Matt Garza is Pissed Off with a Vengeance and Other Bullets

May 22, 2012

“Man looks in the abyss. There’s nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss.”

The Cubs will add Travis Wood to the roster today so that he can join the rotation in Houston, but they’ll have a tough decision to make on a corresponding move. With just 11 pitchers on the roster right now, the obvious move would be to send down a positional player. But the Cubs are currently carrying three catchers because of Welington Castillo’s bad-enough-not-to-play, but not-bad-enough-to-send-to-DL knee injury. Unless the Cubs decide to DL Castillo, someone like Adrian Cardenas (who had a two double night last night) will have to head back to Iowa. The Cubs could also DL reliever Blake Parker (hamstring), but they’d have just six in the bullpen (maybe that’s not a bad idea until Castillo is ready to go, and Blake Lalli can go down). As for Wood, he’s excited to rejoin the rotation, but says he’s just going to try and stay relaxed this time.

Last night’s starter, Matt Garza, who suffered through one of his worst starts in a long time, offered vintage Matt Garza quotes after the outing. “It was way too much stuff and I left everything up,” Garza said to reporters. “Hanging slider to Castro, fastball middle, belt-high to Johnson. I was overthrowing everything. I put myself in holes and when you put yourself in holes, you can’t make a mistake and you have to be perfect, and not even perfect, but you can’t leave it out over the plate …. This was trying too hard, trying to stop [stuff] that’s been going on, and if you try too hard, you’re not going to stop it, you’re just going to continue it, and that’s exactly what happened. I’ll get ready for Pittsburgh and get right back at it and come out [ticked] off with a vengence. I don’t like it at all, I know my teammates don’t like it at all. This is not what I work for four days a week. I’ll get back at it and not change anything, just get back to work.” Pissed off with a vengeance sounds like a signature fragrance, doesn’t it? “Now from Matt Garza, a new cologne: Pissed Off With a Vengeance. Smell like Matt. Punch a grizzly bear.”

Bryan LaHair is just 1 for his last 19, and he’s probably going to get a day off today. Dale Sveum doesn’t like what he’s been seeing from LaHair lately. “Everything is a little deep and [past] him and he tries to speed his bat up,” Sveum said, according to Doug Padilla. “I think I’m going to give him a day off [Tuesday]. He hasn’t played this many days in a row in the big leagues and we’ll give him a little mental day off and come out for early work and see if that will help …. Cal Ripken used to have a different stance every week, Don Mattingly, you go on and on. You just want to see some effort for change whether it’s mechanics or the effort to take more pitches and not feel like the only way you have a chance is to hit the first pitch and if you don’t the at-bat is over. You want to see change and adjustments made, otherwise you have a hard time keeping the line moving if you don’t trust your neighbor.” Yeah, I don’t really understand the final comment, but his overall point is well-taken. Being a good hitter in the bigs is a process of constant adjustment. Pitchers are figuring LaHair out a bit, and he’ll have to adjust once again.

As for the kid who might come up and force LaHair to another position, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer isn’t ready to say Anthony Rizzo will be up any time soon. “I think it is important to remind ourselves, especially when we’re going through a rough patch, as we are now, that the complete development of our prospects is a top priority,” Hoyer said via e-mail to the Sun-Times on Monday. “The reason is that we want them to have the best possible chance of having long, productive careers with the Cubs. It’s something we’ve stressed from day one and will continue to stress, and to compromise our approach would not best serve our goal of building a championship organization.” In other words: we might call Rizzo up soon, we might not. But we’re not going to tip our hand to teams with whom we might want to deal (about Alfonso Soriano or Bryan LaHair, for example), and we’re not going to tie ourselves to artificial timelines that might not be in the organization’s best interests.

Randy Wells doesn’t sound upset about being out of rotation consideration, and instead is just happy to be back up with the big club. “It gives me a chance to help the team and do something a little different,” Wells said to reporters Monday. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll be good at it …. One thing I like is the chance to play every day. I’ve [pitched in relief] my whole career until 2008. It’s something I’m comfortable with. I’m actually excited.” He pitched well in relief last night, so maybe he will indeed take a shine to it.

Sveum said he didn’t change up the top of the order yesterday, as he’d suggested he would, because he wants to give it one more week.

According to Arizona Phil at TCR, outfield prospect Reggie Golden’s knee injury was a torn ACL, for which he’s had surgery. He’ll be out until next Spring, which is obviously a huge bummer.

written by

Brett Taylor

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

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Move: Alzolay to the IL, Cuas Returns (UPDATE)

It felt like this situation with Adbert Alzolay could not go on much longer, and it has now resolved itself with an Injured List move. Today, the Cubs placed Alzolay on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain. Jose...

