In Praise of Complementary Pieces and Other Bullets

luis valbuena featureMorning baseball later today, with the Cubs and Marlins concluding their series before noon Central Time.

  • Jason Hammel, whom the Cubs signed to a one-year, $6 million deal in the offseason, tells Cubs.com that he’s still able to ignore the absurd swirl of trade rumors. And he says something sad but true: “I knew about it coming in. It came with the territory and I understand that. I wouldn’t sign here if I wasn’t capable of dealing with it.” Hammel is no dope – just as it was easy for all of the media and fan world to see Hammel as a commodity brought in to be traded mid-season, Hammel came into things with his eyes wide open.
  • I really do love Carlos Villanueva. From the thoughtful quotes to the occasional stache to the swing ability, I just like the guy. He recently declined to comment about that swinging ability when asked by the Tribune – no, not because he doesn’t want to talk about rumors or because he doesn’t like relieving … it’s because he didn’t want to jinx the bullpen’s recent success by talking about it. Like Carlos Pena before him, I’m going to miss reading about Villanueva when he’s gone, setting aside the baseball stuff. And, on the baseball stuff: despite the early struggles, he’s got a 3.75 FIP and a 2.82 K/BB on the year. Really not all that bad. (Insert trade speculation on the impending free agent, who makes just $5 million this year.)
  • I didn’t give appropriate love here for the catch Ryan Sweeney made in center field the other night, mostly because I was so distracted by that crazy Giancarlo Stanton homer. But here’s Sweeney’s Willie Mays impression:
  • Your browser does not support iframes.

  • The catch was so smooth that Adeiny Hechavarria (who’s been killing it this series, hasn’t he?) didn’t believe that Sweeney caught the ball. Sweeney’s numbers are still down after an ugly start to the year, and then that hamstring injury (but a 23% line drive rate and .213 BABIP suggest he’s been very unlucky), but he remains, in my mind, one of the better fourth outfielders in baseball. The Cubs have him under team control through 2016 at a pretty reasonable rate, and I’m happy about that.
  • Speaking of guys about whom I’m glad the Cubs still have two years of control, Luis Valbuena continues to do silly good things. I wrote about his awesomeness last week, but the guy just keeps raking. Since May 13 (ok, ok, arbitrary endpoint), he’s posting a .367/.436/.592 line, a 10.9% BB rate, a 19.1% K rate, a .446(!) wOBA, and a 184 wRC+. Obviously his .446 BABIP is inflating things, but he does have a huge 25.3% line drive rate over that span. Couple that with excellent defense at third and solid defense at second, and even if he regresses at the plate, he’s just such a valuable player. Valbuena won’t be an All-Star, but he’s absolutely having an All-Star season.
  • Also, this:
  • Welington Castillo is getting “closer” to a rehab stint (Tribune). He’s been dealing with rib cage inflammation for a couple weeks.
  • The Diamondbacks did some more stupid macho BS and paid for it immediately.
  • 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

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    It’s Gotten Impossible to Not Comment on the White Sox Making Futility History

    In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...

    Latest News

    Royals vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Kansas City Royals (15-10) are favored on the moneyline (-121) in Thursday's contest against the Toronto Blue Jays (13-12). Game time is at 2:10 PM ET on SNET. The Blue Jays, with +168 odds, are favored against the spread...

    Astros vs. Cubs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Houston Astros (7-18) visit the Chicago Cubs (15-9) at 2:20 PM ET Thursday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Jose Altuve has racked up six homers this season (No. 9 in the...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 25, 2024

    The Boston Red Sox versus the Cleveland Guardians is a game to see on a Thursday MLB schedule that features 10 competitive contests.There are typically plenty of MLB player prop bets available for each and every matchup. Scroll down to...

    Padres vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The San Diego Padres (14-13) visit Denver to square off against the Colorado Rockies (6-19) at 3:10 PM ET on Thursday.The probable pitchers are Randy Vasquez (0-1) for the Padres and Dakota Hudson (0-4) for the Rockies.Padres vs. Rockies Pitcher...

    Brewers vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Milwaukee Brewers will take the field against the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-12) on Thursday. The game begins at 12:35 PM ET on BSWI, with the Brewers listed as -126 favorites on the moneyline.Freddy Peralta will get the ball for Milwaukee...

    Twins vs. White Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Chicago White Sox (3-21) will try to end their six-game losing streak when they visit the Minnesota Twins (10-13) on Thursday at 1:10 PM ET on BSN. Oddsmakers consider the Twins to be -252 favorites for the contest, while...

    Phillies vs. Reds Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Philadelphia Phillies (15-10) visit the Cincinnati Reds (14-10) at 1:10 PM ET Thursday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Kyle Schwarber has racked up six homers this season (No. 9 in the...

    Guardians vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    Following a big two-homer game last time out, Connor Wong leads the Boston Red Sox (14-11) into action as +134 underdogs against the Cleveland Guardians (17-7). First pitch from Progressive Field at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday, live on NESN.Triston...

    Twins vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Minnesota Twins (10-13) look to add to a three-game winning streak as they host the Chicago White Sox (3-21) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Twins will send Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0)...

    Mariners vs. Rangers Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Seattle Mariners (12-12) visit the Texas Rangers (13-12). The matchup at Globe Life Field begins at 2:35 PM ET on Thursday.The Mariners will look to Luis Castillo (1-4) against the Rangers and Andrew Heaney (0-2).Mariners vs. Rangers Pitcher Matchup...

    more cubs news