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The Cubs opened up their 2018 season with an eventful 8-4 win yesterday and man, it feels so good to have the season underway. The Marlins are the worst team in the majors on paper, there’s no way an 8-4 win over them would make me feel *this* good if it happened on a random day in June. Random wins in March/April feel so much better, which is why I’m typing this on cloud nine.
On to the details.
Ian Happ wasted literally no time impressing from the leadoff spot.
IAN HAPP ONE PITCH ONE YABO pic.twitter.com/0ZKEgsfYKk
— Red Line Radio (@RedLineRadio) March 29, 2018
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The Cubs tacked on two more runs in the inning without getting another hit, as Jose Urena completely lost command.
Urena regained his command in the second, or so it seemed before Anthony Rizzo unleashed on a fastball left over the plate.
A special homecoming for @ARizzo44. #MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/rNoAVuVKiD
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2018
That homer was a special one on an emotional day for the Cubs captain. Good for him.
After a dismal inning out in Left Field that reinforced everything we already knew about his defense, Kyle Schwarber made up for it by doing what he does best.
He might not be able to play a good left field, but Kyle Schwarber can sure hit. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/I9YkgPDGA2
— Today in MLB (@TodayintheMLB) March 29, 2018
There will be far more games where Schwarber does things like that at the plate without the defensive miscues than there will be games with horrible errors and no offensive production. That’s why he’s the Cubs left fielder. End of story.
Homers are fun, arguably the most fun part of the sport. However, it was the bullpen that did the real heavy lifting in yesterday’s win.
#Cubs bullpen today:
5 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/8qU5bJZ56p
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2018
The Cubs had bullpen issues last October, and even though the pens’ regular season numbers were good overall, the front office spoke this offseason about how they didn’t like the process the bullpen took to get the results they did. Not enough strikes, too many walks.
The bullpen doesn’t look that much different on paper, as six of the eight relievers from last season’s team return and the team’s biggest addition, Brandon Morrow, replaces their biggest loss in Wade Davis.
That means that newly acquired Steve Cishek and trade deadline bust Justin Wilson are exceptionally important to the depth and success of this team’s bullpen. Opening day served as an example of just how good this bullpen could be in 2018 if those two live up to their career numbers.
They combined for eight outs, with three K’s and just two baserunners allowed. The Cubs bullpen pitched nearly six scoreless without using their two best pitchers in Morrow or Carl Edwards Jr., largely thanks to Cishek and Wilson.
There has been plenty of talk about the team’s new rotation and powerful lineup, but the bullpen matters too and the Cubs might have a really damn good one.
