The Comeback-iest Cubs We’ve Seen, the Caratini Mystery, Maddon on Fowler, and Other Bullets

Jul 04, 2018

A Happy Fourth of July to all who understand the greatness of what this country can be, who respect the humanity of those who seek to be a part of this land, and who know that loving a nation is not incongruous with wanting to see things get better. Also: fireworks. Fireworks are cool.

The Cubs are on a season-high (tied) five-game winning streak, which they can top this afternoon against the Tigers. The crazy thing about this particular streak? The Cubs have trailed early in every single one of the five wins. As ESPN points out, that’s not solely a recent event, either – the Cubs lead baseball with 25 come-from-behind wins, and the Cubs are 21-22 after their opponent scores first in the game. No team has been at .500 or better in that category in 12 years. These are the comeback-iest Cubs we’ve seen in a while.

And it seems like that’s the kind of thing that can beget more winning – as a group feels more and more comfortable knowing that, whatever the opponent’s lead, they can still come back, then they do not press at the plate, they continue to play sharp defense to hold the line where it is, and they pitch as though the game is still very much winnable.

(UPDATE: It is indeed a call-up for Caratini.) We’ll see if the outcome is a call-up today, but there was a little mystery last night as to Victor Caratini’s whereabouts, and his manager at Iowa as not inclined to solve it for us after their game:

Victor Caratini not with the Iowa #Cubs after the game. Iowa manager Marty Pevey didn't give an explanation.

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 4, 2018

It’s not a trade, as Birch said earlier (and wouldn’t make much sense right now anyway, given how thin the Cubs are in upper-minors catching). So it’s either a promotion, a one-off random time away situation, or an injury. The injury probably would have been answered by the manager, so I think we can rule that one out.

Joe Maddon says that what’s happened over the last few days with respect to the Cardinals and Dexter Fowler is unfortunate, and that he sees Fowler as “effervescent. He is gregarious. He always lit up the room when he walked in. That’s how I see Dex. He and I had great conversations all the time.” (NBC Sports Chicago) Maddon also declined to offer up any specifics on whether the Cubs ever talked to Fowler about his effort, saying only “That’s St. Louis, not me.”

Maddon is hopeful that the extra break Kris Bryant is getting due to his shoulder soreness will help him overall on the rest side of things (Cubs.com).

Sometimes you can extremely miss your spot, but the pitch is so nasty it doesn’t matter:

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1014255127014801408

That’s quite a tease:

Hard to top the Gleyber/Eloy class, but #Cubs think they may have found a future No. 1 starter and the next Jose Quintana. Scouting report on their big international free-agent signings: https://t.co/EkqSjFsPkC
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 4, 2018

The Cubs are very high on their top two pitching signings in the class, Richard Gallardo and Joel Machado, both out of Venezuela, and guys they see as the top righty and lefty in the class.

Former Cubs pitcher Casey Coleman (remember him? last appeared in the org in 2014) is coming back on a minor league deal, per Tommy Birch. The now 31-year-old righty has bounced around minor league systems since departing the Cubs, intermittently having excellent seasons at AAA as a reliever, and also struggling as a starter.

To me, it’s kinda wild that the Reds – after starting the season 8-27 – now have a better record than the Padres, Mets, Marlins, Royals, White Sox, Twins, and Orioles. They’ve gone 29-22 clip since then, a .569 clip. If they’d done that in those first 35 games, they’d have gone 20-15, which means they’d be 49-37 right now … a half-game behind the Cubs. That’s how good they’ve been now for nearly two months.

Checking out the “bargain bin” in the Amazon Warehouse section. It’s like being at a garage sale on Amazon.

written by

Brett Taylor

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

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Yet Another Rubber Match

CUBS LINEUP — Before today's finale, the Chicago Cubs have won three of four Rubber Matches this season: Dodgers (win), Padres (loss), Mariners (win), and Diamondbacks (win). Let's see if they can make it four out of five. Chicago Cubs...

Michael Cerami

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Moves: Jordan Wicks (IL) and Luke Little (Iowa) Replaced by Two Relievers Out of Triple-A

As expected, Jordan Wicks is hitting the injured list with the always-dreaded left forearm strain. But he's not the only Cubs lefty on his way out the door this Sunday afternoon. Sahadev Sharma has the scoop on the three other...

Michael Cerami

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Should We Have Seen Wicks’ Injury Coming? Rizzo Makes Us Smile (2x), Hicks Dealing, and Other Cubs Bullets

In case you missed the bad news last night — no, not the Cubs biggest loss since 2010 ... and, no, not Christopher Morel's early exit either after colliding with Alexander Canario, either — Jordan Wicks was scratched from today's...

