I didn't intend to write about the Cubs tonight, but I'm sure glad I am now. I'm doing this because tonight, April 21, 2016, Jake Arrieta threw his second no-hitter. He didn't have his best stuff and he still is able to completely shut down a pretty good major league lineup. Jake Arrieta is the best pitcher on the planet right now.
I'd estimate that in the 20 or so years I've been watching the Cubs every chance I can get, I've watched or listened to an average of 100 games a year. This is just the second no-hitter I've seen. Both of the no-hitters happen to be owned by Arrieta. The things Arrieta does are jaw dropping. I feel so lucky to be a Cubs fan right now. I'm shaking my head right now just thinking about how awesome he has been since Theo Epstein pulled off the Pedro Strop and Jake Arrieta for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger heist.
Since the Cubs acquired Arrieta on July 2, 2013, he has gone 40-13 with a 2.18 ERA, won a CY Young, and been a joy to watch play the game. Arrieta's line for tonight was 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO. The 4 walks were uncharacteristic but they didn't matter, it's hard to drive in any runs with no hits. The Cubs won tonight's game 16 to 0 and it looks like Rizzo, Bryant, Heyward, and Zobrist are heating up. With the bats starting to come around and Arrieta mastering the no-hitter (not really possible to master throwing no-hitters but if anyone can it's Arrieta), the Cubs look even better now than they did last week. Remember to enjoy these performances, they don't come around too often.
Here's the final out for your viewing pleasure, I'm sure I'll watch it a hundred times or so.
Published on 4/21/2016 10:13:23 PM