Flush It Away, Rotation, Back-Up Catcher, Alzolay, Dad Jokes, and Other Cubs Bullets

Time for me to head back home after a nice time in Chicago, albeit wherein the Cubs were outscored 21-3 in my two games. Maybe my departure will help today …

•   Yesterday’s loss was a flusher according to David Ross (NBCSC): “We didn’t play very well in any facet of the game — hitting, pitching, base running, defense. You just flush that one. Every season I’ve been a part of in my playing career you have a couple of those.” No doubt on any of that, though it’s always easier to flush one when it ISN’T part of a longer losing stretch. The Cubs have now lost five of six, and the Brewers finally won. So it’s back to being tied atop the NL Central standings. (The cold streak for each team has also moved them out of the second Wild Card spot, for what that’s worth, a game behind the Padres.)

•   Another rough, non-competitive outing from Jake Arrieta (though his velocity was WAY up, so I don’t know what to make of that), which just reiterates the need for another arm in the rotation. Thankfully the Cubs will at least get Adbert Alzolay (blister) back to start tomorrow’s opener against Cleveland. Hey, if the Cubs want to give former prospect Tyson Miller a spot start, he’s already been DFA’d by the Rangers who are likely trying to slip him through waivers.

•   Trevor Williams, by the way, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session a couple days ago, so he might be trending toward a rehab assignment in the coming weeks.

•   To be sure, Arrieta has always been on the easier side to run on (remember the comments that got Miguel Montero ousted?), but that was still pretty rough yesterday from Jose Lobaton. The Marlins just ran wild. We knew he wasn’t going to hit, but he was supposed to be excellent defensively to justify his spot. Not sure we’ve really seen that. The Cubs may need to move on to back-up catcher number five. Wilson Ramos? Chance Sisco?

•   To that end, Willson Contreras has already been leaned on SO heavily that you worry about the load into the second half. Without a capable back-up, the tendency to lean is only going to get stronger (and the situation is terrifying if he were to actually get hurt). From Cubs.com:

Entering Saturday’s action, Contreras led the Majors with 483 innings caught, leading the second-ranked Christian Vázquez (466 2/3) of the Red Sox. In the National League, St. Louis’ Yadier Molina and Pittsburgh’s Jacob Stallings ranked second to Contreras with 407 innings each. That difference of 76 innings amounts to an eight-game-plus gap in workload.

“It is extremely difficult not to write his name in the lineup,” Ross said. “We try to balance it the best we can. We can’t sacrifice the long-term goal with the everyday. That’s the hard part for me.

“My job is to win every single game, and the best chance we have to do that is to put Willson in the lineup. I also have to understand this is a guy who’s going to break down if we push him too hard.”

•   Oh cool, sticky stuff might have ALSO been reducing batted ball distances, even accounting for everything else:

•   Tomorrow is the day when the random spot checks begin. The Cubs host Cleveland in the evening, so we’ll see if either team gets tripped up at any point, or if something crazy has happened elsewhere in baseball earlier in the day. I tentatively expect we don’t really see much, because I think a lot of the adjusting has already taken place. I guess we’ll see.

•   The Cubs’ position as a team has been a version of “we’re not worried,” presumably both because maybe they haven’t had too many guys using the really sticky stuff, and/or because they believe everyone can adjust successfully. Again, we’ll just have to see.

•   Joey Votto, good dude:

•   As Rob importantly points out, the ump was ultimately OK, so we can watch and laugh:

•   Correct additional reason to enjoy a Jacob Wetzel highlight:

•   This is absolutely delightful, and a perfect place to end these Bullets on Father’s Day:

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

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

Blake Snell’s Reasonable Price Tag? Why Jordan Montgomery Might Wait a Little Longer?

A couple updates on the top remaining - yup, still - free agent starting pitchers, lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. Although rumors picked up on Snell and the Astros late last week, no signing news dropped. It was surprising,...

Garrett Crochet Will Start on Opening Day for the White Sox, Marking an Extreme Rarity

We don't cover the White Sox around here in a particularly close way - maybe a touch more than other non-NL-Central clubs because of the intracity interest - but this was surprising and interesting enough for me to note. The...

Chicago Cubs Shortstop Prospect Jefferson Rojas Wants to Be Javy Báez

I haven’t exactly made it a secret that Jefferson Rojas is one of my favorite prospects in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. After debuting in the DSL at 17, Rojas skipped complex ball and wound up at Low-A Myrtle Beach...

Taillon Throwing and a Roster Benefit, Amaya Catching, Friedl Wrist, Williams, Alonso, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know, if Seiya really rakes, and Cody hits again, and if Nico and Happ get on base a ton and Busch turns out to be a stud, and if Dansby is above average and Amaya breaks out and Morel...

Spring Training Miscellany: Celebrate With a Green Beer, Happ Returns, Assad Solid, Cubs Win

The Cubs won their St. Patrick's Day game over the Rangers 8-6 today, and it's time to tip back a green one in celebration ... About what you'd want to see from Javier Assad today as he continues to stretch...

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ is Back!

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse this Chicago Cubs lineup? Don't miss out! For a limited time only, RECEIVE 10% OFF your...

The Third Cut Includes Mervis, Four Others

(Hear the song in your mind - it still fits!) The Chicago Cubs made their next set of cuts from big league camp today, sending out five players who were generally not expected to make the Opening Day roster. The...

Spring Leaders, Key Injuries, Rays Payroll, Luck of the Irish, and Other Cubs Bullets

A mighty fine St. Patrick's Day to you all. Although I've got a good bit of Irish in my blood, it's never been something I've connected to all that much. You can't really force it, but I kinda want to...

Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Sweep the Split-Squad Day

It was a split-squad day for the Cubs today, and they won both by a total of two runs. It was 4-3 over the Angels and 8-7 over the Royals. The only teams with a better spring record than the...

Latest News

OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Dejounte Murray must make four from downtown on Monday, when his Atlanta Hawks face the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, D'Angelo Russell must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 10:30 PM ET.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksD'Angelo Russell's over/under for...

LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, LeBron James needs to make three from downtown on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET.LeBron James' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksLeBron James' over/under for...

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

Damian Lillard Pulled Up to Watch the Bulls Play the Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Chicago Bulls confirmed. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star starter was a surprise guest at the Chicago Bulls' Monday night game. Lillard made the drive down from Milwaukee for an opportunity to sit courtside...

more cubs news