Big Bounce Back, Big Birthday Boy, Big Bad Bullpen, and Other Bullets

Aug 08, 2019

If the Cubs can split this series in Cincinnati, we’re feeling good about that, right? Given the road woes, given the Reds’ rotation, and given the Cubs’ injuries? Is it sad that I feel that way? Pretty sure I’m right, though.

The Cubs busted out for 10 runs yesterday, a day after being on the other side of a blowout, and I find that kind of bounce-back encouraging and impressive. Truly, they balled up Tuesday’s game and chucked it.

Enjoy the 10 runs:

Love to Jose Quintana, too, obviously, for another good and solid and steady performance.

Pedro Strop managed a scoreless (low-leverage) inning in his return to the bullpen yesterday, though he still didn’t have his previous velocity or command. The realistic hope at this point is that he can rest in that 93/94 mph zone on his fastball – but with clean mechanics and thus good movement and good location – instead of trying to ramp it back up to 96 mph, if that’s just not going to happen. Then, lean heavily on the slider (the cutter seems not to be working for him this year like it was the last two years) like he did yesterday. I think it would be unrealistic to expect to see a dominant Strop in the 8th inning the rest of this year and into the postseason, but it is definitely realistic to believe he can be a useful 6th/7th inning guy.

Strop’s role change, plus the injuries to Craig Kimbrel and Brandon Kintzler (and Steve Cishek’s recent struggles), should have you pretty nervous about the bullpen. But I suppose the tiny silver lining is that the situation could create a unique opportunity for guys like Rowan Wick and Duane Underwood to show what they can do in big moments in August, in advance of when things really need to be cemented in September and beyond. Usually, you don’t really have those opportunities organically available to test the mettle of young relievers.

The big birthday boy has a big birthday today:

View this post on Instagram

Happy birthday to The Captain. #Cubs @arizz_44

A post shared by Bleacher Nation (@bleachernation) on Aug 8, 2019 at 5:18am PDT

What @ARizzo44 lacks in dance moves, he makes up for with his kindness and generosity. He is a Champion on and off the field.

Happy birthday, Rizz! #TeamRizzo pic.twitter.com/WP4NMtsr9N

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 8, 2019

https://twitter.com/NBCSCubs/status/1159437853690073089

Beautiful:

Learn how “Cubs therapy” and @ATIPT helped Dylan get back in the game. pic.twitter.com/kB6l1kaqYH

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 7, 2019

The Cubs sure have been really good at home during this competitive window (and even in 2014!):

Cubs clinched sixth straight winning season at Wrigley. First time since 1967-73 .

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) August 7, 2019

Kyle Schwarber’s community work:

It was a pleasure to spend the day with the men and women of the 18th district. Thank you all and your families for being #NeighborhoodHeroes https://t.co/VEwmzIIcCH
— Kyle Schwarber (@kschwarb12) August 8, 2019

The Bears play a football game tonight! Well, some guys wearing Bears jerseys (I could have added “Bogus Bears Ballgame” to the title):

Folks.

The Chicago Bears play a football game tonight. pic.twitter.com/9QxjkonuzF

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 8, 2019

*chanting Mystery Box Mystery Box*:

You can have the boat …

… or you can have the Mystery Box: https://t.co/OQvvvprQlH pic.twitter.com/gSkWUOuZ8v

— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) August 8, 2019

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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