Jim Hendry Sounds Familiar and Other Bullets – May 3, 2011

The Chicago Cubs are now 1-7 in the games that would have been started by Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner. If they split those games instead, they’re 15-13, in a virtual tie atop the NL Central standings. God’s wrath, indeed.

  • Chicago Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry is singing a familiar, but totally correct, tune: “The one thing we really need to improve on, obviously, is hitting better with men in scoring position.” It’s been a story for going on four years now – the Cubs “hit” a lot better than they “score.” The reason is always hard to put a finger on, as stat-guys tend to eschew any suggestion that “clutch” hitting actually exists. But when you watch a team, collectively, be un-clutch for a few years in a row, your gut starts to tell you otherwise.
  • Oh, and Jim, you could also improve the back-end of the rotation. Just sayin’.
  • Speaking of which, Mike Quade is saying exactly what you would expect him to say after James Russell once again failed to go five innings, and once again failed to give the Cubs a reasonable chance to win: “It’s tough, one pitch away from a great outing or a little bit of a disaster. He’s gotten better. His approach is better. We’ll see what happens down the road.” Awesome. With an off-day coming up, the Cubs might be able to push back the fifth spot a bit, at least.
  • Ted Lilly still doesn’t understand why the Cubs decided to dump him last year rather than sign him long-term. “It didn’t get very far,” Lilly said. “I made it clear I was willing to get creative to try and stay. Once they made up their mind I needed to go, at the end of the day, I didn’t know how much they needed to dump on salary, or how much they were able to save. That’s what they wanted to do. I don’t know if it was money or what the real reason was.” Ted, my friend: it was the money.
  • Lou Piniella says having family ownership of the Cubs once again will be the solution to the championship drought. Longer interview with Sweet Lou here.
  •  

    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

    Jameson Taillon’s Postgame Comments Make Me Feel Even Better About His 2024 Debut

    After missing all of spring training and the start of the season with a back injury, Jameson Taillon returned to the Chicago Cubs rotation yesterday against the Marlins in impressive fashion: 5.0 IP, 3H, 0BB, 4Ks. He looked good, he...

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

    MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

    Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

    The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

    It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

    Latest News

    Braves vs. Rangers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    Coming off a three-homer game last time out, Travis d'Arnaud leads the Atlanta Braves (13-5) into action as -157 favorites against the Texas Rangers (11-10). First pitch from Truist Park is set for 7:20 PM ET Saturday, live on BSSW.Charlie...

    Reds vs. Angels Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Cincinnati Reds (10-9), led by the red-hot Elly De La Cruz and his two-game homer streak, are -127 favorites to pick up a win over the Los Angeles Angels (9-11) Saturday at 6:40 PM ET, live from Great American...

    Orioles vs. Royals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    Cedric Mullins (10 games) will look to add to his hitting streak when the Baltimore Orioles (12-7) and Kansas City Royals (13-7) meet Saturday at 7:10 PM ET, live on MASN2 from Kauffman Stadium. Mullins and the Orioles are favored...

    Mariners vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Colorado Rockies (4-15) face the Seattle Mariners (9-10) at 8:10 PM ET on Saturday following a five-game losing streak.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Mariners will send Luis Castillo (0-4) to the mound, while Dakota Hudson (0-3)...

    Jameson Taillon’s Postgame Comments Make Me Feel Even Better About His 2024 Debut

    After missing all of spring training and the start of the season with a back injury, Jameson Taillon returned to the Chicago Cubs rotation yesterday against the Marlins in impressive fashion: 5.0 IP, 3H, 0BB, 4Ks. He looked good, he...

    Reds vs. Angels Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Los Angeles Angels (9-11) play on the road against the Cincinnati Reds (10-9) at Great American Ball Park. The game is set to start at 6:40 PM ET on Saturday.The Reds will call on Graham Ashcraft (2-1) versus the...

    Braves vs. Rangers Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Atlanta Braves (13-5) look to add to a five-game winning streak as they host the Texas Rangers (11-10) at 7:20 PM ET on Saturday.The Braves will look to Charlie Morton (1-0) against the Rangers and Nathan Eovaldi (1-1).Braves vs....

    Orioles vs. Royals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Baltimore Orioles (12-7) visit Kansas City to face the Kansas City Royals (13-7) at 7:10 PM ET on Saturday.The Orioles will call on Corbin Burnes (2-0) versus the Royals and Cole Ragans (0-1).Orioles vs. Royals Pitcher Matchup and Game...

    Playoffs Begin, Locker Clean Out, Summer Thoughts, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today. It's the most exciting time of year for 16 cities in the NHL because every one of them -- yes, even the Islanders and Capitals -- have a chance to win it all....

    Guardians vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Cleveland Guardians (14-6) are favorites (-172) on the moneyline when they take on the Oakland Athletics (8-12) Saturday at 6:10 PM ET, live on NBCS-CA.Cleveland's Logan Allen and Oakland's Alex Wood have been named the starters for this contest.Guardians...

    more cubs news