Bryan LaHair Owns the Bullets and Other Bullets

This won’t make you feel much better, because the team still *looks* bad, but, if you’re just examining results, and likening it to an NFL season, the Cubs just lost their first game of the season, and are down big in the first quarter of game number two. Maybe it won’t make you feel better at all.

  • Dale Sveum offers his take on Jeff Samardzija’s poor outing yesterday against the Marlins: “Strike one hasn’t been so easy lately and that changes things around a lot, especially against an aggressive team. His split-finger, he couldn’t get that going and it was up. His secondary stuff was a little flat. Velocity was fine but command of the cutter early was killing him.” So, pretty much everything except his velocity was bad (which was how Samardzija circa 2010 would have been described).
  • No one seems worried yet about Samardzija’s struggles, and the good news is that he feels physically fine. Better than fine, actually. “I feel great and I felt awesome today,” Samardzija said, per the same article. “The arm feels unbelievable. I really feel I can go out and throw 120, 125 pitches, but I need to be taking that mental approach of not even getting into that 100-pitch mark. Just pound the zone and let my defense work behind me.”
  • The nerve issue in Bryan LaHair’s back, which sends pain down as far as his leg, is still giving him problems. “It’s preventing me from moving the way I want to, but it’s getting better,” he said. “I’m starting to increase my range, working before the game and after the game and I’m getting to the bag quicker. It will just be a matter of time before I’m playing defense how I want to.” The issue certainly hasn’t been noticeable at the plate.
  • Speaking of LaHair at the plate, Sveum says it’s time he’ll start thinking about re-tooling the lineup, with LaHair possibly moving up from the 6/7 spot.
  • More speaking of LaHair, the big first baseman will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans at Sports World Chicago (across from Wrigley Field) after Saturday’s game. He’s doing it for charity, and $10 gets you in the door for an autograph and pictures. The money will help a program that teaches kids in Chicago Public Schools about health and fitness. Good for LaHair, and good for Sports World.
  • All-Start voting starts today, so get your clicking finger ready. Marlon Byrd ain’t gonna All-Star himself.
  • Theo Epstein has started scouting kids for the Draft. That’s right: the Cubs’ President actually goes and scouts some of the top prospects in person. And don’t worry, he’s not burning up time looking for diamonds in the rough – he’s looking at kids who’ve already been reported up the chain, starting with area scouts. Epstein knows how to delegate.
  • Like I said yesterday, the Brandon Allen waiver claim situation was set to be resolved yesterday/today, and it has been. The Cubs never had a chance to claim him, as one of the final AL teams with a chance to grab him did so – the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s pretty much a perfect fit for the Rays, who love to grab high upside, low risk, mid-20s players who could wind up being a big win for them. The last such guy they claimed? Lefty reliever John Gaub from the Cubs.
  • MLBullets at BCB, reflecting on Ivan Rodriguez’s long, great career. But that one year in Miami … for that, I cannot forgive him.
  • Reminder: your BN apparel needs live 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

    Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

    That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

    Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

    Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 4, Astros 3 – April 24, 2024

    The Cubs did all their scoring in the first, and made it stand up for the win with generally good pitching and generally good defense. Jameson Taillon looked solid again in his second start, locating well, giving up no barrels,...

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Latest News

    Yankees vs. Athletics Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Oakland Athletics (9-16) and the New York Yankees (17-8) square off at Yankee Stadium on Thursday at 7:05 PM ET.The probable starters are Nestor Cortes Jr. (1-1) for the Yankees and Alex Wood (0-2) for the Athletics.Yankees vs. Athletics...

    Caleb Williams Shares Who He’d Take With the No. 9 Pick

    The Chicago Bears drafting Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is a foregone conclusion. However, what happens with the Bears' other first-round pick is anything but a lock. One name we haven't discussed much as...

    Nuggets at Lakers Odds, LeBron and Jokic Props, and More for Tonight

    The Denver Nuggets hold a 2-0 lead over the Lakers as their series continues tonight. Check out the odds for the game along with some props for LeBron James and Nikola Jokic as the NBA playoffs roll on. Nuggets at...

    Latest 2024 NFL Draft Specials, Top Props, and More For the First Round Tonight

    As the 2024 NFL Draft unfolds tonight, the sports betting landscape is buzzing with anticipation. Fans and bettors alike are gearing up for one of the most exciting events in the football calendar, with a plethora of draft specials, prop...

    What is a Spread Bet? Understanding the Popular Bet Type

    One of the most popular bets in all of sports betting is the spread. What is it? A spread bet is a wager on the margin of victory in a game. Let's dive into the popular bet type and break...

    2024 Kansas City Chiefs Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Receiver and Tackle

    What does one back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs team do the next year in the NFL Draft? It’s highly speculated that they will fill their pass-catching holes with an elite wide receiver, or possibly bolster the offensive line...

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – April 25, 2024

    In a Thursday NBA playoff schedule that includes three competitive matchups, the Denver Nuggets versus the Los Angeles Lakers is a game to see.Searching for NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article features NBA player props for every...

    Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

    Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

    That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

    Happy NFL Draft Day! (And Other Bears Bullets)

    Today is the day we've been waiting for since the NFL regular season ended. It's NFL Draft Day! The Chicago Bears have the first pick. Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be USC quarterback Caleb Williams getting the nod. Now that...

    more cubs news