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ at DH Tonight

CUBS LINEUP — The Atlanta Braves are one of, if not the toughest opponent the Cubs will face this season. But Seiya Suzuki is back, Cody Bellinger is back, and Shota Imanaga is on the mound. This Cubs team is...

Michael Cerami

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLB Has a New Streaming Home For Its ‘Sunday Leadoff’ Games

Fans can now watch MLB games via Roku. Do with that what you will. The "MLB Sunday Leadoff" games will begin this weekend. The first game, featuring the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, starts at 12:05 p.m. CT,...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Let’s See How They Measure Up in Atlanta: Cubs vs Braves Series Preview

Cubs vs Braves — Six of the Cubs next ten games come against the Atlanta Braves, and the first three are on the road starting tonight. And while the Cubs did recently get Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Steele...

Michael Cerami

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLB Pipeline Added Two MORE Cubs to Their Top-100

Over the weekend, MLB Pipeline updated their top-100 MLB Prospect Rankings, with eight new players making the list after graduations and other considerations. And TWO of those players, Moises Ballesteros and Jefferson Rojas, are Chicago Cubs prospects. All together, that...

Michael Cerami

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

For the Second Time in a Few Days, Birthday Boy Nico Hoerner Saved the Game

A happy 27th birthday to Chicago Cubs second baseman, and fill-in shortstop, Nico Hoerner. He is currently hitting a career-best .275/.364/.399/122 wRC+, and walking more often (9.7%) than he's striking out (9.1%). He has been absolutely scorching over the past...

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: Padres Best the Dodgers, Skenes Debut Reactions, Guardians New Threads, More

The Dodgers have a comfortable lead in the NL West, but the Padres are proving to themselves that they can make this a two-horse race. Plus, reactions from Paul Skenes' major league debut and more in today's MLB Notes. Padres...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

David Peralta Has Opted Out of His Minor League Deal with the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have had veteran outfielder David Peralta around as emergency depth going back to Spring Training, when he was working his way back from offseason arm surgery. But he might now be heading off to join another organization....

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | May 13, 2024: Homers by Davis, Mervis Not Enough in Iowa on Sunday

Brennen Davis and Matt Mervis hit home runs on Sunday for the Iowa Cubs, but it wasn't enough to earn the team a victory against the Columbus Clippers. That and more are in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

How I Feel About Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs Rotation Plans After Yesterday’s Start

Yesterday, the Chicago Cubs won a game started by Kyle Hendricks and closed by Adbert Alzolay. Factually, that is what happened. I know. That's wild. Of course, that's what would've been the expected outcome last season for two of the...

Michael Cerami

May 13, 2024

MLB

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

Target Field is buzzing with anticipation as the Minnesota Twins heat up for the remainder of their 2024 MLB Schedule. We’re here to make sure you don’t miss any of the action. Let’s take a look at the Minnesota Twins'...

Brian Twining

May 13, 2024

MLB

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

Summer in Milwaukee sizzles with baseball fever, and American Family Field is roaring with the energy of the Brewers faithful! Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Brew Crew or just enjoy catching some local baseball, we’re here with the...

Brian Twining

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Jared Goff Becomes the Highest-Paid Lion Ever!

The Detroit Lions have been busy in recent weeks securing their core after a run to the NFC title game last season. Jared Goff became the latest player to get a new deal in Detroit, and he became the highest-paid...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLB Has a New Streaming Home For Its ‘Sunday Leadoff’ Games

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Move: Alzolay to the IL, Cuas Returns (UPDATE)

Brett Taylor

May 13, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ at DH Tonight

Michael Cerami

May 13, 2024

News

Where is the 2024 PGA Championship? Valhalla Golf Club Course Details

The PGA Championship, which is the second major of the 2024 calendar, will hold its 106th edition at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16-19. The course was designed by the all-time major champion, Jack Nicklaus, and is ranked as the top course...

Ryan Noonan

May 13, 2024

MLB

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

The South Florida sun is shining, and there’s plenty of baseball still to be played at loanDepot Park. Whether you're cheering the Marlins on from the stands or following the action remotely, they have a loaded remaining 2024 MLB schedule....

Brian Twining

May 13, 2024

News

All-Time PGA Championship Winners

The PGA Championship is one of four major championships on the men's professional golf calendar, alongside the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. Since its inception in 1916, the PGA Championship has been held every year, with the exception of...

Ryan Noonan

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Antoine Winfield Jr Signs Record-Breaking Extension

The Buccaneers have made Antoine Winfield Jr the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL. On Monday afternoon, Winfield Jr and Tampa Bay agreed to a four-year, $84.1 million deal. It also guarantees the Bucs' star $45 million....

Matt Rooney

May 13, 2024

Matt Garza is Pissed Off with a Vengeance and Other Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular