Zac Rosscup Returns and Anthony Rizzo Leads and Other Bullets

zac rosscupIt was great to see folks at and after the game yesterday, and it was a particularly fun and exciting game to be at. Imagine what wins like yesterday’s are going to feel like when they pull the Cubs to within a game of first place or they extend the Cubs’ Wild Card lead.

  • The Cubs called up lefty Zac Rosscup yesterday to replace Blake Parker, who was sent back to Iowa in time for the PCL All-Star Game, to which Parker was selected. Rosscup, 26, is a big league-caliber lefty who has been squeezed out of the bullpen picture for now because of its extreme depth, and because of the presence of two veteran lefties ahead of him. Being called up now is obviously about depth in the run-up to the break, given that the Cubs’ bullpen has been used up a bit lately. But it does seem like, if one of the lefties is traded this month, Rosscup will be among the top options to get an extended look in the second half.
  • Patrick Mooney writes about the kerfuffle involving Anthony Rizzo and Aroldis Chapman on Thursday. Like it looked on TV: Rizzo was standing up for his teammates, was being a leader, and has earned a whole lot of respect. We should probably file away this moment, coupled with his All-Star selection later that day. Feels like something we’ll look back on and say, yeah, that’s when this became Rizzo’s team.
  • Obviously everyone has been impressed by Arismendy Alcantara so far, but Rick Renteria says it would be premature to say whether he’s going to have to stick around with the big team even after the All-Star break (CSN).
  • Emilio Bonifacio (oblique) has finally been sent on his rehab assignment, starting with the AZL Cubs in Mesa – he had three hits yesterday in four at bats, leading off as DH. It’s unclear how long it’ll be before he’s back, but at least it looks like he’s going to start playing games soon.
  • Incidentally, Cubs pitching prospect Carson Sands – one of the big-time high school arms the Cubs took in the 4/5/6 rounds and then spent big money to sign – made his debut in the AZL in that game, throwing a scoreless frame and striking out two.
  • 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.

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