Weekend Catch-Up: Epstein, Bryant, Prospect Promotion, Scouting Hill, Blogathon, More

bn baseball featureIf you checked out for the long holiday weekend, you missed plenty of ups and downs in the Cubs’ world …

Friday, July 1

  • The Trade Deadline Blogathon is coming! Please check out the details of how you can make it happen.
  • One of the best-timed check-ins, Luke looked at Jeimer Candelario just two days before he was promoted.
  • The trial and error nature of building a bullpen in July and early July.
  • Theo Epstein spoke at length about what the Cubs may or may not do this trade season, and what they won’t do with Kyle Schwarber.
  • Ups and downs for the Cubs lately, but their playoff odds are still incredibly strong.
  • In news from around the league, the Boston Red Sox got hammered for trying to get around the IFA rules.
  • In a rainy mess of a game, the Cubs got whooped by the Mets.
  • Saturday, July 2

  • Luke looked at how the Cubs’ organizational pitching is stacking up to others across baseball.
  • Bullets on Jason Hammel’s struggles and Jake Arrieta’s mechanics, among other things.
  • The new IFA period opened up on Saturday, but nothing’s been happening as far as the Cubs are concerned.
  • Jon Lester was named the NL’s Pitcher of the Month for June. Not sure he’ll repeat in July.
  • We checked in on the Cubs’ trio of hamstring injuries – Jorge Soler, Dexter Fowler, and Tommy La Stella.
  • Although he’s had some issues on the mound, Jake Arrieta is the best hitting pitcher in baseball by faaaaar.
  • The Cubs couldn’t come back against the Mets and lost another 4-3 game.[adinserter block=”1″]
  • Sunday, July 3

  • The Cubs have several first place teams in the farm system.
  • More talk about Jake Arrieta’s mechanics and adjustments, among other Sunday Bullets.
  • Another Cubs prospect got the call to the big league team: Jeimer Candelario was promoted, as Chris Coghlan hit the DL.
  • The Cubs were drubbed by the Mets to end a four-game sweep. Woof.
  • At least the game included some fun, including Candelario’s first hit, Willson Contreras homering, and Miguel Montero pitching.
  • Monday, July 4

  • When the time comes for the next big league debut, Luke wondered which youngster it could be.
  • With the Cubs coming back to Wrigley, it was time to truly turn the page on the ugly series in New York.
  • The rumor of the weekend was the Cubs, among other teams, checking out A’s starting pitcher Rich Hill.
  • The Cubs celebrated the holiday by beating the Reds 10-4, including this long homer from Kris Bryant, who sure does love homering on Independence Day.
  • But then Bryant gave everyone a scare when he left the game after a collision in the outfield with Albert Almora. It sounds like Bryant will be OK.
  • 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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