Michael Cerami

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cade Horton Dominates Once Again in His Latest Start

Another day, another dominant Double-A start from top Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton. The 22-year-old righty went 5.0 scoreless innings for the Tennessee Smokies, allowing five hits, no walks, and striking out six. https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1784397003340034131 There sure doesn't seem to be...

Brett Taylor

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Oh, Noooo: Jordan Wicks Has Forearm Tightness and Won’t Start Tomorrow

At the end of a nice winning streak, it was easy enough to shrug off a throwaway 17-0 loss to the Red Sox. And I didn't even let Christopher Morel's tumble and early exit throw me, as he was apparently...

Michael Cerami

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Red Sox 17, Cubs 0 – April 27, 2024

Here's how you sum that one up: It's not too often that you see a position player pitching TAKEN OUT MID-INNING because he hit his pitch count. But that happened today. So, yeah, that did not go well. Unless, of...

Brett Taylor

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Justin Steele Could Be Back Sooner Than (I) Expected (UPDATE)

And here I was thinking the only silver lining about Justin Steele's Opening Day hamstring injury was the path it cleared for Javier Assad and Ben Brown to step into the rotation. Turns out there's another positive with respect to...

Michael Cerami

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Trading Garrett Cooper to the Boston Red Sox

The Chicago Cubs had seven days to trade, waive, or release Garrett Cooper after designating him for assignment this past week (making room for Matt Mervis). Because Cooper is a good Major League player, it's not necessarily a surprise that...

Brett Taylor

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Red Sox (3:10 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs won the opener at Fenway last night behind a strong starting effort by Shota Imanga and a grinding offensive approach by the entire Cubs lineup. Let's see if they can do it again with...

Michael Cerami

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Rotation and Bullpen Finally Settling in, PCA Hitting, Maybe the Cubs Are Good? And Other Cubs Bullets

Taking my toddler son to my nephew's t-ball game today. Pretty excited about that. In case you missed the good news, Justin Steele might need just ONE rehab appearance at a Cubs minor league affiliate before returning to the big...

Michael Cerami

Apr 27, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Moves: Jordan Wicks (IL) and Luke Little (Iowa) Replaced by Two Relievers Out of Triple-A

Michael Cerami

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Bears

Meet Keith Randolph Jr. and Other Chicago Bears 2024 Undrafted Free Agents

In addition to drafting five players over the weekend, the Chicago Bears are bringing in all sorts of undrafted free agents to fill out their roster. But few are as notable as Keith Randolph Jr., a product of the University...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 28, 2024

Betting

Latest MLB Futures: Juan Soto Leads MVP Odds, Dodgers Top World Series Odds

With the Major League Baseball season in full swing, it's a good time to take a look at some baseball futures! As can be expected, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the current favorites to win the World Series, but the...

Matt Rooney

Apr 28, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Candace Parker Officially Announces Her Retirement (Thanks for the Title!)

Candace Parker has called it a career. One of the best players in WNBA history, Parker announced via her Instagram on Sunday that she is retiring. The news comes in the same month as Parker's 38th birthday and after her...

Elias Schuster

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 28, 2024

The Cleveland Guardians versus the Atlanta Braves is one of 15 compelling options on today's MLB schedule.There are typically plenty of MLB player prop bets available for each and every matchup. Keep reading to see what options you have in...

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Best NBA Prop Bets Today – April 28, 2024

Today's NBA playoff slate has four exciting matchups on the docket. Among those games is the Minnesota Timberwolves taking on the Phoenix Suns.Below you'll find NBA player prop bets for each and every game on today's slate -- NBA prop...

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Brook Lopez Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pacers – NBA Playoffs Game 4, Sunday, April 28, 2024

At 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Milwaukee Bucks versus the Indiana Pacers, with Brook Lopez needing two trifectas to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Brook Lopez's Three-Pointer Prop...

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Khris Middleton Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pacers – NBA Playoffs Game 4, Sunday, April 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Khris Middleton must make three from downtown on Sunday, when his Milwaukee Bucks face the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.Khris Middleton's Three-Pointer...

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Devin Booker Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – NBA Playoffs Game 4, Sunday, April 28, 2024

Devin Booker must make three 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Phoenix Suns face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 9:30 PM ET, in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Devin Booker's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

Picks

Kevin Durant Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – NBA Playoffs Game 4, Sunday, April 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Kevin Durant must make three from beyond the arc on Sunday, when his Phoenix Suns face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, tipping off at 9:30 PM...

Data Skrive

Apr 28, 2024

The Comeback-iest Cubs We’ve Seen, the Caratini Mystery, Maddon on Fowler, and Other Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular