“This Is Obviously Getting Old” and Other Bullets

Dale Sveum GollyI love that the Chairman of the FCC came out in support of David Ortiz’s emotional speech at the Red Sox game yesterday, which included an f-bomb. Sometimes it’s OK, and you’ve just got to relax about that stuff.

  • Dale Sveum had to know that, after another mistake-filled loss, he was going to have to speak at length about the team’s woes. And, to his credit, he did speak at length. In addition to saying that you can’t have team meetings every day, and that the mistakes being made are the kinds you expect to see in rookie ball, Sveum seemed to throw up his hands a bit. Per Carrie Muskat: “It seems to be the story every night. It seems to be continuing that we can’t seem to catch the ball or make a play when we have to make a play. Edwin [Jackson] pitched a great game, but he was part of that, throwing the ball into center field. We’ve got to step up and somebody has to start making plays and driving runs in because this is obviously getting old …. To win in the big leagues, you have to have people who perform, and perform 162 games, not once in a while. You have to perform. It’s the big leagues. Otherwise, you lose your jobs.”
  • The reality of the roster, though, is that certain guys are playing because the front office wants them playing. And everyone else – the Castros, the Rizzos, the Castillos, the Barneys – is an obvious starter that you’re not going to bench. In other words, there’s only so much Sveum can do. Moreover, if the Cubs want to have the ability to shop guys like Scott Hairston, Scott Feldman, and whichever other guy you tab who isn’t currently performing, Sveum’s going to have to keep giving them the opportunity to perform. This season was never about the playoffs, so you might as well at least hope for those tradable assets.
  • As for the fundamental mistakes, they are, at some level, always going to be on the players. These guys have played the game for 10, 15, 20 years before they even meet their present coaching staff. In that regard, there’s only so much the Cubs’ coaches can do to correct mistakes that occur when the body just does its thing. At the same time, when mental mistakes appear again and again, at some point, you do have to question whether the coaching staff is doing an appropriately effective job of communicating with each of the individual players. We had these same disputes back during the Quade regime and it looked like the Cubs didn’t know the ball from first base.
  • Speaking of ranting about the fundamentals, Dave Kaplan took to Twitter last night to blast the poor play of the Cubs this year. Among his comments, he said that what we’re seeing is the result of “years of mismanagement, awful minor league system and poor fundamentals. Sveum cannot allow sloppiness to continue.” That turned into a back-and-forth with Bruce Miles, who would prefer if Kaplan – who lauded Jim Hendry when Hendry was in the front office, according to Bruce – gave Hendry a chance now to discuss whether/why his tenure was fraught with mismanagement.
  • Pitching Coach Chris Bosio knows the scrutiny he faces as the bullpen continues underperform, fair or unfair.
  • The confusing minutia of the Jean Segura baserunning adventures from the other night. There’s still some debate about the right way to apply the rules.
  • Starlin Castro has a 12-game hitting streak. So that’s cool.
  • 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

    Cubs Roster Moves: Wisdom and Taillon Are Back, Wesneski and Mastrobuoni Are Out

    Even with tonight's rainout, the Chicago Cubs are still making some roster moves. When Patrick Wisdom was removed (perfectly healthy) from the I-Cubs game in the 4th inning on Wednesday, we had an idea of what was coming next. When...

    Tonight’s Cubs-Marlins Game Has Been Postponed

    The weather wasn't going to cooperate for Jameson Taillon's season debut, and tonight's Cubs-Marlins tilt has been postponed. The game will instead be part of a split-doubleheader this Saturday, with the first game at 1:20pm CT and the second at...

    MLBits: Paul Skenes Could Make His MLB Debut Any Day (But Probably Won’t), Red-Hot Orioles, Houck’s Maddux, More

    If you're into tracking young pitchers with star potential like I am—as I watch Jack Leiter's debut while typing this column—then you're probably itching to see Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes make his way to Pittsburgh sooner than later. While...

    Back to Wrigley: Cubs vs Marlins – Series Preview

    Cubs vs Marlins — Whew! The Cubs got through their first West Coast road trip of the year, and did so with a winning record (5-4) against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. They definitely let a couple games slip out...

    Taillon Coming Back, Busch’s Integrity and Success, Bad News for the White Sox, Wicks, Hendricks, and Other Cubs Bullets

    As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 18, 2024: Caissie, Alcántara Go Yard, South Bend and Myrtle Beach Smoked, More

    Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...

    Cody Bellinger Sticking With Scott Boras

    Given the way the offseason played out for super agent Scott Boras's top available clients - Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery - you wouldn't be shocked to see some unhappiness behind the scenes. Did Boras overplay...

    You’ll Be Even More Impressed with Hayden Wesneski, When You Hear What it Took to Get Him to Arizona

    Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...

    Offseason Cubs Target Robert Stephenson Now Out for the Year

    Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....

    Rays Closer Pete Fairbanks With a Wonderful and Brutally Honest Line About His Performance

    Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...

    Latest News

    Pacers vs. Bucks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Sunday, April 21, 2024

    The Indiana Pacers are slight 1-point favorites heading into Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Sunday, starting at 7:00 PM ET on TNT. The matchup's over/under is set...

    Mavericks vs. Clippers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Sunday, April 21, 2024

    The Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers meet to start the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Mavericks are favored by 1.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. The matchup...

    Knicks vs. 76ers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers take the court to start the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks are favored by 3 points in the matchup, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 6:00 PM ET....

    Heat vs. Bulls Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Chicago Bulls are slight 1.5-point underdogs heading into Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on Friday, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup's over/under is...

    How to Watch Phillies vs. White Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    On Friday, Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies (11-8) open a series versus Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (3-15) at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out all the details...

    Braves vs. Rangers: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Atlanta Braves (12-5), with Chris Sale on the hill, host the Texas Rangers (11-9) who will counter with Nathan Eovaldi, at 7:20 PM ET on Friday.The article below will provide you with everything you need to watch Atlanta play...

    How to Watch Guardians vs. Athletics: Live Stream or on TV

    The Cleveland Guardians (13-6), with Triston McKenzie on the mound, host the Oakland Athletics (8-11) who will start Joseph Boyle, at 7:10 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

    How to Watch Astros vs. Nationals: Live Stream or on TV

    On Friday at 6:45 PM ET, Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros (6-14) play C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals (8-10) at Nationals Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch Houston play Washington.When...

    Yankees vs. Rays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The New York Yankees (13-6), with Clarke Schmidt on the hill, host the Tampa Bay Rays (11-9) who will start Tyler Alexander, at 7:05 PM ET on Friday.The article below will give you everything you need to know to watch...

    Heat vs. Bulls Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls meet to start the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Heat are favored by 1.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:00 PM ET. The matchup has...

    more cubs news