The Cubs’ Brains Keep Farting and Other Bullets

Chris Carpenter makes his season debut today against the Cubs. Think the Cubs will be ready? Or at least as ready as they can be?

  • Dale Sveum on the repeated brain farts on the Cubs over the course of the season: “We have one of these things every three or four days that are not even explainable. You obviously don’t practice staying on a base when a pitcher isn’t on the mound. [These are] things that just boggle your mind, for major league players who have played a lot of baseball to just be looking off into left field before the pitcher is on the mound. These things get unacceptable. And [asking] why are these things happening drives you crazy as a manager because there’s no rhyme or reason for things like that to happen.” And it’s probably no more frequent this year than in previous years. But when your team keeps losing, and there isn’t much else to discuss, the mental mistakes are magnified.
  • Perhaps not unrelatedly, Sveum says he (and the coaches and players) will kick back a bit when the season ends, and try to decompress a bit.
  • Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio says there’s still a whole lot of learning going on in the Cubs’ clubhouse, and he’s asked Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, and Travis Wood to take on leadership roles with the pitchers, teaching the young guys whatever they can. I like that, but it’s weird to think that none the veteran leaders are older than 28.
  • Jason Berken’s four strikeouts in the second inning yesterday (one of them coming on a wild pitch) tied a team and MLB record. Lots of guys in that book, most recently Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood, for the Cubs. Still neat.
  • Speaking of Wood, he’ll be celebrated at Wrigley Field on Sunday, and he’ll sing the 7th inning stretch.
  • So, MLB has inked/will ink national TV deals with ESPN, FOX, and TBS, which will pay a combined $1.5 billion annually. Spread out over the 30 teams, that’s an extra $50 million coming to each. When we discuss the Cubs’ revenue going forward, we’ll have to remember that $50 million figure, in addition to ticket sales, concessions, and the local TV deals.
  • The MLBullets at BCB look at how the Brewers have now blown by the Pirates, and are just 2.5 games out in the Wild Card.
  • 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

    Taillon Dominant, Wisdom and Morel Hot, New Network, Hardware, ACL (The Good Kind), and Other Bullets

    One thing that occurred to me this past month with my back injury: I was very lucky that it happened during shorts season. It's a heckuva lot easier to put on gym shorts without bending over (you kinda just let...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 6, Brewers 5 – May 4, 2024

    Thank goodness for the power today, and the Patrick Wisdom insurance run late. The Cubs needed every bit of it, and the game ended with the tying run on second and lead run on first. Exhale. Jameson Taillon was brilliant,...

    Feeling for Alzolay But Also Needing to Figure It Out and Other Cubs Bullets

    May the Fourth obviously has Star Wars on the brain, which makes me want to watch something Star Wars-y today. The very best thing is probably 'Andor,' but I keep resisting re-watching it until we're MUCH closer to season two...

    Nico Hoerner with the Lead-Off Homer!

    That's how you start the day, my friends. Ni-co, we-go: https://twitter.com/CubsZone/status/1786824886956036172 That's Hoerner's first homer of the year, and hopefully it'll stand up a little better than yesterday's solo homer from Christopher Morel for a 1-0 lead ... https://twitter.com/Taylor_McGregor/status/1786824978710630498

    Cody Bellinger *AND* Seiya Suzuki Might Be Back VERY Soon

    Well isn't that just wonderful news. As the Cubs took the field before today's game for warmups, some positive news dripped out. Jordan Wicks was playing long toss (amazing, love to hear that), Justin Steele was throwing a bullpen (a...

    Matt Mervis Demoted to Triple-A Iowa

    Although this was absolutely warranted, how can you not be disappointed. After a second, golden opportunity to prove that his fantastic Triple-A numbers would translate to the big leagues, Matt Mervis has come up short and is headed back to...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: A New DH

    CUBS LINEUP — I don't disagree - at all - that the Cubs have a bullpen (and specifically, an Adbert Alzolay) problem at the moment. But it's really hard for me to even think about the bullpen when the Cubs...

