Well, it wasn’t supposed to happen for another two weeks, but, thanks to a service snafu, we are now a cable-free family. I will soon be investigating online TV viewing options, but, since this came earlier than expected, I haven’t had much time to get caught up on the best ways to cut the cord (especially when you’re a TV lover like me). In the meantime, I’m open to any tips/suggestions/ideas on how best to approximate the cable experience without actually having cable.
Jeff Passan polled scouts and executives to come up with an all minor league team, and four Cubs got the nod (either as starters or honorable mentions), but it might not be the ones you’d assume: Javier Baez, Dan Vogelbach, Kyle Hendricks, and C.J. Edwards. Baez was the starting shortstop – over a ridiculous crop – and Edwards made the starting rotation. Any list like this that includes four Cubs prospects, but doesn’t include guys like Bryant, Soler, Almora, or even Alcantara … well, it makes me very happy. Rock Shoulders also nabbed the top name honors, because obviously.
Of his latest disappointing start, Edwin Jackson said he got too slider happy, and that isn’t too effective when you aren’t setting it up with a quality fastball, per Cubs.com. For his part, Dale Sveum added that the slider lost some velocity and bite after a few innings.
Dale Sveum says he’ll be interested in seeing Zach Rosscup and Brooks Raley this month as the Cubs decide on what they want to do in the bullpen going forward. Specifically, Sveum mentioned to Cubs.com that he’d like to have two lefties in the pen (presumably next year), and the Cubs might fill the roles internally (i.e., James Russell and someone like Raley or Rosscup or maybe even Chris Rusin, if he doesn’t stick in the rotation). It’s nice to have a set of interesting lefty reliever options going into 2014, instead of having to hope to pick someone up off of the scrap heap (before maybe leaving the job entirely to Russell).
Scott Baker still isn’t sure what’s coming next, now that the minor league season is over. Dale Sveum has said he’ll pitch out of the bullpen if he comes up to the Cubs, which was news to Baker.
Justin Grimm, who was promoted to the big club yesterday, has an outstanding attitude. I still think folks sleep on Grimm when discussing the Matt Garza return because Grimm was forced into big league duty this year with the Rangers before he’d fully sussed out his pitches. Grimm’s FIP with Iowa after the trade was just 2.77.
Reliever Eduardo Sanchez, who was derostered in the flurry of moves this week, has cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Iowa.
If you missed the E:60 presentation on Matt Szczur’s bone marrow donation process, you can watch it here. Nearby tissues are advised (I blubbered for five minutes straight). I already wanted this young man to succeed, but now I really, really, really want him to succeed. If you are moved by this story, I’d encourage you to sign up for the national bone marrow donor registry. It’s very easy – I’ve done it, and it took almost no time – and, as you can see, it can save a life.