NEWSLETTER
The Little Boy is a unique one (as all kids are, of course). We’re on a little two-day boys trip to Chicago and, as I carried his bag yesterday, I did think it was uncommonly heavy for such a short trip. But whatever. I made sure to pack his essentials separately, so whatever he decided to put in his bag after that was all gravy. Then this morning, he says aloud, “I’m gonna get something from my bag.” He walks over, digs around, and pulls out … a literal weight. He starts lifting it up and down for a little exercise. Just because. Ah, you wonderful little goober.
•  Cubs manager David Ross discussed the decision to DFA Steven Souza, Jr. in between doubleheader games last night, and it was what you would’ve expected (Cubs.com): “We needed an arm. And we’ve acquired some players that [have a] similar skill set as [Souza]. Just haven’t been able to use him, with coming off an injury and a rough game in Pittsburgh [0-for-4 on Wednesday] and then the first one tonight. It just seemed like the right move for the group.” (Insert comment about hard choices on the batting order also being the right move for the group.)
•  This will be the lasting image of Souza as a Cub, playing with Jason Kipnis in the dugout only hours before he was DFA’d:
The @Cubs create their own energy! pic.twitter.com/pAUlL3ZCJp
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 5, 2020
•  The Cubs no doubt wanted Souza to perform well in the last couple games to give him more chances, but he just looked like a guy who wasn’t ready to contribute against big league pitching – he’s missed nearly two full years, and hasn’t even had a chance to play real minor league rehab games or a full Spring Training slate. It sucks that it happened mid-doubleheader, but that doesn’t mean the Cubs made the wrong decision. Tyson Miller, who was that arm that took the roster spot, wound up throwing three useful innings.
•  Speaking of Miller, he would line up to be able to start the Cubs’ next open date on Thursday, but I’m thinking it would still go to Adbert Alzolay, despite his struggles in Game One. You could see he still had his stuff, but once the defense let him down a couple times, it seemed like he got rattled. That’s probably a bit of youth showing through – at least that’s what Ross suggested post-game – and I tend to think it’s still worth giving Alzolay another start right now when you have an opening anyway:
After spending all that money/prospect capital to build a rotation – and with so much uncertainty heading into 2021 – the Cubs should let Adbert Alzolay sink or swim. At this rate, they may not have a choice. https://t.co/bOyaoAYzvp
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) September 6, 2020
My vote is to give Alzolay another start, though you not only have Miller available, you could plausibly have Jose Quintana (lat) available. He’s tentatively scheduled to throw on the side today to see where he’s at, and Thursday is the first day he could return from the IL. Of course, even if he could come back, based on this injury and also what we’ve seen, I don’t think there’s any way you could expect him to throw more than two or three innings – so one of Alzolay or Miller might be needed regardless.
•  It’s still no lock that Pedro Strop ever returns to the big league team this year after signing a minor league deal, but that’s what we’re all rooting for, including David Ross (Cubs.com): “Pedro’s been a big part of this group. One of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had. This guy is infectious, his personality, the way he carries himself, the way he works. He can really affect the room. But, ultimately, the goal is to get him back to being able to help us on the field, that’s first and foremost.”
•  The Seattle Mariners claimed Casey Sadler off waivers from the Cubs, and although it’s really disappointing that he didn’t wind up showing the guy he was last year, at least his 2020 story has a somewhat happy ending for him and his family:
This season hasn’t been what any of us expected. I’m ready to get back to the pitcher I was last year. The Lords faithfulness is astounding-we bought a house near #Seattle a few months ago to call our forever home, and then this just happened. #goinghome #freshstart #Mariners https://t.co/uIrqQXFxRY
— Casey Sadler (@sadler_squared) September 5, 2020
Thank you Chicago @Cubs for the amazing Pizza, an even better team atmosphere and for a reason to name our adopted cat Wrigley but I am excited to go home.
#freshstart #seattle @Mariners pic.twitter.com/eUZr6Kluu3— Casey Sadler (@sadler_squared) September 5, 2020
•  A reminder that a *version* of minor league baseball will be happening soon, and I sure hope the Cubs take advantage:
https://twitter.com/baseballamerica/status/1302335735228489728?s=21
•  Vacuums, books, glassware, phones, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
•  Old friend:
Dan Vogelbach, Big Rowdy Boy Scout Edition. pic.twitter.com/IloqvoDGBy
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 6, 2020
•  Old friend jersey miscellany, part deux:
We’re about 2 weeks away from Eloy playing with his jersey completely unbuttoned pic.twitter.com/OY1DgsBKQN
— Jack (@WhiteSox_Jack) September 6, 2020
•  Yikes, hopefully this isn’t a bad injury sign for Max Fried:
Max Fried has been spectacular this year. Here's what the velocity drop everyone was talking about yesterday looks like. That's .. big. pic.twitter.com/0x6YeM03Pf
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) September 6, 2020
•  This Luis Robert catch is deservedly getting a ton of attention:
15% for everyone else, 100% for Luis Robert.
(MLB x @GoogleCloud) pic.twitter.com/BZ3cKfF7Fb
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2020
