The Cardinals Demonstrate How You Stand Up for Your Teammates and Other Bullets

Alfonso Soriano is on one of his patented hot streaks, homering four times in his last four games. He’s raised his SLG 26 points in those four games (which is pretty incredible for August). The only problem? The four homers have been the only four times he’s gotten on base in those four games. I guess he really doesn’t like to run the bases.

  • Boom, LaRussa’d. You didn’t need evidence that, had the spike been on the other foot when Matt Holliday leg whipped Starlin Castro this weekend, Tony LaRussa would have ordered retribution. But you’ve got it: after Takashi Saito plunked Albert Pujols on the hand last night, LaRussa had Jason Motte throw two pitches way in on Ryan Braun (the second of which hit Braun square in the back) to “send a message.” I didn’t think I could be more angry about the whole episode. I was wrong. Do you think Lance Berkman is now going to issue a statement saying “Saito was just playing the game hard”?
  • Mike Quade appears to have finally accepted that the Cubs are out of the race, and are resigned to spoiling the seasons of other teams. “You wish you were [a contender] right now, and you’re not,” Quade said. “There’s always a little extra impetus when you’re playing contenders, especially contenders in your own division. It’s just time to make it hard on all of them.”
  • Quade, who used to say all the right things, says something right once again: “We’re talking about a guy we just brought back from Triple-A, a guy who contributed a great deal last year and a young guy who we think is a big part of the future here,” Quade said of Tyler Colvin. “So we need to see him get opportunities. Again, it’s a fine line if we’re just giving a guy something. He has to earn it. And he understands that.” That’s actually a good point. Yes, I want to see Colvin starting almost every game the rest of the way out. The Cubs need to know what they have in him. But, at the same time, there is value in telling a kid he’s got to earn it.
  • Bruce Levine had a chat yesterday, in which he came off as very defensive of Jim Hendry. Not so much, like, “Jim Hendry should not be fired, he’s done a fine job;” but, instead, like, “the Cubs either need to let him go now, or sign him to an extension – this in between stuff isn’t helping anyone.” I don’t wholly disagree, but, if the next GM is currently under contract with another team, booting Hendry now doesn’t really do anything to allow the Cubs to make moves. They’re stuck until the new guy rolls into town because there are no other “baseball guys” in the organization upon whom Tom Ricketts can lean. There might be a lesson there, Mr. Ricketts.
  • You may have heard rumors about Old Style being replaced as the official beer of Wrigley Field, which would start selling Coors Light instead. But the Chicagoist cautions they’re just rumors, and it is trying to confirm whether it’s true. I understand the history and tradition. I really do. But I have a hard time getting too riled up because (and I’m about to commit a crime) … I kind of like Coors Light. I know. I just lost a few thousand readers.
  • Speaking of corporate ways to make money, the Cubs have reached out to Arizona State to share and co-brand the new $84 million training facilities the Cubs are building in Mesa for Spring Training. It’s either a brilliant way to make some scratch from facilities that would otherwise be laying fallow part of the year, or a sign that the Cubs are desperate for cash. Allow your predisposition to decide which is true.
  •  

    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

    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...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Latest News

    How to Watch Astros vs. Nationals: Live Stream or on TV

    The Houston Astros (6-14), led by Jose Altuve, visit C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals (8-10) at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday in a series opener.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch Houston square off...

    Phillies vs. White Sox: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Saturday, Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies (11-8) begin a series versus Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (3-15) at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything...

    How to Watch Pirates vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    On Saturday, Mitch Keller will take the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8) against Kutter Crawford and the Boston Red Sox (10-10), with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 PM ET at PNC Park.If you're intending to watch this game, keep...

    Timberwolves vs. Suns Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Phoenix Suns are slight 1.5-point underdogs in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Saturday, tipping off at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup has an over/under...

    Knicks vs. 76ers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Philadelphia 76ers are slight 3-point underdogs in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, beginning at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN. The over/under is set...

    Cavaliers vs. Magic Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic take the court to begin the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Cavaliers are favored by 4.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 1:00 PM ET. The...

    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...

    Pre-Gamin’: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (6:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

    The Bulls and Heat go at it for the last spot in the NBA Playoffs. Let's get it. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1781299357574213738 Game Info Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Chicago Bulls Coby White...

    Scottie Pippen’s Youngest Son Will Play at Michigan

    A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...

    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...

    more cubs news