The Nature of No-Hitters, History Made, The Guys Who Didn’t Know, Dansby Stays, and Other Cubs Bullets

Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
Sep 05, 2024
Sep 05, 2024

This season may very well wind up forgettable in the long run, but now we know for sure there’s at least one game that we’ll always remember.

The quick version of all 27 outs:

  • On the subject of the nature of a no-hitter, I’m going to agree with folks who believe that a combined no-hitter just isn’t as special as a solo starter no-hitter. For a variety of obvious reasons, the latter is a much more IMPRESSIVE feat, especially in today’s game. Moreover, there’s something about one guy doing it all – with his defense behind him, of course – that just feels cooler.

  • That said, I’ve generally had a tough time getting too upset when a pitcher is pulled around the 100 pitch mark. On the one hand, I think if it’s a blowout and/or a game that doesn’t matter, it’d be nice if you could convince the pitcher to go out and just take it VERY easy at that point and toss BP to see what happens. Like, hey, I’m pulling you at this moment for health and safety, but if you REALLY want to continue to see if you can get a no-hitter, go ahead and just toss gently. I don’t know how realistic that actually is when it comes to competitors like these guys, though, so I understand why it doesn’t happen.

  • To that point, with Craig Counsell confirming that last night’s pull was entirely about proactively protecting Shōta Imanaga from a health standpoint, I don’t really have too much of a problem with it. This was actually the second time this season that Counsell has pulled his starter after seven no-hit innings in the mid-90-pitch range. Recall, Ben Brown was no-hitting the Brewers back on May 28 when he was pulled (Hayden Wesneski gave up a hit with one out in the 8th to end that one). Unfortunately, Brown would go on to have two rough outings after that, while dealing with a neck issue that ultimately ended his season.

  • Shōta Imanaga on the no-no (): “Compared to Japan, all the players here get more excited about a no-hitter, and it doesn’t matter if the guys didn’t play, guys didn’t get a hit, everybody congratulated me,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “Everybody was cheering me on. So I’m just thankful and I have a lot of respect for all my teammates who got excited for me, excited for the win.”

  • there was a no-hitter going on until the Wrigley Field crowd booed Pearson’s entry into the game. I’m just glad they immediately knew the fans weren’t booing Pearson!

  • The no-hitter was the first at Wrigley Field in a very long time, and will have a place in Cooperstown:

  • It has to be really cool to know, whatever else might happen in your career, a little part of you is already in the Hall of Fame.

  • Speaking of which, for the catcher – of a combined no-hitter especially – that game has to feel so special:

  • Dansby Swanson, who got the final out, was almost pulled from the game for rest because it was a blowout. “They said, ‘hey, you’re done,’” of what happened in the later innings. “I said, ‘no, I’m not.’ I was kind of like, ‘think about it. Can’t say it. Think about it.’” And no, Swanson wasn’t talking about trying to get a triple for the cycle.

  • It’s really a bummer that the three Isaac Paredes errors may have directly prevented Imanaga from getting a shot at the full-nine no-hitter, though I’m not so sure it’s a clear one-to-one. The first error came right before a double-play in the first inning, so probably no harm there in terms of pitch count. The second and third errors both came in the 6th inning, which makes pitch-counting a little tricky (if not for the first error, the second error wouldn’t even have had a chance to take place in the inning). At a minimum, Imanaga had to throw six pitches in the 6th that he wouldn’t have had to throw without the first error in the inning. So, then, if Imanaga is at 89 pitches after 7, does he get the 8th? I think he probably does. But even if he’s very efficient in the 8th, does he get the 9th if he’s at the 100 pitch mark? Maybe, maybe not. Probably pretty close, though.

  • Speaking of the Paredes errors, I had his recent shoulder issue in mind as I saw them play out (it wasn’t an IL stint, but I do remember him missing a game). One of the throwing errors he sailed, one of the throwing errors he under-threw (probably could’ve been caught, didn’t look terrible), and then the fielding error he just muffed. Not sure there’s a relationship there to the shoulder or just a guy who got in his own head a bit after the first throw in the dirt.

  • Cubs pitching prospect Drew Gray got a 12-day break this summer wrapped around the All-Star break, having previously struggled a bit at High-A. But since then he’s posted a 2.73 ERA and a 32.3% K rate. The 14.3% BB is still too high, but is also a huge improvement for the 21-year-old lefty. He has a starter’s arsenal and a starter’s fastball shape, so I am keeping my hopes up that he can shave off some walks and stay a starter as he climbs the ladder.

  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto will finally return to the Dodgers on Tuesday after missing the last three months with a shoulder injury. Let’s see, let’s see, who do the Dodgers play on Tuesday … ah. Right. Hey, maybe the Cubs will give him a rude welcome back. Also, not sure if the rotation will quite work out this way now that things are getting a little shifted around, but wouldn’t it be fun if that day was Shōta Imanaga versus Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

  • Big overnight news if you missed it, with the Giants extending Matt Chapman on a surprisingly large deal.

  • Kyle Schwarber had a three-homer game and then led off the next game with this:

  • He, uh, is good:

  • Absolutely crazy game, and a fun one:

    • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at and on LinkedIn . Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of th💃e largest regional sports blogs ℱon the web.

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