So, Where is Kris Bryant Headed? And Other Bullets

Kris BryantIf the Cubs were in contention in the NL Central, how excited would you be for the four-game series that starts tonight against the Cardinals? The All-Star break is coming, it’s the Cardinals, it’s four games … the atmosphere at Wrigley would be absurd. As it stands, it’ll still probably be a lot of fun, but don’t lose sight of what’s coming long-term. 2008 wasn’t *that* long ago, and I remember what it was like.

  • Kris Bryant’s deal with the Cubs is technically pending a physical (which he may have already taken), but it should be announced any time now. Once into the system, you can figure Bryant will head to Arizona for a little adjustment/instruction/orientation, before likely heading to Boise to get his professional career underway with the Cubs’ short season A-ball club there. GM Jed Hoyer, without confirming the signing just yet, suggested that would be the plan for Bryant. “We would need to get a feel for how rusty he is,” Hoyer said Wednesday, per Cubs.com. “Once we get a feel for his conditioning, we’ll figure out exactly what the right path is. Certainly, he’ll start out at the very low levels [in the Minors]. We’re hopeful he can move quickly through those.” Projecting where Bryant ends this minor league season is anyone’s guess, because, based on talent and age, climbing to just about any stop on the rung is realistic, even in the short month and a half left in the season. You’d love to see him play a few games at Boise (adjusting to wood bats) before it’s plainly clear that it’s ridiculous for him to be playing there. If he reaches High-A by the end of the year, you’re plenty impressed.
  • Jeff Samardzija put it well to the media last night when he said that the Angels “kicked [his] ass today.” To my eye, Samardzija was just consistently missing his spots, and left a whole lot of balls out over the plate. The Angels did not miss the mistakes.
  • That ass-kicking was the Cubs’ first loss in five games, but Dale Sveum remains level-headed about where the Cubs stand. “Even though we’re playing really well, there has to be that streak of wins to climb back into something,” Sveum said before Wednesday’s game, per ESPN. “Especially when you have three to four teams to climb over. It still takes a 10-game winning streak to say, ‘Ok, now we have a chance.'” That streak isn’t coming before more sell-off trades come, so – like Darth Vader’s line about death after destroying the Emperor – there’s no stopping that now.
  • Relatedly, I recently asked, hypothetically, whether the Cubs being near .500 would really matter in terms of their July approach. Would they still be poised to sell off? Patrick Mooney got to ask that hypothetical question to Hoyer, and I thought his response was spot on. “The answer would probably be ‘yes,’” Hoyer said. “The challenge is that we’re so far behind the other three teams in our division. Right now, [the] Reds and the Pirates are kind of running away with the National League wild cards. So it’s still about making the postseason. Finishing around .500 or over – while enjoyable – that’s not what ultimately is our goal. So if a playoff spot is at stake – that changes your perspective. If a playoff spot’s not at stake, it really doesn’t.” This Cubs team, even if it were at .500 right now, almost assuredly wouldn’t be making the playoffs. Thus, selling off short-term assets for an improved organization would still be the right move. We’d all probably feel a lot more encouraged about 2014, though.
  • In a prospect chat, BA’s Jim Callis essentially said that, even before adding Kris Bryant, the Cubs have the biggest power trio in the minors (Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Dan Vogelbach). Add in Bryant, and no one else is even close.
  • Theo Epstein’s Foundation to Be Named Later charity, Chicago Cubs Charities, and Pearl Jam joined up to contribute some serious dollars to support art education in Chicago.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. 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 the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

    How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

    Latest News

    Brewers vs. Pirates: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Milwaukee Brewers (24-16), led by William Contreras, host Connor Joe and the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) at 7:40 PM ET on Monday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Milwaukee take on Pittsburgh live.When is Brewers...

    Rangers vs. Guardians: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers (22-20) begin a series against Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (25-16) at Globe Life Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...

    How to Watch Braves vs. Cubs: Live Stream or on TV

    On Monday, Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves (24-12) face Nico Hoerner and the Chicago Cubs (24-17), with first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET at Truist Park.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Atlanta...

    Phillies vs. Mets: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Alec Bohm and the Philadelphia Phillies (28-13) open a series against Brandon Nimmo and the New York Mets (18-20) at Citi Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading...

    Nationals vs. White Sox: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Washington Nationals (19-20), led by C.J. Abrams, visit Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (12-29) at 7:40 PM ET on Monday.See how to watch the Washington-Chicago matchup below.When is Nationals vs. White Sox and when does it start?This...

    Tigers vs. Marlins: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Kenta Maeda will start for the Detroit Tigers (20-20) versus Sixto Sanchez and the Miami Marlins (11-31), with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET at Comerica Park.See how to watch the Detroit-Miami matchup below.When is Tigers vs....

    Orioles vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, in a series opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Corbin Burnes starts for the Baltimore Orioles (26-13) versus Jose Berrios and the Toronto Blue Jays (18-22), with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.If you're planning on...

    How to Watch Red Sox vs. Rays: Live Stream or on TV

    Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox (21-19) host Isaac Paredes and the Tampa Bay Rays (20-21) on Monday, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Boston take on...

    Celtics vs. Cavaliers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Cleveland Cavaliers are 8.5-point underdogs heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday, starting at 7:00 PM ET on TNT. The Celtics are up 2-1...

    Detroit Tigers vs. Miami Marlins Series May 13-15: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    On Monday, May 13 at 6:40 PM ET, a three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Miami Marlins will get underway.Tigers vs. Marlins Series Info Marlins @ Tigers Time: Monday, May 13 at 6:40 PM ET Tigers Starting...

    more cubs news