Weekend Catch-Up: Bats Struggle, Baez Returns, Arrieta Dominates, Prospects Cruise, More
The Cubs had something of a down weekend, dropping two of three to the Rockies at Wrigley Field, mostly because the Cubs’ bats couldn’t handle the Rockies’ pitching (is this real life?).
Catch up on what you may have missed …
Friday, April 15
- Joe Maddon discussed the Cubs’ hot start, which might be even more interesting to look back on now that the Cubs had a rough weekend.
- The Minor League Daily, among other things, included a look at outfield prospect Donnie Dewees’ continued breakout.
- Looking back on Jason Hammel’s fastball-heavy start.
- Javy Baez finally returned to the Cubs on Friday, and Munenori Kawasaki headed to AAA Iowa.
- You have questions, and Michael has answers in his weekly Ask Away feature.
- A lackluster and error-filled Friday loss for the Cubs.
Saturday, April 16
- It’s been a very good start to the season for Cubs catching prospect Willson Contreras.
- The near-term futures for Albert Almora and Dan Vogelbach.
- When you say “try not to suck,” you’re admitting – correctly – that sometimes you will, in fact, suck.
- Addison Russell still has that defensive awesomeness at shortstop.
- The Cubs went homer happy and Jake Arrieta did his thing in a comfortable win over the Rockies. A couple of those homers came when Jorge Soler and Anthony Rizzo went back-to-back on successive pitches.
Sunday, April 17
- Jake Arrieta’s dominant outing on Saturday was just the latest of many.
- Checking in on the Cubs’ minor league teams, all of which had eerily similar records.
- Among Sunday’s Bullets, the frustration of a rough start is showing for Adam Wainwright.
- Through Saturday, Dexter Fowler’s crazy hot start had him among the league leaders in almost everything.
- The Cubs’ bats once again fell silent, and, despite a great outing from Jon Lester, the Cubs dropped the rubber game against the Rockies.
