Cubs Baserunning, Good Pitching News, Hultzen, Heartwarming, and Other Bullets

The MLB All-Star Game Starters Election begins today at 11 am CT. That means you will be able to vote for the overload of Cubs candidates to be All-Star starters. Be strategic with your votes if you want to do something hilarious like get a Cubs outfielder in as a starter over Christian Yelich …

  • On the ULTIMATE CUBES play last night – Adbert Alzolay misses a bunt with the bases loaded, Javy Baez gets caught off third base, and then Willson Contreras gets thrown out at third – Joe Maddon explained his thinking to Jordan Bastian: “I was just trying to get Albert [Almora] up to the plate. In other words, if you bunt and he’s out at the plate, I’m good. I’m good with that. And just get Albert up with the bases loaded. But, we got neither of that.” Ok … but you could also get a double play. The pitcher was wild. If you really didn’t care if Alzolay made an out, why would you ask him to do anything at all? Just tell him to take pitches. I mean, I know you’re hoping something good can happen – and it could have – but if the primary intention was to limit risk, Alzolay should have just been taking, particularly against a pitcher who’d just walked the bases loaded.
  • As for the other dudes involved, I just think Javy Baez needed to break back to third much more decisively and quickly – and once he didn’t, he needed to get himself stuck in a much longer rundown. And I think Willson Contreras needed to just take off for third right away once Baez was caught.
  • It was a microcosm of the season for the Cubs on the bases – they rate as a below average team on the bases, which is crazy when you think about the fact that they have guys like Baez, Kris Bryant, and Jason Heyward out there. For all that they do well, the team is the 9th worst in the league by BsR. They take aggressive chances, which is going to lead to some mistakes. Mostly, I’m OK with the tradeoff, and you don’t want to preach too much caution and wind up taking away that edge. But hopefully moments like last night are an opportunity to reflect and improve.
  • (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

  • This is good news, but I’ll celebrate a bit more when the word “tentatively” is removed, and I hear that they felt good after:
  • Some credit where it’s due: Brad Brach pitched well last night in a one-run game, keeping things where they were for two innings of work. I honestly don’t know how long it would take for me to think Brach has turned things around (if it can happen at all), but I do appreciate that by eating up those two innings, he kept the bullpen in a very good spot for tonight’s game.
  • Speaking of which, with Yu Darvish going tonight and Tyler Chatwood going tomorrow, the bullpen could be used rather heavily the next two nights even if the starts go relatively well. The good news is that they’ll get a fresh arm on Thursday or Friday in the form of Craig Kimbrel.
  • Robel Garcia isn’t the only great story currently at AAA Iowa:
  • Hultzen, 29, is throwing in the mid-90s again, and Theo Epstein seems pretty convinced that it’s the kind of arsenal that could succeed in the big leagues. The questions, however, are about the health and sustainability, given what Hultzen has been through and given how little professional time he’s had in his return. You’d love to say, boom, the Cubs now have their lefty! But in reality, even if Hultzen was dominating every other day at Iowa, it would be malpractice to presume he’s going to do it at the big league level AND do it for the rest of the season. Right now, instead, he’s just a maybe guy, and a great story to root for.
  • Oh, but speaking of Robel Garcia, the AAA infielder hit ANOTHER homer last night, his 20th(!) of the year between AA and AAA. Oh, and he started late, so he’s done it in just 67 games. There are questions about his game overall, but the dude pops dingers.
  • With apologies to Adbert Alzolay, this was the best thing about last night’s game:
  • What a season it’s been for Tommy La Stella, who led off last night’s game against the Reds with an inside-the-park homer:
  • This is extremely cool for our partners at Obvious Shirts:
  • 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

    Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

    MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

    Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

    The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

    It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Cubs Roster Moves: Wisdom and Taillon Are Back, Wesneski and Mastrobuoni Are Out

    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...

    Tonight’s Cubs-Marlins Game Has Been Postponed

    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...

    MLBits: Paul Skenes Could Make His MLB Debut Any Day (But Probably Won’t), Red-Hot Orioles, Houck’s Maddux, More

    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...

    Latest News

    Blue Jays vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) will look to Daulton Varsho, who is coming off a two-homer game, to lead them in a matchup with the San Diego Padres (11-10) Friday at 9:40 PM ET on SDPA. The Blue Jays are...

    Giants vs. Diamondbacks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The San Francisco Giants (9-11), led by Jung Hoo Lee on a 10-game hitting streak, will meet the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11) Friday at Oracle Park. The Giants are -129 favorites for the matchup, which starts at 10:15 PM ET on...

    Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New York Mets (10-8) roll into Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) looking to extend a four-game winning streak. The contest starts at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network with the Dodgers listed as -205 favorites on...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans play the Sacramento Kings at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires just one make from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, Brandon Ingram must make two from beyond the arc on Friday, when his New Orleans Pelicans play the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament, tipping off at 9:30 PM ET.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    On Friday at 9:30 PM ET, the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and CJ McCollum's 3-pointer over/under for this clash requires four treys.CJ McCollum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsCJ McCollum's over/under for...

    Domantas Sabonis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Friday, April 19, 2024

    At 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, it'll be the Sacramento Kings against the New Orleans Pelicans -- with Domantas Sabonis needing to score just once from beyond the arc to beat his 3-pointer prop.Domantas Sabonis'...

    De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Friday, April 19, 2024

    De'Aaron Fox must make three 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Sacramento Kings play the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    more cubs news