So, Amazon announced a phone last week, which will be available next month – and you can read a review here. Because of my admitted obsession with Amazon, I’ve been following the story with rapt attention. Ultimately, I’m not sure if it’s going to pull me away from my other technological addition – Apple stuff – and it’s AT&T exclusive, which is an issue because we’ve been with Verizon since forever. Still, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for neat features, and the 3D stuff sounds pretty cool. I think that way especially when I look to the future of baseball video consumption, and fantasize about watching a Javy Baez homer on my phone from a variety of 3D perspectives as I rotate the phone. That kind of thing is probably still years away, but you can see how this opens the door.
Incidentally, whenever there’s Amazon news, I hope you’ll forgive me for using it as an excuse to remind you that you should totally buy stuff at Amazon (1) because it’s awesome and convenient and cheap, and (2) because doing so via the Amazon links here at BN helps support your local baseball blog. You could even bookmark the link to make it easier on yourself – it’s the same beautiful Amazon site. It just tells Amazon that you’re shopping there because I said: “Hey, you, go patronize Amazon’s business!”
Jason Hammel is sick of seeing the Pirates (CSN), though I’m sure they’re sick of seeing him, too. And, after taking a liner off of his backside, Hammel either said that he has a nice bump (per that CSN piece), or he said this (per the Tribune, and per ESPN): “It got me right in the meat of the butt. I am very lucky I have a nice bum, so I’ll be good to go.” I choose to believe it was the latter, and I love it. Other nice things Jason Hammel has: an ERA/FIP/xFIP line (2.99/3.06/3.28), a 4.55 K/BB, and a 2.0 WAR. He’s in the top 20/25ish range in baseball in all of those categories.
(On the slash line, Scott Feldman was at 3.46/3.93/3.83 at the time he was dealt, and had a 2.68 K/BB. Hammel is dramatically outperforming him to this point. Just sayin’.)
Down two runs in the 8th yesterday, with runners on first and second, Rick Renteria had Travis Wood enter the game as a pinch hitter (currently hitting .267/.313/.533) to sacrifice bunt, which Wood did successfully. After the “successful” bunt, the Cubs’ run expectancy dropped from 1.41 runs to 1.26 runs. The Cubs wound up scoring 0. After the game, Renteria explained his decision to try to get just the two runs by putting the tying run at second (ESPN). You know my thoughts on the subject, so I won’t belabor it here.
It’s been more than a week since Emilio Bonifacio went down with an oblique injury, but he’s still not doing baseball activities (Cubs.com). That’s just the nature of oblique injuries, because they can easily flare back up. It will be well into July before Bonifacio is able to return, if that early.
It feels wrong to call it SCardenfreude, but the Cardinals just put two starters on the DL with shoulder problems – Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia. The latter has dealt with shoulder/arm problems for a long time now, but Wacha’s issue seems to be new. And it’s a little hard to put a finger on, given that it’s a “stress reaction” in the shoulder, which means there’s a bone issue that could lead to a stress fracture if it doesn’t heal (this is what was going on in Matt Garza’s elbow in 2012, if you’ll recall). You just don’t hear about stress reactions in the shoulder much, so it’s hard to say what his timeline and prognosis look like. Let this be your reminder: organizational strengths can become weaknesses so, so quickly with just a few injuries.
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.
Maybe it's just my damaged heart, but it feels like weeks since the Cubs took an early, multi-run lead in a game. Thank you, Miguel Amaya for the third inning single, and thank you, Seiya Suzuki for the following homer:...
CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have won two games in a row - but just barely (and against the worst team in MLB). Let's see if they can deliver a more convincing victory in the first of four games against...
[Ankin_law] Whether you felt he should be sent back down to Triple-A Iowa or not, and whatever you think of his future role with the Chicago Cubs, I don't think you can feel anything but bad about what happened to...
Hand up. I didn't think Yan Gomes would be this big of a problem 2024. In fact, I was pretty excited about the guidance and leadership he was likely to provide — in addition to the actual in-game value —...
