Remember Bryant-Baez-Soler Shots, Keeping Montero, Yankees Hair, and Other Bullets

Mar 10, 2017

Two years ago today, a trio of Cubs prospects did something that sent us all into orbit: Jorge Soler homered off of Indians prospect Trevor Bauer, then Javy Baez homered off of Bauer, and then Kris Bryant homered off of Bauer. Back-to-back-to-back. It was sublime:

Two years ago today, Jorge Soler, Javy Baez, and Kris Bryant went back-to-back-to-back off of Trevor Bauer. #Cookies pic.twitter.com/VOvMmskzDs

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 10, 2017

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You’re going to want to read Sahadev Sharma’s new profile on Cubs center fielder Albert Almora, which is a great reminder of what his path has been, and where he could be going. I really dig this, which Almora actually said to Sharma back in 2013 in the Arizona Fall League, when Almora was 19: “Our focus is the World Series. That’s our goal at the end of the day, whenever it happens, but it’s gonna happen. This organization is going to have that ring in the near future. We’re working really hard to get there.” That quote, from the fall after the Cubs had just failed to win more than 66 games for the second straight year, says not only a whole lot about Almora, but a whole lot about the organizational philosophy the Cubs were installing (successfully) at that time.

Speaking of Almora, he returns to the lineup today (calf).

A mild rumor-y bit to share from Jon Heyman and Tommy Stokke: apparently the Diamondbacks reached out to the Cubs about getting Miguel Montero back, but they were told the Cubs wanted to keep him. In retrospect, it’s pretty obvious that the Cubs needed to hang onto Montero, who figures to be among the better backup catchers in baseball (and a big bounceback candidate with the bat), but there were some offseason rumors about interested teams. Montero, 33, will make $14 million this year before reaching free agency.

You think the players don’t care about the WBC? Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was pumping fastballs over 100mph(!) in the Dominican Republic’s win over Team Canada last night.

Former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster started for Canada in that one, and, although he did get knocked around by a ridiculous DR lineup, I still say it was pretty impressive that he could finish two innings a couple years after retirement. (Perhaps Theo Epstein’s shot off of him the other week gave the Dominicans a blueprint …. )

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This is fantastic: Joe Maddon opening a 25-year-old pack of baseball cards, and discussing what he remembers of the players and his own experiences with them. Just fantastic.

The Yankees have a longstanding – and long mocked – rule about facial hair and long hair, which whatever. It’s dumb, and I mostly ignore it. But this is truly ridiculous, and they should probably be embarrassed that it came to this:

Clint Frazier had his hair buzzed this morning. He said that he talked to Joe Girardi and they agreed it had become a distraction.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 10, 2017

Good morning, @Yankees fans. The Yankees barbershop is open for business…first customer, @clintfrazier. pic.twitter.com/9dM8r5bVwa

— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) March 10, 2017

"I like my hair, but I love playing for this organization more." — @clintfrazier https://t.co/ihNi1EdDly

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 10, 2017

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If you missed it earlier this morning, that excellent Kyle Schwarber catch from yesterday IS now available to watch. Also, John Andreoli played hero in the WBC.

At Baseball is Fun, LOL at Asdrubal Cabrera simply giving up on a run down because eff it.

At TYL, the Bears fans among you are probably wondering what the heck happened yesterday.

I am a very happy Apple Watch wearer (after a lifetime of not wearing watches) primarily because of the notifications and the fitness tracker, and so it pleases me to pass on to you that some Apple Watches are a Deal of the Day at Amazon.

written by

Brett Taylor

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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Remember Bryant-Baez-Soler Shots, Keeping Montero, Yankees Hair, and Other Bullets

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