I think it speaks to the people that make the schedules that I've been so enthralled by this Rangers-Cubs series. You look at it one way, you go 'oh yeah, the team that just won the World Series is cleaning up', but the games are anything but simple. These are two very well-built teams that are already playing playoff-caliber matches with playoff-style stakes.
It's primarily been wild solely because I didn't think Wyatt Langford would see the majors this soon. The 22-year-old was drafted just last year, zoomed through the minors and was killing it in Spring Training. I just assumed he wouldn't make it because he's only had a half-year in the minors, but him making it to the show [and Jackson Holliday still 'not being ready yet'] was a late Spring Training shocker. And even now, with the outfield still being reserved for Adolis Garcia, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras, Langford has been the starting DH for this team, meaning they're not sure where to play him in the field yet.
It certainly seemed like a puzzling move until Langford started hitting like hell and driving in runs. So I guess he was ready.
That's been an interesting parallel to the Cubs because while both Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford have factored into the Rangers' 2024 plans, Pete Crow Armstrong, who was brought up last year and even dyed his hair blue this spring, is back in Iowa. The Cubs' dependence on young stars is more out of convenience, as Ben Brown was brought up as a seat-filler for Justin Steele, who injured his hamstring after some excellent work in the opener. Brown promptly got the snot kicked out of him yesterday in a long-relief role after Hendricks similarly got rocked. So even if he is probably gonna start in a few days, the fact that the Rangers can already get to him is telling. Maybe a 'first start hazing' kinda thing, like 'hey, welcome to the bigs, over there are the World Champions, go get 'em kid', but...hopefully he comes into his own over time.
But yeah, already you've seen, like, playoff-quality highs and lows from this matchup. Jonah Heim getting absolutely screwed by an ump into letting a runner go by, then redeeming himself with a walkoff moment. Jared Walsh and Adolis Garcia raining on Kyle Hendricks' parade. Travis Jankowski still finding ways to be the hero a couple years after most of the league gave up on him. Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson having heroic moments when the team needs them. Even if the Cubs aren't showing it in the win column yet, they are hanging in there with one of the best teams in baseball, and making for entertaining, dramatic games.
If both of these teams are preparing for playoff stakes in the first series of the year, it's gonna be a huge, wild season for both of them.
Coming Tomorrow- The Giants added a few new pitchers this year, yet this guy might still be the most important piece in town.
The Cubs have been playing much better than expected, especially after taking 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. Chicago sports radio is already heaping praise on Counsell, believing if Ross was still in charge the team would be struggling.
ReplyDelete