AFL Struggles for the Cubs and Other Bullets

Theo Epstein shared a number of thoughts yesterday, which we’ll get to a little later this morning. Until then, Bullets …

  • What started out so well for the Cubs in the Arizona Fall League has fallen off of late, at least statistically (and all appropriate sample size caveats apply). Matt Szczur’s line has fallen to .275/.383/.300 … which is the best Cub showing on the team. Javier Baez is now at just .213/.245/.447, and Rubi Silva is at .207/.233/.276. Oof. It isn’t much better on the pitching side, with Dae-Eun Rhee sporting a 6.52 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 9.2 innings and Nick Struck at 7.20 and 2.00 in his 5.0 innings. Only the Cubs’ two relievers in the AFL – Tony Zych and Kevin Rhoderick – are currently having success. Each has an ERA under 1.60, and good K/BB numbers. Rhoderick, in particular, has been dominant, striking out 9 and walking just 1 in his 5.2 innings of work.
  • Doug Padilla looks at the managerial and coaching situation in 2012, and it sounds like it was mostly a positive, despite the terrible record.
  • A little more on those organizational moves yesterday (the addition/promotion of a number of scouts, for example). And a little more on new 3B coach David Bell.
  • The MLBullets at BCB look at deposed managers Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine.
  • From those MLBullets, something worth pointing out: Baseball Prospectus offers a brilliant guest piece from Jorge Arangure on the old saw, “You don’t walk off the island.” He digs into what exactly that means for Dominican youths, and what is being done about the problem of plate discipline. A particularly telling segment: “[O]ut of the top 10 leaders in walks last year in each of the 10 full-season minor leagues, only four of the possible 100 players were Dominican. Since 2009, only one undrafted, non-U.S.-educated, Dominican-born player ranked in the top 30 in baseball in walk rate: Cleveland’s Carlos Santana.” It’s really an interesting and informative read.
  • Someone is even more relieved by the Cardinals’ NLCS Game Seven loss than I am.
  • 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

    Jorge Soler with the Worst Possible Luck in His First BP Session Trying to Return from the IL

    It seems the Cubs bad injury luck this season extends to former Cubs, like Jorge Soler, as well. Jorge Soler Pops Himself in the Head Back on May 8, the Giants placed Jorge Soler on the Injured List due to...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    Brennen Davis Rejoined the Cubs’ Top-30 Prospect List and Celebrated with Another Dinger

    I don't know where this will ultimately go, and I still think we need to exercise some caution with our hopes, but it's been a very good couple weeks for Brennen Davis. Not only has the outfielder been hitting quite...

    Angels Manager Ron Washington Threw Luis Guillorme Under the Bus, Then Drove the Bus, Then Backed Over Him Again

    Ron Washington must absolutely hate his new infielder, Luis Guillorme, who was acquired just five days ago. There is no other explanation for what he said after last night's game. I mean, I'm kinda tongue-in-cheek, but this is pretty extreme....

    Ronel Blanco, Who Threw the Season’s First No-Hitter, Now Gets the Season’s First Sticky Stuff Ejection

    The first sticky stuff ejection of the year has arrived. Houston Astros righty Ronel Blanco, he of the surprising no-hitter earlier this year, got the boot last night. From the look of things, Blanco and his manager were trying to...

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Braves (6:20 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs were shutout in the opener against the Braves last night. And it doesn't figure to get any easier against a resurgent Chris Sale tonight. Here's how Craig Counsell will line 'em up against the 35-year-old...

    Adbert Alzolay Update: Imaging Results, Timeline, and a Sprinkle of (Unexpected) Optimism

    I had the weirdest reaction to what is objectively bad injury news on Adbert Alzolay just now. According to Meghan Montemurro, medical imaging confirmed that Adbert Alzolay has a right flexor strain. While I should have been upset to learn...

    Jed Hoyer Speaks: New Reliever, Bullpen Issues, Imanaga, Morel, Swanson, Bat Data, More

    The Chicago Cubs' President of Baseball Operations just hopped on 670 The Score On the Bernstein & Holmes Show, discussing a number of Cubs-related items. He led things off with a discussion of newly-acquired reliever, Tyson Miller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hes1lI-8ZCI So, then,...

    Latest News

    Jorge Soler with the Worst Possible Luck in His First BP Session Trying to Return from the IL

    It seems the Cubs bad injury luck this season extends to former Cubs, like Jorge Soler, as well. Jorge Soler Pops Himself in the Head Back on May 8, the Giants placed Jorge Soler on the Injured List due to...

    Brennen Davis Rejoined the Cubs’ Top-30 Prospect List and Celebrated with Another Dinger

    I don't know where this will ultimately go, and I still think we need to exercise some caution with our hopes, but it's been a very good couple weeks for Brennen Davis. Not only has the outfielder been hitting quite...

    Angels Manager Ron Washington Threw Luis Guillorme Under the Bus, Then Drove the Bus, Then Backed Over Him Again

    Ron Washington must absolutely hate his new infielder, Luis Guillorme, who was acquired just five days ago. There is no other explanation for what he said after last night's game. I mean, I'm kinda tongue-in-cheek, but this is pretty extreme....

    Ronel Blanco, Who Threw the Season’s First No-Hitter, Now Gets the Season’s First Sticky Stuff Ejection

    The first sticky stuff ejection of the year has arrived. Houston Astros righty Ronel Blanco, he of the surprising no-hitter earlier this year, got the boot last night. From the look of things, Blanco and his manager were trying to...

    London’s Calling: Bears and Jaguars Are Going International in 2024

    The wait is over. We now know who the Chicago Bears will be playing in London. As fate would have it, it is a team that is no stranger to international travel. The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to be the...

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

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

    If you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan and looking to catch their games, you can watch most of them on TV with a cable subscription or via streaming with one of the many different apps. Let’s break down the cable...

    more cubs news