The big news last night was the Kane County Cougars, the Cubs’ Low-A affiliate, bringing home the Midwest League championship. Despite obvious roster turnover throughout the season, the Cougars were the best team in the entire league from end to end – they didn’t even lose a single playoff game. What does that mean for the future? Maybe not too much, though that pitching staff was full of interesting guys who could emerge as meaningful prospects in the near-term. All in all, I just think it’s cool when these young guys get to experience a playoff run, and then get a ring (as Daytona did last year, for example).
Also: a big thanks to Luke for his outstanding minor league coverage this season. Just like you guys, I would wake up in the morning with excitement to see what Luke had waiting for me.
Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio was on the radio yesterday with Bruce Levine and Wayne Randazzo, speaking at length about the Cubs’ pitching situation (you can see a transcript here at the CCO). Among other things, Bosio was effusive in his praise for Hector Rondon and the work they’ve accomplished together since the Cubs got him as a Rule 5 pick before the 2013 season. He also discussed why Neil Ramirez and Justin Grimm are in the bullpen, rather than starting, and emphasized that having that many power arms at the back of the pen is so valuable because of the interchangeability. Bosio sees a bright future for the Cubs’ pen, if, in his words, they can add one more “legit” lefty and another power righty. Not unlike the rotation, the bullpen battle next Spring is going to be fierce.
(And, given how bullpens turnover during the course of a season, even if the Cubs go with just five righties and two lefties to start the year, having huge depth at AAA – which the Cubs should have – will come into play at some point for sure.)
Matt Szczur was fortunate to have family and friends in attendance (Cubs.com) for his big game last night, including his first homer.
Jeff Sullivan reminds us that even the best player in baseball can go through a protracted stretch of contact problems (whiffing and weak contact) when pitchers change their approach. In this instance, it looks like Mike Trout has been beaten by high fastballs for the better part of two months now.
Tony Andracki with a good read on Josh Vitters, even as it’s something of a bummer to feel like you’re reading a farewell letter, complete with hopeful quotes from Vitters. Given the expected impending roster crunch, it’s possible that Vitters, 25, is taken off the 40-man roster this offseason (at which point he would become a free agent). While there will be a number of teams lining up to sign him to a minor league deal, you can understand why the Cubs might feel like they have to move on after Vitters hit just .213/.268/.339 this year with ugly K and BB numbers – a season that followed a 2013 campaign wrecked by injuries.
And now that you’ve been bummed out, how about a positive, long, local read on C.J. Edwards? Edwards missed a few months this season with a shoulder strain, but he’ll head to the Arizona Fall League to help make up some of those innings. Assuming he comes out of it productive and healthy, Edwards will be on the radar for 2015, perhaps as soon as midseason (and maybe helping in the big league bullpen to get his feet wet).
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.
Kevin Alcantara wasted no time giving the Tennessee Smokies the lead on Tuesday night (or maybe he just wanted to be a spiritual part of the homer party going on at Wrigley Field). Facing off against the Rocket City Trash...
It really is a Cubs homer party up and down the system. In Chicago, Cody Bellinger and Mike Tauchman have gone deep. At Myrtle Beach, Christian Hernandez and Jefferson Encarnacion each homered. And at Tennessee, Kevin Alcantara (x2), Pablo Aliendo,...
I don't like to use "ambush" lightly. But what would you call it when the Cubs put five balls in play over 100 MPH, including a single, a double, and two home runs en route to putting five runs on...
Ian Happ was back in the Cubs lineup tonight after missing a few games with a sore hamstring. And in his first at-bat back, he sent one 412 feet to dead-center field for a VERY long double (Statcast says it...
CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs are back in action tonight for the first of three games against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup for Game 1. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, 2B...
I know what you're thinking – what the heck is this basketball junkie doing over here on our turf!? He normally only shows up when he accidentally puts his Bulls articles in the wrong category! I need a little palate cleanser...
If you're familiar with me/my writing, you know how much I love good pitching. To that end, Jared Jones has been one of my favorite stories of the young season. And on Monday, he gave us one of the best...
We've been trying to piece this series of Cubs roster moves together all day, but we didn't have the full picture until now. There are a lot of moving parts - and we already have a dedicated article on the...
The Chicago Cubs were in a rough spot with starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, whose performance this year has featured a worst-case-scenario mix of execution struggles, too many balls in play, and a sprinkling of bad luck. And since no one...
Garrett Cooper DFA — Earlier today, Tommy Birch caught word of Matt Mervis and Hayden Wesneski making their way up to Chicago, though no one has had the corresponding moves just yet. What we do know is that Wesneski would...
It really is a Cubs homer party up and down the system. In Chicago, Cody Bellinger and Mike Tauchman have gone deep. At Myrtle Beach, Christian Hernandez and Jefferson Encarnacion each homered. And at Tennessee, Kevin Alcantara (x2), Pablo Aliendo,...
The Arizona Diamondbacks (11-13), with Jordan Montgomery on the hill and aiming to avoid a sweep, visit the St. Louis Cardinals (10-13) who will start Kyle Gibson, at 1:15 PM ET on Wednesday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details...
The New York Yankees (15-8), with Clarke Schmidt on the mound, host the Oakland Athletics (9-14) who will hand the ball to Joseph Boyle, at 7:05 PM ET on Wednesday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming...
The Minnesota Twins (8-13), with Joe Ryan on the mound, host the Chicago White Sox (3-19) who will hand the ball to Garrett Crochet, at 7:40 PM ET on Wednesday.Keep reading to see how to watch the Minnesota-Chicago matchup below.When...
In a series opener on Wednesday, Jameson Taillon will start for the Chicago Cubs (13-9) against Spencer Arrighetti and the Houston Astros (7-16), with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 PM ET at Wrigley Field.See how to watch the Chicago-Houston matchup...
Yariel Rodriguez will take the ball for the Toronto Blue Jays (13-10) when they visit starter Alec Marsh and the Kansas City Royals (13-10) on Wednesday, with first pitch at 7:40 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything...
If you have followed pro sports stadium projects in the past, then you probably are aware that taxpayers tend to end up footing a hearty chunk of the bill. And while the Chicago Bears have not yet made public their...
I don't like to use "ambush" lightly. But what would you call it when the Cubs put five balls in play over 100 MPH, including a single, a double, and two home runs en route to putting five runs on...
Kevin Alcantara wasted no time giving the Tennessee Smokies the lead on Tuesday night (or maybe he just wanted to be a spiritual part of the homer party going on at Wrigley Field). Facing off against the Rocket City Trash...
Ian Happ was back in the Cubs lineup tonight after missing a few games with a sore hamstring. And in his first at-bat back, he sent one 412 feet to dead-center field for a VERY long double (Statcast says it...
NEWSLETTER
The big news last night was the Kane County Cougars, the Cubs’ Low-A affiliate, bringing home the Midwest League championship. Despite obvious roster turnover throughout the season, the Cougars were the best team in the entire league from end to end – they didn’t even lose a single playoff game. What does that mean for the future? Maybe not too much, though that pitching staff was full of interesting guys who could emerge as meaningful prospects in the near-term. All in all, I just think it’s cool when these young guys get to experience a playoff run, and then get a ring (as Daytona did last year, for example).
