Typically in spots like this, people say things like “mercifully, the first half comes to a close today,” but I am not sure how merciful it will be. The Cubs certainly need a break, but I say that more on the basis of them having played 24 straight games rather than them having lost 9 of 10 (and 15 of 20). Of course, one might very well have something to do with the other, but, as I wrote yesterday, I don’t want people thinking that the break, itself, will magically cure all that ails the Cubs. The wins will come, if they do, by virtue of improved performance. And that will have to come from much more than a few days off.
Jon Lester said he was “terrible” last night, but that there is no physical issue – just a slump (CSN). It’s tough with pitchers, because they’ll throw just twice in a 10-day span, so the length of their slump can seem sooooo long before they even get a chance to show it’s over. Since it’s just two starts for Lester – albeit two really, really, really, really bad starts – I’m able to throw it away, and say that he’ll probably be fine and still be Jon Lester after the break. Of course, we’re already trying to convince ourselves of the same thing about Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, so … I guess just please hurry back to awesomeness, dudes.
Anthony Rizzo came within a few feet of a cycle last night, which would have been cool (the Cubs haven’t had one since Mark Grace in 1993). Already having notched the single, double, and triple, Rizzo hit one off the wall in left in his final at bat.[adinserter block=”1″][adinserter block=”10″]
Dexter Fowler won’t play in the All-Star Game, and did not play for South Bend last night as originally planned. He’s instead headed to San Diego to participate in the All-Star Game activities before continuing his rehab assignment. Cubs affiliates do play Wednesday and Thursday, so it’s not like he would have to wait until Friday, when the big league team resumes action, to start the rehab assignment again; but then, players use the break to rest for a reason, so maybe he needs that rest, too. It’s not like rehabbing an injury is not hard work. If Fowler winds up joining AAA Iowa, it’s worth noting that they start a series in Las Vegas on Thursday. Las Vegas, I believe, is where Fowler lives in the offseason.
Either way, Joe Maddon says it looks like Fowler will not be ready to rejoin the big league team on Friday, when the second half resumes (Tribune). You are reminded: no matter how minor someone says a hamstring injury is, just assume the player is out for at least a month. (You are also reminded: there is still no update on Jorge Soler’s status. Joe Maddon told Cubs.com only that “I’d like to believe we’re close to a rehab assignment also, but I don’t know that.” So maybe he’s close to a rehab assignment. Or maybe not. In other words: no real update.)[adinserter block=”2″]
You’ll see this kind of thing quite a bit in the coming days (not just from Passan – lots and lots of folks are tweeting this at me), regardless of whether the Cubs win or lose today. And I’ll advise you now, it looks a lot more compelling than it actually is:
If you want to go back even further, the Cubs have actually been a sub-.500 team for almost two months. Since starting 27-8, they're 25-27.
So if you chop off the excellent start, but not the terrible games lately, the Cubs are slightly below .500. OK. Let me try my own version to see if it demonstrates how un-useful that point is: if you take away the Cubs’ 51-26 start, they’re just 1-9 this year! That’s a .100 winning percentage, which is very bad!
If you need it more explicit, the point is this: almost the entirety of any “the Cubs have actually been bad for a very long time” stretch you can find is based on the losing of the last few weeks. That ugly 25-27 stretch to which Passan points is 24-18 without the 1-9 stretch. That’s a .571 win percentage. It’s a 93-win pace. Until the Cubs went 1-9, their bad stretch of baseball was a 93-win pace.
This is why you can’t chop out bits and pieces like this. It leads to absurd conclusions. All of the games count – including, of course, the 1-9 stretch. Instead, what you can do is point out the very real problems that have lead to the bad stretch of play, and wonder about what things will course-correct statistically, what things will course-correct in player performance, and what things will require changes.[adinserter block=”3″]
Jeimer Candelario was not sent back to AAA yesterday so that he could participate in the Futures Game, as he’s already been replaced on the roster (CSN). So, then, the timing of swapping him for Munenori Kawasaki, apparently, was simply about changing personnel. The call for Candelario last weekend was definitely earlier than most were expecting – he’s played very little at AAA yet – so it’s looking like the Cubs simply saw an opportunity to get him a taste of what it’s like in the big leagues, perhaps give him some things to work on, and then get him back to AAA where he can continue his development. Sometimes, even a brief stop in the big leagues can be a big developmental moment for a young player. Then, when it’s time to come up for good, there’s a lot less to adjust to, especially off the field.
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.
Even with tonight's rainout, the Chicago Cubs are still making some roster moves. When Patrick Wisdom was removed (perfectly healthy) from the I-Cubs game in the 4th inning on Wednesday, we had an idea of what was coming next. When...
The weather wasn't going to cooperate for Jameson Taillon's season debut, and tonight's Cubs-Marlins tilt has been postponed. The game will instead be part of a split-doubleheader this Saturday, with the first game at 1:20pm CT and the second at...
If you're into tracking young pitchers with star potential like I am—as I watch Jack Leiter's debut while typing this column—then you're probably itching to see Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes make his way to Pittsburgh sooner than later. While...
Cubs vs Marlins — Whew! The Cubs got through their first West Coast road trip of the year, and did so with a winning record (5-4) against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. They definitely let a couple games slip out...
As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...
Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...
Given the way the offseason played out for super agent Scott Boras's top available clients - Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery - you wouldn't be shocked to see some unhappiness behind the scenes. Did Boras overplay...
Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...
Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...
The Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8), with Quinn Priester on the mound, host the Boston Red Sox (10-10) who will counter with Brayan Bello, at 6:40 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...
On Friday at 9:40 PM ET, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (11-10) take on George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) at PETCO Park.The article below will give you everything you need to know to watch...
Blake Snell will take the ball for the San Francisco Giants (8-11) when they host starter Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-10) on Friday, with first pitch at 10:15 PM ET.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading...
The Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9), led by Mookie Betts, host Pete Alonso and the New York Mets (10-8) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to...
The Minnesota Twins will be hosting the Detroit Tigers for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 8:10 PM ET on Friday, April 19.Twins vs. Tigers Series Info Tigers @ Twins Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:10...
In the opener of a three-game series, on Friday, April 19 at 8:15 PM ET, the St. Louis Cardinals are hosting the Milwaukee Brewers.Cardinals vs. Brewers Series Info Brewers @ Cardinals Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:15 PM ET Cardinals...
On Friday, April 19 at 7:40 PM ET, a three-game series between the Kansas City Royals and the visiting Baltimore Orioles will get underway.Royals vs. Orioles Series Info Orioles @ Royals Time: Friday, April 19 at 7:40 PM ET Royals...
The Seattle Mariners will be on the road, opening a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, April 19 at 8:40 PM ET.Rockies vs. Mariners Series Info Mariners @ Rockies Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:40 PM ET Rockies...
The San Diego Padres will be hosting the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 9:40 PM ET on Friday, April 19.Padres vs. Blue Jays Series Info Blue Jays @ Padres Time: Friday,...
In the opener of a three-game series, on Friday, April 19 at 10:10 PM ET, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the New York Mets.Dodgers vs. Mets Series Info Mets @ Dodgers Time: Friday, April 19 at 10:10 PM ET...