Because I’ve been moving into a new place over the past week-and-a-half, I haven’t been able to check out the new Han Solo movie yet (which is very unlike me (I’m a midnight on Thursday night kinda-guy)).
But despite the awkward end-of-May-release and pre-viewing nerves shared by most Star Wars fans, I actually have a good feeling about it. I’ve read and heard some positive reviews from people I trust, so I’m going in with an open mind. I would just love if it rocked.
Here’s some news from around the league.
Yesterday, the St. Louis Cardinals got some very bad news as top pitching prospect Alex Reyes hit the DL after just one appearance back from a lengthy Tommy John surgery-related absence. The official ruling was “strained right lat,” and the Cardinals GM called it significant:Â “It is not going to be a couple starts [that Reyes will miss], it is going to be more than a few starts,” Girsch said. “We don’t have all the information yet, so we don’t know beyond that how long it’s going to be, but it is not a minor injury and we’re gathering more information.” Reyes threw 73 pitches on Wednesday, but was lifted as his velocity began to drop. At first, he assured the staff that he felt fine (and even ramped his velocity back up for a bit), but, according to GM Mike Girsch, “when the adrenaline went away, he was stiff and sore.”
Manager Mike Matheny told the press that Reyes was “beyond sad,” when he spoke with him after the game, adding that he could see it in his eyes, and he couldn’t properly describe how disappointed Reyes felt. The team is in the process of setting up an appointment with some specialists, but it’s clear, he isn’t coming back anytime soon. And when he does come back, I have to wonder if they won’t start him out in the bullpen for the rest of the year. Of course, that decision might depend on the rest of the rotation. Adam Wainwright, for example, is on the 60-Day DL and Carlos Martinez just made a rehab start at Double-A last night (4.0 IP, 5H, 2ER, 0BB, 4Ks).
But don’t feel too badly for those stupid red birds, because last night they scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to come back against the Pirates, capped off by this Yairo Muñoz (who?!) three-run homer:
Yairo Muñoz is the first #STLCards rookie with 5 RBI in a game since Stephen Piscotty (2015)… the exact player he was traded to St. Louis for this past winter. pic.twitter.com/1YKQtGzgkx
That win kept the Cardinals tied with the Cubs in the win column and a half-game back in the standings (the Cubs are still four-games back of the Brewers). The Pirates, meanwhile, have now dropped seven of their last ten games and the fall we all expected, I suspect, is beginning.
Moving out of the NL Central, Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound after more than a month last night, but left after just five innings and will be going back for an MRI some time today. He performed fine, mind you, but like Reyes, his night was cut short by potential injury:Â “Beyond frustrating,” he said. “I felt like I was out of the woods. I was feeling good and then to have that crop up.” Kershaw makes it clear that this pain doesn’t feel as severe as other injuries he’s sustained over his career, but with free agency looming (if he opts out), you know he’ll want to get back out there as soon as possible. Oh, maybe he can even help the Dodgers (26-30) get back on track along the way.
At The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal sat down with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to discuss a whole host of topics (from pace-of-play to gambling, to the strike zone, and a whole lot more) and you’ll definitely want to check it out. That particular article is protected behind a subscription, however, so I can’t share too much. What I can say is that although there’s been some encouraging signs that the mound visit limitations and inning break limits have improved the overall time of game/pace-of-play, Manfred remains very open to drastic changes after the season. It sounds like a pitch clock and even some more dramatic changes (he once suggested banning shifts) could be on the table again – although, Manfred is extremely cryptic on what those might be. If you have the time, that interview is worth it.
 Although most fans and people around baseball have begun to accept that Bryce Harper is probably on his way out of Washington D.C. when he becomes a free agent at the end of this season, perhaps it’s not a lock. At FRS Baseball, Jon Heyman says that a teammate of Harper believes he wants to stay in D.C. And because his agent, Scott Boras, has an extensive history “working things out” with the Nats, we shouldn’t “bet against it.” Shrug. Sure, it’s definitely 100% (x2) not a lock that he’s coming to the Cubs, but I feel like sticking with the Nationals, at this point, isn’t super likely.
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
At FanGraphs, Travis Sawchik writes about how White Sox corner infielder/DH Matt Davidson (slashing .243/.368/.521 (143 wRC+)) became the most improved hitter in baseball this season. And I have to say, although I love the White Sox rebuild in terms of the young talent they’ve amassed, they were always going to need at least one surprise star to come out of the fray, not unlike Jake Arrieta for the Cubs. If they can do well in free agency this winter (there’s so much room for them to do well, if they open the pocket book), I really think they can be be great next season.
Apparently, the Brewers drafted Jake Arrieta in the 26th round of the 2005 draft, but he didn’t sign with the team. And while I get the point of the article (i.e. what could have been) I think it’s a little unfair to believe he would’ve turned into the same guy had he come up with the Brewers instead of the Orioles and/or Cubs – and that works both ways. Maybe he would’ve figured it out sooner, maybe it would’ve never happened. It sure seems like Chris Bosio and the Cubs organization was the perfect team at the perfect time for him. Lightening doesn’t usually strike twice.
Happy birthday, Carlos Zambrano. You were pretty awesome:
Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL.
In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy.
You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami
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