Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman wasn’t expected to throw to hitters until mid-March following a long, long rehab from major shoulder surgery last March. But he’s ahead of schedule, and is actually going to throw a live batting practice session this Wednesday.
Guzman, who underwent right shoulder surgery one year ago in March to repair a significant tear, was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Wednesday. It may be a workout on a side field, but it’s a big step for Guzman, whose career has been slowed because of injuries.
The right-hander has yet to throw full speed in his side sessions and will make his last tune-up on Sunday. The Cubs had talked about having Guzman throw to hitters in mid-March but have moved up the date because of the progress he’s made.
“Now I feel I can let the ball go,” Guzman said. “Now, it’s important for me to get into a rhythm.” cubs.com.
Guzman remains an extreme longshot to make the Cubs’ pen out of Spring Training, and a mere longshot to meaningfully contribute to the team this year. But, so far so good.
Unrelated to Angel Guzman…I noticed the Cubs are thinking of returning to organ music to intro the hitters. They are wanting to stick with tradition. I’m all for tradition but I think it is a bit overdone. I think Wrigley Field itself plays into this. Growing up I always felt like the Cubs weren’t really like a big league team. No night games, none of the ballpark features seen elsewhere, lousy food, dilapidated ballpark, tiny dugouts and the like. I’d go to Comiskey or Yankee Stadium or even Milwaukee and those seemed like real big league parks.
I do love walking in thru the tunnel at Wrigley now and seeing the field and walls look the same as I remember them as a kid but everything else still seems minor league to me. I think, in some strange way, it is holding the Cubs back. They need a new ballpark and drop some of the olds traditions like the organ music when a batter comes up (trivial I know). They can close down Wrigley, move across town for 2 years, and demolish all but the field and walls and start over incorporating the triangle area. Then move back. Or, and I’ve tossed and turned over this one for years, move altogether – taking the big scoreboard, transplant the ivy and maybe save some of the bricks. It would be nice to stay where they are but I’m not sure it can be done. At the very least, they need a new ballpark that comes of age while keeping only a few of the traditions.
Eventually, the move, as you describe, will happen. Upgrading Wrigley to modernize and monetize is a start, but ultimately, there’s just too much money to be made from enhanced fan experience by building a new Wrigley. It’s sad, but it’s the way I see things.
Yep, eventually its going to happen. My kids or grandkids will see the new, ” Sara Lee’s Wrigley Field”