The NFL is Stepping All Over MLB and Other Bullets

One streak ends, another one begins. Right? Matt Garza goes tonight, and I would imagine he’s hoping that the offense and the bullpen aren’t back to their screwing-Matt-Garza-at-every-chance ways…

  • Randy Wells was actually fairly pleased with his start yesterday, in which he gave up six runs. “I knew kind of early it would be one of those [Wrigley Field] days,” Wells said. “All in all, I felt good and thought I made some pretty good pitches. I’m really happy with how I finished [he retired the last eight he faced], and the offense and defense really picked me up.” I still like Randy Wells, and think he was criminally underrated in 2009 and 2010. But this is kind of becoming a thing with him this year: pitch crappily, say you thought you pitched well. He’s still not hitting his spots this year, and his fastball is down some three MPH. I can’t help but believe the forearm injury just completely derailed his season.
  • Marlon Byrd says the condition of the outfield grass after the Paul McCartney concerts and rainstorms contributed to his crucial slip in the 8th inning yesterday. “I don’t think [the field conditions were] OK,” he said. “But you have the concert, you’ve had the rain the past couple of days, and that didn’t help. When I landed, I slipped and went a good three feet. It’s one of those things, you try and get the field ready, but when it’s raining every single day, what can you do about the outfield? The infield grass is great, but that gets covered. The outfield doesn’t. We have the drainage system we have here, but at the same time, it’s hard to get the outfield ready when you have a lot of rain, and the concert too.”
  • The legend of Tony Campana grows: a seventh inning takeout slide at second base – a CLEAN takeout slide, Matt Holliday – by Campana yesterday helped the Cubs come back to take the lead. Somewhere in Florida, Sam Fuld just flinched.
  • Starlin Castro’s 150 hits this year lead the National League. In a very Ichiro-like way, he also leads the league in at bats, but hey, who’s counting that part?
  • Cubs’ top prospect, center fielder Brett Jackson hit two homers yesterday to increase his AAA line to a ridiculous .291/.392/.616 in 24 games. Remind me again why the Cubs held onto Marlon Byrd at the trade deadline?
  • The return of the NFL is sapping MLB of some of its mojo. Interest will kick back up in late September and October, but, it’s hard to deny that football rules the roost in American sports after returning to such excitement after a money-grubbing lockout. It took four *years* for baseball to return to its pre-1994 strike interest levels. With football, well, I can’t wait for my fantasy draft.
  • 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

    Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Make Their Mothers Proud

    There is something about seeing Cubs players homer with pink bats that makes me smile extra wide. I suppose it's PROBABLY at least a little because this is one of my favorite Cubs memories: https://twitter.com/ChiSportsDay/status/1788291377333170611 Javy Báez, with the pink...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Latest News

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, May 13, 2024

    The Chicago Cubs versus the Atlanta Braves is a game to catch on a Monday MLB slate that has 14 thrilling matchups.MLB prop bets for today's games are available, so if you're interested in placing a bet or building a...

    Orioles vs. Blue Jays Probable Starting Pitchers – May 13

    The Baltimore Orioles (26-13) and the Toronto Blue Jays (18-22) face off at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Monday at 6:35 PM ET, starting a three-game series.The probable starters are Corbin Burnes (3-2) for the Orioles and Jose Berrios...

    How to Watch Celtics vs. Cavaliers: Live Stream or on TV

    The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are playing in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 4 next to come.Last time out, the Celtics bested the Cavaliers 106-93 on Saturday. Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 33 points,...

    Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Make Their Mothers Proud

    There is something about seeing Cubs players homer with pink bats that makes me smile extra wide. I suppose it's PROBABLY at least a little because this is one of my favorite Cubs memories: https://twitter.com/ChiSportsDay/status/1788291377333170611 Javy Báez, with the pink...

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Western Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves take the court in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points in the contest, which airs on TNT at 10:30 PM ET. The...

    Knicks vs. Pacers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The New York Knicks are slight 2-point favorites heading into Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. The series is...

    Mavericks vs. Thunder Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Dallas Mavericks are slight 1.5-point favorites heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on Monday, starting at 9:30 PM ET on TNT. The Mavericks hold...

    NHL Playoffs Anytime Goalscorer Bets and Odds Today – May 13

    Anytime goal-scorer odds are listed in this article, with two Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round games on the NHL calendar Monday.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Today's Top Anytime Goal OddsNathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) -115 to scoreAvalanche vs. StarsGame Time: 12:00 AM ET...

    Oilers vs. Canucks NHL Playoffs Second Round Game 4 Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Edmonton Oilers are -218 favorites over the Vancouver Canucks (+180) playing on home ice on Tuesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Oilers vs. Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Oilers (-218)Underdog: Canucks (+180)Total: 6.5Best Oilers vs. Canucks Promo...

    How to Watch Athletics Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    It's a bittersweet season for the Oakland Athletics. As they prepare to begin their move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season, the A's are looking to make their final year at the Coliseum one to remember. With a little...

    more cubs news