NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs’ bunt tournament is going on right now. The event, which started out as a small diversion for the players is taking on something of mythic proportions. Whether it’s the 64-member, seeded brackets on the heels of March Madness, or everyone’s feverish desire for SOME kind of baseball action, everyone wants to know who is facing whom, who’s winning, etc. The event is kind of absurd, and the attention even moreso. But it’s also kind of captivating.
Unfortunately, the event is not being televised – an omission I expect the Cubs to correct for the second annual bunt tourney. The beat writers are doing a good job of keeping things updated on Twitter (and I’m trying to gather their Tweets with the hash tag #CubsBuntTourney – UPDATE: the official Twitter for the Cubs has picked up the hash tag, so that should help streamline things), so that’s a good place to follow. The picture to the right comes from the always excellent Bruce Miles, and features Trey McNutt squaring up.
For now, we can follow here in the comments, and as long as it’s interesting, I’ll keep this post updated with the results. There’s no guarantee we’ll keep getting match-up-by-match-up results, though. So, enjoy it while it lasts, I suppose.
In the first round in the pitcher’s bracket (half of the tourney features pitchers, half features positional players):
Reliever Jeff Beliveau took down follow reliever Alberto Cabrera.
In another reliever battle, Lendy Castillo (Rule 5 Pick) beat Casey Weathers.
Top pitching prospect Trey McNutt beat reliever Marco Carillo.
Bullpen candidate Rafael Dolis beat Jay Jackson.
Pitching prospect Dae Eun Rhee beat lefty reliever John Gaub, who’s been battling back spasm. Unfair fight.
Chris Rusin beat strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss (“Bussy”), so Rusin can officially sleep tonight.
Lefty bullpen hopeful Scott Maine takes down reliever Blake Parker.
Casey Coleman beats reliever Marcos Mateo, who must have finally recovered from last year’s arm injury (I only sort of kid – he got hurt mid-season, and then vanished from all news reports).
And apparently that’s it for the day. Check out the #CubsBuntTourney hashtag on Twitter to see some pictures and other random commentary. I’m trying to pin down when the next quarter of the first round goes.
