Especially when every team in MLB has lost at least one. This would be about equivalent to an 11-3 start in a regular season.It's only 5 games into the season but in a 60 game format getting off to a 4-1 start is very positive when there is probably going to be little room for error to have a prolonged losing streak this season. You gotta think the 1-4 start for the Reds who shelled out some money in the offseason and was many people's pick to win the division are going to be a little frustrated if they can't salvage at least 1 win out of this 4 game series and with Hendricks and Darvish on the mound tonight and tomorrow that could be a tough task. Cubs next 2 series are 3 with the Pirates and 4 with the Royals before facing the Cardinals on Aug 7 so I'll take the start so far even with the shaky bullpen performances as that will hopefully work itself out with some more innings pitched.
It's early but these games all mean a lot. The Reds were getting a lot of darkhorse world series picks and have begun 1-4 on a 7 game home stand that included 3 against the Tigers. They gotta be a little shell shocked.
I'd take a split in these next 2 with Gray and Castillo on the mound. Both top 20 starters in the show last year.
6 games is 10% of this season where typically 16.2 games is 10% of a normal season so a 4 or 5 game losing streak in this format would be like going through a rough patch like 5-12 over a 17 game stretch in a full season. Granted the playoffs are expanded this year but just shows you that every game could matter as this season is like going through the final 3rd of the regular season making a playoff push.
As long as we don't take these facts as a reason to use our closer every day, or maybe even many days at all.
Have a feeling Castellanos is going to be a Cub killer.
And it shouldn't have been. Ball clearly hit the groundSeriously do not remember the last time the Cubs got a triple play.