The Wife has been teaching a summer institute type class this week in the mornings, so I’ve had The Little Boy with me for half days. The difference in children’s personalities, even as young as four months, is amazing. Whereas The Little Girl would have demanded my attention at every waking moment (which was fine), The Little Boy is generally content to watch me type and shake his hands around. Hence why you probably haven’t noticed that I’ve been halfway unavailable every morning this week (and tomorrow and Friday, too). Thanks for the help, sonny-boy.
Starlin Castro wasn’t too happy about the wide slide by Shane Robinson last night that ended the game. While trying to break up a game-ending double play, Robinson slide 10 to 15 feet wide of the bag, with a leg up in the air, preventing Castro from making the turn. Umpires correctly ruled that Robinson had strayed too far, and the double play was called. But Castro was pissed. “I understand where you can try to break up the double play in that kind of situation, but not like that,” Castro said, per CSN. “[That was] not even close. I couldn’t throw the ball because he tried to kill me.” The play was reminiscent of a Matt Holliday slide two years ago (pictured there), which I found to be particularly dirty because it was high, late, and looked like it intended to injure Castro. Initially, Castro called that one inappropriate, too, but later backed off those comments. Hard play is great. But the line before crossing into “dirty” is there somewhere. Dare I say … Cardinals Way?
Although he doesn’t love seeing Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo both slumping at the same time, Dale Sveum said he wasn’t worried about the slumps being a red flag for either player, per CSN. Rizzo got a day off yesterday, and hopes he’ll come back strong, per Carrie Muskat.
Jeff Samardzija on being a part of this particular team, per Cubs.com: “We’re the Chicago Cubs, so you know there’s always something going on, something being talked about. If you can’t deal with that, you better play somewhere else. We’re a great team in here, we get along real well. Despite different things that happen throughout the year, that’s how it goes.”
Jorge Soler did end up going to the disabled list (seven days, in the minors) with his calf/shin issue. No one seems to think it’s serious, so hopefully a few days rest will clear it up.
As you may have seen in the Minor League Daily today, reliever Eduardo Sanchez is pitching for the Iowa Cubs again. That’s noteworthy because he was designated for assignment last week upon the acquisition of Henry Rodriguez. Sanchez must have been subsequently waived, cleared waivers, and was then outrighted to Iowa. A peak at the Cubs’ transaction wire confirms that, yup, that’s what happened. That’s a nice reliever to stash right there.
An MiLB.com feature on Kyle Hendricks, the AA Tennessee pitcher who’s been as good as any Cubs minor league pitcher this year.
Seeing the rash of Cubs draftees announcing their signings on Twitter, complete with a picture of the momentous event, BN’er TWC decided to join the party:
NEWSLETTER
