Ian Stewart Had Successful Wrist Surgery and Other Bullets

I leave for Chicago later this morning, and I’ll be at the game tomorrow with some friends from the long-standing Cubs message board, Sons of Ivy. Posting should be normal, but my usual Chicago trip caveat applies: I might be in the comments less, and on Twitter/Facebook less, than usual.

  • On Tuesday, Ian Stewart had “successful” wrist surgery. The surgery was partly exploratory, so hopefully that means they actually found, and were able to correct, the problem. Obviously there’s no time table yet for a return, which Stewart hopes will be late this season. I’m sure the Cubs hope that, too, given that they’ll have a tender decision (like, tender-a-contract, not soft and sweet) to make on Stewart this Winter. He’s arbitration-eligible for the third time in 2013 (out of four times total), but the Cubs may not want to commit $2 to $2.5 million to Stewart if they haven’t seen him in game action looking healthy, and hopefully, improved.
  • Keith Law released his midseason top 50 prospect ranking, and the Cubs landed three on there – Javier Baez at 35, Albert Almora at 47, and Jorge Soler at 50. At first, you might see it as a negative that, in a league of 30 teams, the Cubs’ top prospect doesn’t show up until number 35, but there are two things to consider: (1) Anthony Rizzo easily would have been in the top 20 if he’d still been eligible (and, as a 22-year-old who just got called up, he’s a lot more like a prospect than an established player); and (2) don’t think of it as one in the top 35, think of it as three in the top 50. Do the math on that, and you see that teams are expected to have just 1.67 prospects in the top 50. The Cubs have almost twice that amount.
  • Patrick Mooney talks to Darwin Barney about his performance this year, about trade rumors, and about the team’s overall results. Barney is a good interview, that much is clear.
  • The Cubs are likely to be busy in the next few weeks, says Carrie Muskat, starting with the possible departure of Ryan Dempster, who starts at Wrigley Field tomorrow. Paul Sullivan similarly talks about the changes expected on the horizon. There hasn’t been a Cubs game in five days, so this is to be expected.
  • A write-up on former first round pick Hayden Simpson, which will probably bum you out as much as it makes you hopeful. I still wish this guy could find a way to succeed, not only for the Cubs, but for himself.
  • The Onion slays the Cubs once again …
  • The MLBullets at BCB look at Justin Upton’s response to trade rumors.
  • 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

    Astros vs. Nationals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Washington Nationals (8-11) play at home against the Houston Astros (7-14) at Nationals Park. The game is set to start at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Astros will send Ronel Blanco (2-0)...

    Diamondbacks vs. Giants Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (10-11) and the San Francisco Giants (9-12) match up on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET. The contest will take place at Oracle Park.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Diamondbacks will send Zac Gallen (3-0) to...

    Dodgers vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The New York Mets (11-8) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-10) on the road at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, with first pitch at 4:05 PM ET. The Mets enter the game with a five-game winning streak.This contest's pitching matchup...

    Pirates vs. Red Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Pittsburgh Pirates (11-9) look to end to a four-game skid as they host the Boston Red Sox (11-10) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET.The probable pitchers are Mitch Keller (2-1) for the Pirates and Kutter Crawford for the Red...

    Cubs vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    Bryan De La Cruz leads the Miami Marlins (4-16) into Saturday's matchup with the Chicago Cubs (12-7) on a two-game homer streak. His Marlins are underdogs for the contest, however, with oddsmakers naming the Cubs as -158 moneyline favorites. The...

    Twins vs. Tigers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Detroit Tigers (11-9) will look to Kerry Carpenter, after his four-hit game last time out, to lead them in a matchup with the Minnesota Twins (6-12) on Saturday at 2:10 PM ET on BSN. The Tigers are +114 underdogs...

    Cardinals vs. Brewers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    Willson Contreras (12 games) will look to add to his hitting streak when the St. Louis Cardinals (9-11) and Milwaukee Brewers (12-6) meet Saturday at 2:15 PM ET, live on BSWI from Busch Stadium. Contreras and the Cardinals are favored...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 20, 2024

    The MLB's 16-game slate today is not one to miss. The contests include the Baltimore Orioles taking on the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.If you're looking for MLB prop bets for today's games, we're here to help. Scroll down...

    Yankees vs. Rays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The New York Yankees (14-6), led by Juan Soto on a two-game home run streak, are -137 favorites on the moneyline to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays (11-10). First pitch is set for 1:05 PM ET Saturday, live from Yankee...

    Yankees vs. Rays Probable Starting Pitchers – April 20

    The Tampa Bay Rays (11-10) go on the road at Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees (14-6) at 1:05 PM ET on Saturday.The Yankees will give the ball to Nestor Cortes Jr. (1-1, 4.50 ERA), who is eyeing win...

    more cubs news