Letting Go of Szczur, Almora’s Catch, the New York Mess, and Other Bullets

Late Bullets today. Weekends have become increasingly difficult to do everything necessary for the site (lots of extra needs lately with the site re-design – post about that here, if you missed it) while still having an appropriate amount of family time. I’ll continue to balance as best I can, but increasingly going forward, where family needs and site needs conflict on the weekends, the family is going to win. I love all of you, but I love them a little more.

  • The Cubs finally decided to let Matt Szczur go yesterday, though we won’t know the ultimate resolution for up to six more days. By designating Szczur for assignment, the Cubs have a week to trade Szczur, which would be the ideal outcome, as it could plausibly net the Cubs a modestly interesting prospect. It’s also possible, though, that the interest in Szczur is limited to waiver claims, and the Cubs may wind up losing him for nothing. After carrying him all last season and into this season, that would be something of a bitter outcome, but let’s keep in mind: (1) Szczur contributed last year in spurts, and was a good presence in the clubhouse – keeping him was not a burden; and (2) even if the Cubs get nothing for Szczur, his spot was increasingly crowded out and complicated by his lack of minor league options. With guys like Mark Zagunis, Jacob Hannemann, John Andreoli, et al at Iowa, it’s possible that, through the course of this season, the Cubs will not really have lost much at the big league level by losing Szczur. And for Szczur, maybe he’ll finally get a chance to win more playing time on a team that has a better opportunity to give him that shot.
  • … but hopefully he doesn’t land with the suddenly outfield-needy Cardinals. Of the loss, Joe Maddon put it this way (CSN): “It’s excruciating. [Szczur is] everything you want in a teammate. He’s always upbeat. He’s always ready to play. He knows he’s not playing, but he’s always upbeat and ready to go. And then he supports everybody around him. You want him on your team. You want him in your organization. He’s that kind of a guy.”
  • Earlier, we talked about Brett Anderson’s injury and ineffectiveness, and how the Cubs will deal with the probable new hole in the rotation (and the opportunity it presents).
  • Anderson isn’t losing his confidence just yet, but he wants to be healthy (Cubs.com): “I still think when I’m healthy, I’m a good pitcher. It’s a combination of things – everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong. I still have confidence in myself. I wouldn’t be in the league this long if I haven’t been able to put some things behind me and deal with the cards I’ve been dealt.”
  • We also checked out the Cubs’ newest shut-down reliever, Miguel Montero.
  • Hopefully it doesn’t linger, but Jason Heyward is dealing with a sore knuckle.
  • Even in a blowout, Albert Almora is still gonna make great plays in the outfield, including this diving catch.
  • (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

  • The New York Mets are the New York Mess, and the tenor of this tweet pretty much provides the punctuation:
  • Syndergaard, you’ll recall, was hurt two weeks ago, refused an MRI, had his start pushed back, which the Mets let him take, and then he was REALLY hurt, and now he’s going to miss a whole lot of time with a torn lat. He wasn’t going to go on the 60-day DL until the Mets needed a 40-man roster spot to bring someone up to replace Matt Harvey, who was suspended by the team for three days for reasons that aren’t being specified (but the timing is certainly curious given the recent … eh hem … romantic paraphernalia in a teammate’s locker). It’s all just … wow.
  • It remains worth tracking the potentially competitive other teams in the NL, especially as the possibility of competing for a Wild Card spot ticks up ever so slightly for the Cubs.
  • Getting a professional-grade carpet cleaner is not necessary for everyone, and they are not cheap. But *IF* you were thinking about getting a really heavy duty one, there’s a huge discount (53%) on this one at Amazon today.
  • A whole bunch of Cubs gear flipped over to a sale today at Fanatics, with a range of discounts and free shipping:
  • 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.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

    How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

    Latest News

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Nikola Jokic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    Nikola Jokic must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Denver Nuggets play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Nikola Jokic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

    Michael Porter Jr. Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Michael Porter Jr. must make three from beyond the arc on Sunday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 8:00 PM...

    Anthony Edwards Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    On Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, and Anthony Edwards' 3-pointer over/under for this matchup requires three treys.Anthony Edwards' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

    Jamal Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Jamal Murray must make two from beyond the arc on Sunday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 8:00 PM ET.Jamal...

    Karl-Anthony Towns Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    Karl-Anthony Towns must make two 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Karl-Anthony Towns' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

    Top Player Prop Bets for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 on May 12, 2024

    Player prop betting options for Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic and others are available in the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets matchup at Target Center on Sunday (starting at 8:00 PM ET).How to Watch Timberwolves vs. NuggetsDate: Sunday, May 12, 2024Time: 8:00 PM...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Rome Odunze Missed Saturday’s Bears Rookie Minicamp Practice

    I was rounding up this morning's set of Bears Bullets when I saw this note from the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sitting out Saturday's practice with hamstring tightness and I knew I had to...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    more cubs news