Emery Hunt

After a 3-4-4 date, this man now... Remember, he's in the bottom third of the order every time he gets into the lineup, right?

He's now batting over .300.

The OPS is .849.

If you're getting the type of production...

that the Cubs got from the bottom of their lineup in this game on a regular basis, they're going to be in every game and they're going to win more than they lose.

It's a great formula.

I think Craig Council has done a pretty good job of just extending his lineup.

And remember, this is a game in which Dansby Swanson wasn't even available.

Right.

Fifth different pitcher with a save already this season for the Cubs and Hobie Milner to come out and get the last out.

And I think the Ben Brown piece of this is important just because even though it looks like Daniel Palencia is going to be back this weekend with the Diamondbacks in town.

Yeah, I'm not taking anything for granted, especially in the shadow of the Justin Steele tweet.

So when you see what Ben Brown has been able to do in terms of getting his second hold of the year and pitching multiple innings, but to go into a bases-loaded no-out situation and you have a two-run lead and only give up the one run, I think that spoke volumes about

what the difference may be between this team and the Padres right now.

And I say that because this team does look a lot like last year's Cubs team because the bullpen, you're just going to have to figure it out.

I look at the way that this bullpen has had to be laid out, and you hope for Corbin Martin's sake it's just a temporary setback, a blip on a long season where he just had a bad day, right?

He's pitched in five games this season to the tune of a 2.25 ERA.

And it's one of those situations where you understand, hey, when your name is called, we're calling your name not because we want to necessarily, but because we have no other choice.

That's where they are.

That's why this, like, just even today, right?