    HOLY WOW: Marlins Reportedly Trading Luis Arraez to the Padres

    LUIS ARRAEZ TRADED — Never underestimate the aggressiveness of Padres President AJ Preller or the willingness-to-be-awful of the Miami Marlins. Tonight, those two forces came together to deliver - by far - the biggest, early-season trade I can remember. Luis Arraez...

    Final Update: Carlos Zambrano is NOT Pitching in the WBC

    Ah, technology. I have no idea why this post, and it's twin are showing up as posted on New Year's Day, 1970. So we'll let the mystery linger. Finally we get word from Zambrano, himself, that he will not be...

    Final Update: Zambrano Not Pitching in WBC

    Finally we get word from Zambrano, himself, that he will not be pitching for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, despite Venezuela's stated belief that he is. I'd love to find out the details from behind the scenes as to...

    Latest News

    Giants vs. Phillies Probable Starting Pitchers – May 5

    The Philadelphia Phillies (23-11) enter a contest against the San Francisco Giants (15-19) on Sunday following a four-game winning streak. The game is set to start at 7:10 PM ET at Citizens Bank Park.The Giants will give the nod to...

    DraftKings Promo Code $200 Bonus, NBA Playoff Odds, and More for Sunday

    Even as the world of online sports betting undergoes constant change and innovation, the DraftKings promo code remains a highly sought-after choice for fans eager to place bets on the exciting NBA and NHL playoffs. This is the perfect moment...

    Braves vs. Dodgers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, May 5, 2024

    The Atlanta Braves (20-11) visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (22-13) at 4:10 PM ET Sunday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best power hitters in MLB. For the favored Braves (-136), Marcell Ozuna has racked up nine homers...

    Athletics vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, May 5, 2024

    The Oakland Athletics (17-17) will look to Brent Rooker, who is coming off a two-homer game, to lead them in a matchup with the Miami Marlins (9-26) Sunday at 4:07 PM ET on NBCS-CA. The Athletics are -130 favorites for...

    Diamondbacks vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, May 5, 2024

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (14-20) and San Diego Padres (18-18) meet Sunday at Chase Field, with first pitch at 4:10 PM ET on SDPA. The Diamondbacks are -118 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Padres are favored against the spread...

    Reds vs. Orioles Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, May 5, 2024

    The Cincinnati Reds (16-17) and Baltimore Orioles (22-11) meet Sunday at Great American Ball Park, starting at 4:10 PM ET on MASN2. The Reds are -114 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Orioles are favored against the spread of...

    Reds vs. Orioles Probable Starting Pitchers – May 5

    The Cincinnati Reds (16-17) play on Sunday at 4:10 PM ET against the Baltimore Orioles (22-11), who enter the matchup with a three-game winning streak.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Reds will send Nick Lodolo (3-0) to the...

    Braves vs. Dodgers Probable Starting Pitchers – May 5

    The Los Angeles Dodgers (22-13) bring a three-game winning streak into a game against the Atlanta Braves (20-11) at 4:10 PM ET on Sunday.The Braves will give the nod to Max Fried (2-0, 4.02 ERA), who is eyeing win No....

    Athletics vs. Marlins Probable Starting Pitchers – May 5

    After winning six games in a row, the Oakland Athletics (17-17) play at home against the Miami Marlins (9-26) at 4:07 PM ET on Sunday.The probable pitchers are Joseph Boyle (2-4) for the Athletics and Sixto Sanchez (0-1) for the...

    Diamondbacks vs. Padres Probable Starting Pitchers – May 5

    The San Diego Padres (18-18) enter a contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks (14-20) on Sunday following a four-game winning streak. The game is set to begin at 4:10 PM ET at Chase Field.The Diamondbacks will give the nod to Ryne...

    more cubs news