Cubs Players Are Staying Positive and Other Bullets

Congrats to BN’ers hardtop and hansman who won my extra tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday’s games against the Cardinals next week. Thanks to everyone who entered (the entries were hilarious and awesome, and choosing winners (one was randomly selected, one was chosen by me) was extremely difficult. We’ll do this again.

  • Cubs players are staying positive about the abysmal start to the year, which can’t be easy. “It’s a little frustrating,” Volstad said of the start to the year, “but guys are not getting down. Every day we come in with a positive attitude to start the day off. We’re not the type of team that’s ever going to get down on ourselves or quit or back down from anybody. Everyone’s positive. We know the kind of talent we have, we just haven’t shown it yet.” It costs nothing to remain positive, so I’m certainly not going to rip a guy for having a good attitude. The start to this year has sucked. It’s probably been the worst since the 1997 team started the year 0-14. The 1998 team made the playoffs, for whatever little that’s worth.
  • The New York Yankees had as many home runs yesterday (5) as the Cubs have had all season. The entire Cubs’ starting outfield has two extra base hits. Total. Both just doubles by David DeJesus. That’s fewer than Darwin Barney, who’s got a double, a triple, and a homer. And he’s still slugging just .377. Ian Stewart also has a double, a triple, and a homer. And he’s slugging just .340. Shall I go on? We expected the Cubs’ offense to be below average and power-weak, but this is beyond the pale.
  • Dale Sveum on Marlon Byrd, who’s currently hitting .070: “He’s played a great center field all season long. He really has. Today he hit three balls hard. … Like I said earlier, it looks like he’s swinging the bat better. He’s going to keep going out there. He’s been an asset to us in center field …. I don’t know if you ever get down when you’re swinging the bat good and not getting anything to show for it. You know you’re swinging the bat good and getting good at-bats and putting good swings on the ball. I think it’s more important that they understand that once the weather warms up and we get in a little better hitters’ park than what we’ve been dealing with, a lot of those things turn out for the better.” Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant.
  • The Cubs are expected to make a decision on Ryan Dempster today, whose MRI results should be in at any moment. He’s got a sore right quad, which could be a problem for a right-handed pitcher trying to drive toward the plate. Randy Wells stands ready to start in Dempster’s place tomorrow if needed.
  • Thoughts on Anthony Rizzo from a fantasy perspective, with words of hopefulness and caution.
  • A sad story about former Cubs pitcher Angel Guzman, who was with the Dodgers organization this year. He’s tested positive a second time for a “drug of abuse,” and he’ll have to get treatment. His is not so much a cautionary tale – other than the drug stuff, all the bad things that happened in his career (injuries, death in the family) happened to him as opposed to being caused by him – as it is a sad reflection on how sure things can go terribly wrong. Good luck, Angel.
  • Jon Greenberg, who might secretly hate the Cubs, spends a column extolling the virtues of Theo Epstein’s long-term plan for the organization, and admonishing anyone who thought the Cubs were going to be anything but terrible this year. But then he wraps it up with this: “But I think something is wrong with an organization when Wood is on the DL, The Noodle is the hottest thing at any corner, and a real-life major leaguer like Marshall was traded for next to nothing. It should make Cubs fans mad.” Which is it, Jon? Should we be mad that the team is crappy in service of long-term goals? Or should we have expected this because of those long-term goals? You can’t have it both ways, unless, of course, you’re just looking for a reason to dump on the Cubs. (And to Jon, who is almost certainly not reading this: please don’t go the way of the Rosenblooms and Rozners. Vitriol gets you only so far. And the cheap eyes it buys you aren’t worth it in the end.)
  • Well, we blew our chance to get a Honus Wagner card for a measly $1.2 million. At least now I know what I’m asking for for my birthday.
  • 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

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    It’s Gotten Impossible to Not Comment on the White Sox Making Futility History

    In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...

    Latest News

    Royals vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Kansas City Royals (15-10) are favored on the moneyline (-121) in Thursday's contest against the Toronto Blue Jays (13-12). Game time is at 2:10 PM ET on SNET. The Blue Jays, with +168 odds, are favored against the spread...

    Astros vs. Cubs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Houston Astros (7-18) visit the Chicago Cubs (15-9) at 2:20 PM ET Thursday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Jose Altuve has racked up six homers this season (No. 9 in the...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 25, 2024

    The Boston Red Sox versus the Cleveland Guardians is a game to see on a Thursday MLB schedule that features 10 competitive contests.There are typically plenty of MLB player prop bets available for each and every matchup. Scroll down to...

    Padres vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The San Diego Padres (14-13) visit Denver to square off against the Colorado Rockies (6-19) at 3:10 PM ET on Thursday.The probable pitchers are Randy Vasquez (0-1) for the Padres and Dakota Hudson (0-4) for the Rockies.Padres vs. Rockies Pitcher...

    Brewers vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Milwaukee Brewers will take the field against the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-12) on Thursday. The game begins at 12:35 PM ET on BSWI, with the Brewers listed as -126 favorites on the moneyline.Freddy Peralta will get the ball for Milwaukee...

    Twins vs. White Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Chicago White Sox (3-21) will try to end their six-game losing streak when they visit the Minnesota Twins (10-13) on Thursday at 1:10 PM ET on BSN. Oddsmakers consider the Twins to be -252 favorites for the contest, while...

    Phillies vs. Reds Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Philadelphia Phillies (15-10) visit the Cincinnati Reds (14-10) at 1:10 PM ET Thursday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Kyle Schwarber has racked up six homers this season (No. 9 in the...

    Guardians vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    Following a big two-homer game last time out, Connor Wong leads the Boston Red Sox (14-11) into action as +134 underdogs against the Cleveland Guardians (17-7). First pitch from Progressive Field at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday, live on NESN.Triston...

    Twins vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Minnesota Twins (10-13) look to add to a three-game winning streak as they host the Chicago White Sox (3-21) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Twins will send Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0)...

    Mariners vs. Rangers Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Seattle Mariners (12-12) visit the Texas Rangers (13-12). The matchup at Globe Life Field begins at 2:35 PM ET on Thursday.The Mariners will look to Luis Castillo (1-4) against the Rangers and Andrew Heaney (0-2).Mariners vs. Rangers Pitcher Matchup...

    more cubs news