida. I think Dusty Baker alluded to that yesterday when he gave a few of the regulars the day off and said it’s their last rest until the All-Star break. All of these teams will be battling the Cubs for the wild card going forward. I think Dusty and the players realize this and we should see some playoff atmosphere with these games coming up.
Bob