June has arrived. With it comes the Draft, the real start of the trade rumor season, and the lead-up to the international signing period (which opens July 2). And, of course, lots of baseball. The Cubs are making things interesting lately, winning five in a row, and looking impressive in doing so. Some of the winning is simple positive regression – as we’ve discussed at length, the Cubs are probably a good deal better than their record reflects – and doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cubs have turned a corner. The real question – one that I hope we get to talk about for several more days – is how many games must the Cubs win in June for us to start thinking that the sell-off plan isn’t the right move this year. Well, and how many losses from the likes of the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates, who are currently dominating baseball.
Matt Garza threw 82% fastballs yesterday, per Cubs.com, which is impressive given the excellent results. “He kept it simple, fastballs to both sides of the plate, up and down, mixed in his breaking stuff and kept the balls off the barrel,” D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said, per Cubs.com, which comports with Garza relying heavily on the fastball (i.e., the keep it simple part). I assume that was game plan thing, which Garza executed quite well, it appears. Through three starts, Garza’s numbers look great: 3.38 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9. The only piece that you’d like to see improve a bit is the 3.9 BB/9. Note: Garza walked no one yesterday.
Bruce Miles on Dale Sveum, Pythagoras, and run differential. Doesn’t that tease make you want to read it? You should. Sveum offers his thoughts on the Cubs’ record so far, and how he knows that the Cubs are better than their record reflects.
Bob Brenly, who is back at Wrigley announcing for the Diamondbacks this weekend, sounds a little wistful when he talks with ESPN about his time in Chicago. He does admit that it was tough to call the games the last couple of years when the team was performing so badly.
Another sabermetric analysis of Jeff Samardzija’s emergence – this from Beyond the Boxscore – concludes that it’s legit, and can last. He may very well be a true ace.
ESPN’s Jim Caple on the need to renovate Wrigley Field. The timing of his piece is odd, but, hey, yeah: renovate Wrigley Field.
A great profile on outfield prospect Albert Almora from CSN. I’m usually not one for the practical impact of ethereal concepts like “drive” and “chemistry,” but you really do get the sense that Almora will always outperform his ability (which is considerable to begin with) because of his enthusiasm/drive/energy/intelligence/whatever-you-want-to-call-it.
Kane County pitching prospect Pierce Johnson and third base prospect Jeimer Candelario land on Baseball America’s latest Hot Sheet – the former for being hot, the latter not-so-much.
At yesterday’s game, a young fan got a little too excited about his new baseball, and dad had to save the day (from MLB’s Tumblr):
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.
It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...
I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082
CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...
No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...
Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...
The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...
The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...
CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...
Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...
How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...
It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...
Nikola Jokic must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Denver Nuggets play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Nikola Jokic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....
To beat his 3-point over/under, Michael Porter Jr. must make three from beyond the arc on Sunday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 8:00 PM...
On Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, and Anthony Edwards' 3-pointer over/under for this matchup requires three treys.Anthony Edwards' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....
To beat his 3-point over/under, Jamal Murray must make two from beyond the arc on Sunday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 8:00 PM ET.Jamal...
Karl-Anthony Towns must make two 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Karl-Anthony Towns' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....
Player prop betting options for Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic and others are available in the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets matchup at Target Center on Sunday (starting at 8:00 PM ET).How to Watch Timberwolves vs. NuggetsDate: Sunday, May 12, 2024Time: 8:00 PM...
I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082
I was rounding up this morning's set of Bears Bullets when I saw this note from the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sitting out Saturday's practice with hamstring tightness and I knew I had to...
No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...
NEWSLETTER
June has arrived. With it comes the Draft, the real start of the trade rumor season, and the lead-up to the international signing period (which opens July 2). And, of course, lots of baseball. The Cubs are making things interesting lately, winning five in a row, and looking impressive in doing so. Some of the winning is simple positive regression – as we’ve discussed at length, the Cubs are probably a good deal better than their record reflects – and doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cubs have turned a corner. The real question – one that I hope we get to talk about for several more days – is how many games must the Cubs win in June for us to start thinking that the sell-off plan isn’t the right move this year. Well, and how many losses from the likes of the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates, who are currently dominating baseball.
