Cubs Billy Beane Style

I pulled a Billy Beane last night tuning out the Cubs game in favor of running an errand, grabbing a workout and taking a long walk home enjoying the beautiful weather along Lake Michigan.

I had my ideas how Volstad vs. Gonzalez would play out. It wasn’t pretty. And seeing as how the night before I spent the evening wanting to pound my head against the wall watching the Cubs get thumped, I figured, why watch this horror flick again?

Like Beane (at least how he’s portrayed in the movie ‘Moneyball’) I checked-in on last night’s game infrequently with my cell phone. If something historically big was happening in the Cubs favor, I had a friend standing by ready to call, which, needless to say, didn’t happen.

The first update I read was this Tweet:

From 1918-current, #Cubs are 3rd team to allow 6+ HR in consecutive games, joining Expos 6/3-4/2003 and Rockies 6/29-30/1996

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) September 6, 2012

Thanks goodness I left the condo. Although, with full disclosure, I did check-in one more time–9-0 after seven-innings. Great.

One difference between Billy Beane and myself is I’ll return to watching the Cubs tomorrow. That’s what baseball addicts do, especially a Cubs junkie like me who whole heartedly enjoys analyzing pitchers, hitters and the strategy of the game–even though the Cubs lack the talent to truly compete.

But I’m certain Cubs fans not as cursed as I am by this disease have already tuned-out North Side baseball; many doing so before the Nationals series, and most after watching the Cubs get walloped in Game 1.

For the most part I’ve kept my piece as a full supporter of the Cubs rebuild. I’ve saved my gripes for what’s been, thankfully, only the occasional stretch of poor effort from the Cubs.

Of course, every team suffers a few pitfalls along the way of a marathon season, but it’s one thing to be able to recover from them and another when you’re in the midst of a 100-loss season.

When talent is lacking, like it is with Chicago, effort is all you got, and that’s what’s made this two-game stretch at Washington so irritating.

Both games have not only been blowouts, but also a saddening display of disinterest on the Cubs part. In fact, it’s been the worst showing of effort, execution and performance this entire season, perhaps, only rivaled by getting swept in Arizona in late June.

If the Cubs’ desire to play the game doesn’t improve over the final four weeks of the regular season, I’ll likely spend more time watching the Cubs Billy Beane style–favoring box scores over the big screen.

I wish that wasn’t the case. But quite simply, this Cubs team has been incredibly hard to watch–even on paper.

Weighing In On Stephen Strasburg

The Nationals have the best record in the major leagues (84-52) and a Magic Number of (19). They ‘re 7.5 games up on Atlanta with four weeks remaining in the regular season–the division crown is all but a formality.

More importantly, Washington is fit to win the NL pennant, unless of course, they were to shut down their best pitcher for the rest of the season.

I understand Steven Strasburg is a huge investment. I understand the Nationals want to protect that investment. But if the decision is left up to me, he pitches the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

That doesn’t mean I throw caution to the wind with Strasburg. Instead, I’d limit his workload; less innings and fewer games started down the stretch (as suggested by Tom Glavine).

There’s no question postseason pitching is a different animal than the regular season. Every pitch matters, and nearly every pitch is thrown with maxed-out effort. Is that a risk worth taking with Strasburg? I think it is, and here’s why.

A chance to win the World Series should be cherished. So much has to go right to reach such heights and so much cannot be controlled. There’s no guarantee the Nationals find themselves in the same position next year, or even in the coming seasons–with or without Strasburg.

Power-pitching is gold in October. It’s the difference-maker. It’s exactly what Strasburg should be for the Nationals. Shutting him down greatly limits that often fleeting opportunity to win now on a team poised to reach the Fall Classic.

“I’m not sure any of us understand, but it’s the right thing to do,” said Nats manager Davey Johnson.

I don’t think it’s the right move, and judging by Davey’s comment, he doesn’t think so, either.

Johnson himself is a fantastic manager. In fact, I’d consider him a saving grace if Washington sticks to its guns about shelving Strasburg. But good managing is hardly a replacement for a power-pitching ace like Strasburg in any postseason series.

Not to mention, if the Nationals don’t win the NL Pennant the thoughts of ‘what might have been’ could haunt this club for a long, long time. And that’s the last thing I want on my mind if I’m a member of the Nats organization.

When the time’s right to win, you go for it. You don’t play for next year and you don’t play scared. That’s how championships are won.