Paul Skenes is a SoCal native who watched Shohei Ohtani play for the Los Angeles Angels for the last half-decade. On Wednesday, he squared off with him for the first time. That and more in today's MLB Notes. Skenes vs....
Cubs vs Reds — The Cubs did not have a great time facing the Reds last weekend, squeezing out just one win over three games despite Javier Assad and Justin Steele both throwing in that series (as well as Ben...
There was no shortage of offense for Iowa in a doubleheader split with Toledo, and the Smokies topped the Barons thanks to a solid day for James Triantos. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report |...
I knew it'd been a rough start to the year for new Giants lefty Blake Snell and new Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery, but it kind of came to a head in Montgomery's last outing. It was bad, bad, bad: https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1798454426551959906...
Nico Hoerner not only has a very good sense of the strike zone, he almost never beefs too much even when that strike zone gets expanded by a generous home plate umpire. Sure, he'll express some frustration about a bad...
I don't know how much special-ness you could ascribe to a two-game sweep of one of the worst teams in recent memory, but it certainly would've been a nightmare if the shoe had been on the other foot. So obviously...
Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians (40-21) when they visit starting pitcher Ryan Weathers and the Miami Marlins (21-41) in a series opener on Friday, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out...
Maybe it's just my damaged heart, but it feels like weeks since the Cubs took an early, multi-run lead in a game. Thank you, Miguel Amaya for the third inning single, and thank you, Seiya Suzuki for the following homer:...
The Pittsburgh Pirates will be hosting the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 6:40 PM ET on Friday, June 7.Pirates vs. Twins Series Info Twins @ Pirates Time: Friday, June 7 at 6:40...
A three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Milwaukee Brewers will start on Friday, June 7 at 6:40 PM ET.Tigers vs. Brewers Series Info Brewers @ Tigers Time: Friday, June 7 at 6:40 PM ET Tigers Starting Pitcher:...
A three-game series featuring the Miami Marlins and the visiting Cleveland Guardians will start on Friday, June 7 at 7:10 PM ET.Marlins vs. Guardians Series Info Guardians @ Marlins Time: Friday, June 7 at 7:10 PM ET Marlins Starting Pitcher:...
The Tampa Bay Rays will be hosting the Baltimore Orioles for a four-game series, with the action getting underway at 6:50 PM ET on Friday, June 7.Rays vs. Orioles Series Info Orioles @ Rays Time: Friday, June 7 at 6:50...
In the first of a three-game series, on Friday, June 7 at 7:05 PM ET, the New York Yankees will host the Los Angeles Dodgers.Yankees vs. Dodgers Series Info Dodgers @ Yankees Time: Friday, June 7 at 7:05 PM ET...
The 2023-24 NBA Finals is already one for the record books. When the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics tip things off at TD Garden on Thursday night, history will be made on the sidelines. Doris Burke will be on the...
Here's how peaceful things are at Halas Hall: Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has yet to sign his rookie contract. And yet, there have been no whispers of a holdout and no buzz...
Summer break is underway for the Chicago Bears. Next up, training camp! The Bears just announced their training camp schedule, so clear your calendars. Chicago Bears 2024 Training Camp Practice Schedule These are the dates in which Chicago's football team...
NEWSLETTER
So, Amazon announced a phone last week, which will be available next month – and you can read a review here. Because of my admitted obsession with Amazon, I’ve been following the story with rapt attention. Ultimately, I’m not sure if it’s going to pull me away from my other technological addition – Apple stuff – and it’s AT&T exclusive, which is an issue because we’ve been with Verizon since forever. Still, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for neat features, and the 3D stuff sounds pretty cool. I think that way especially when I look to the future of baseball video consumption, and fantasize about watching a Javy Baez homer on my phone from a variety of 3D perspectives as I rotate the phone. That kind of thing is probably still years away, but you can see how this opens the door.
