After every game of the Cubs 2022 season, I will give out some awards like hockey does with their stars of the game system. the 4 balls of the game will go out to the 4 players who positively helped the Cubs. I will also do some critiques of the team, with the 3 players who didnt have their best effort. A 4 ball player can turn into a 3 strike player and vice versa. This is just an effort to put a microscope in the idividual game.

The Cubs had their first loss of the year with a 5-4 loss on Sunday to the Brewers. There were some outstanding positives, but obviously in a loss there were negatives. So lets get to it:

Ball 1

Alfonso Rivas 1-2, 1 R

The first baseman got his first start of this very, very young season. Rivas hit a single in the bottom of the first inning off of a 93 MPH fastball from the hand of Freddy Peralta.. He would score in the inning off the big blast by Seiya Suzuki. Rivas in minimal experience last season had a .797 OPS with a .388 OBP.

Ball 2

Mychal Givens 1.0 IP, 0 ER, O H. 0 BB, 1 K

In a day when the bullpen really struggled a bright spot has emerged through the first series of the year. The relief pitcher came into the game in the top of the ninth to tray and keep the game within that 1 run margin. He struck out Omar Narvaez on a 94 MPH fastball, but served him a blend of 80-ish MPH off-speed pitches. He then induced fly ball outs to Cain and Brosseau. Givens has now made 2 appearances this season and has 2 strikeouts in 1.1 IP.

Ball 3

Seiya Suzuki: 1-3, 1 HR (1), 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Seiya keeps crossing firsts off his Major League list. In game 1 it was first hit, game 2 it was first RBI, and now on Sunday he hit his first big blast. He took a 3-1 cookie and blasted it in to the LF bleachers. He just is such a pro at the plate. He takes his walks, as he already has 4 of them in 13 PA’s. Pair that with his defense, he just constantly impresses.

Ball 4

Marcus Stroman 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K’s, 1 HR

Stroman was electric and fun in his debut start. Stroman flashed all those ground ball outs, that baseball analysts were talking about. He induced 9(!) of them. The outfield was almost useless in this start. He flashed some leather with a nice catch on a hard hit ball to Stroman, who made the catch and threw it to first to get the double play. Stroman also limited the Brewers to 5 baserunners. If Stroman can be consistent and keep the Cubs from selling at the deadline.

Now with some of the reasons the Cubs lost.

Strike 1

Nick Madrigal 0-4, 0 BB, 5 LOB

Nicky “2 strikes” Madrigal didnt have any strikeouts. Thats a good thing, but he didnt get the timely hit that the Cubs could have used to expand or get the lead. His struggles began in the 2nd inning. Yan Gomes hit a double and he couldnt score because Madrigal ended the inning. In the 4th inning Nick grounded out in a double play after a Hermossillo walk. For a guy with limited power, he cant have many games where he doesnt event get on base once. He has started the season 1-11 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

Strike 2

Daniel Norris 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 HR

Norris gave up the long ball to pinch hitter Brosseau. That was the first pinch hit homer in that Brewers career. Norris just didnt have it today. This is the 3rd run given up by Norris in just 2 appearances. With the 28 man rosters going back to 26 in May, there isnt a lot of time to make an impression. With Norris he better hope he gets some more chances to prove he belongs in the 26 man locker room.

Strike 3

Jesse Chavez 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

They say the sequel isnt as great as the original. This is what happened at least in game 3 of the 2022 season. Chavez was phenomenal in his first try with the north side. He had a 1.15 ERA with the Cubs in 2018. In his first go-around in 2022, he was shelled from the beginning. He gave up a walk, double and a Homerun with an out sprinkled in there. Like I said about Norris, the Cubs dont have time to see who may be here for the long haul. If Chavez wants to make this roster past May, he has to keep the ball in the yard.