NEWSLETTER
Thoughts go out to folks dealing with the worst of the heat wave across the country. I hope you are able to regulate your personal temperature as best as possible, at least to a safe degree. Drink more water than you think you need and all that other obvious stuff that still helps to hear multiple people say it.
• I don’t think it makes much sense to get into grand pronouncements about the impact of the three losses in Los Angeles while the Brewers swept the Rockies in Milwaukee. Neither was an entirely unforeseen outcome, nor is it much of a sample relative to the many, many games remaining even before the Trade Deadline. I intend to take tonight’s opener against the Brewers as its own thing, and then go from there. I won’t even promise to have a “take” on what the Cubs should “do” if they get swept by the Brewers and fall 6.0 games back in the Central. The schedule ahead – much kinder to the Cubs, much less of a joke for the Brewers – still matters.
• … but I will say that, yeah, of course, winning this series would be kind of a big deal.
• Anthony Rizzo left last night’s game with left lower back tightness, and there was no update after the game, only confirmation from David Ross that Rizzo hadn’t been once again dealing with a back issue before last night. Not sure if that’s better or worse, given that he’s long managed back issues (i.e., this isn’t a maintenance thing, and could’ve been a sudden ‘uh oh’ thing). You can tentatively expect he won’t be in the lineup tonight when the Cubs face righty Freddy Peralta, who is great against both righties and lefties, but is still far more vulnerable against lefties.
• The Cubs’ strikeout woes this weekend were as bad as it gets:
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1409344038613012484
From @ESPNStatsInfo: This is the 2nd time this month the Cubs have struck out 15 times in consecutive games. They struck out 15 times in consecutive games only 2 times over the last 100 years prior to 2021
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 28, 2021
Obviously, starters are an issue right now, but the offense is a mess without Hoerner and Duffy. Cubs struck out 15 times in tonight's loss. Up to 29.6% K% in June, 36.7% their last six games. Facing tough pitching, but it's homers or strikeouts, not even the walks are coming.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) June 28, 2021
• Extra note on that topic, with the help coming from Twitter:
This is only moderately apropos of Matt's tweet, but I've been thinking: I would wager dollars to donuts that the Cubs have, so far this year, faced a VERY disproportionately strong pitching slate. Gonna need to do a little data diving – just going with gut – but I bet I'm right. https://t.co/a6LRYRxqcw
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 27, 2021
Thank you, Sergey – so, just to confirm that the gut was right. The Cubs have faced a disproportionately tough pitching slate so far this year. They *ALSO* have their own issues offensively, clearly, but this ain't helping.
Oh, and Peralta-Woodruff-Burnes next, lol. https://t.co/8Lq3Io4bS6
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 28, 2021
• That was probably about as good as Tommy Nance can look after he’s adjusted to his new spin rates (which were still down at their lower levels last night, but he was getting waaaaay more whiffs). Yeah, it was a blowout and that probably does impact the batter a little, but they’re still trying to put up numbers. Nance pitched three very good innings last night, saving the bullpen for the Brewers series, and showing that he can still be effective.
• Now the question is whether the Cubs will option him down today to get a fresh arm up. The bullpen is not in bad shape or anything (Rex Brothers and Nance are probably the only two down today), but if Nance is gonna sit for a couple days at least, then you might consider bringing up a fresh arm. Justin Steele just made his first rehab appearance yesterday, so he’s probably not ready yet. You kinda wish Trevor Megill hadn’t pitched yesterday. Cory Abbott can’t return for another two days. Kyle Ryan can’t return for another three days. Kohl Stewart just pitched yesterday. Manny Rodriguez was only just promoted to Triple-A. And that’s your set of 40-man roster guys. So either someone new gets added, or one of the dudes who pitched yesterday comes up. Or no one does.
• Poor Sergio. The overlay makes it look like he just decided to swing in the middle of the two pitches like kicking a field goal:
Clayton Kershaw, 90mph Fastball and 86mph Slider, Overlay pic.twitter.com/ZqPmbQzyhg
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2021
• Clayton Kershaw has issued just 18 unintentional walks all season, and TWO OF THEM have been to Javy Báez, who has taken just 8 unintentional walks all season.
• Well this is a fun issue to deal with, especially for organizations that dramatically cut down their in-person scouting staff (Cubs among them):
One of the interesting stories of this draft: how do MLB teams account in the draft for the fact that qualities they covet in pitchers (high spin rates + vert movement) are significantly helped by extra help. And prohibitions on it are not enforced in amateur baseball. https://t.co/07fTF3csxg
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 28, 2021
• The United States team’s Olympics run will kick off the night of July 30, which I think means it’ll be in the morning here in the States:
BREAKING: WBSC, Tokyo 2020 reveal @Olympics Baseball groups and schedule
GROUP A
🇯🇵 Japan
🇲🇽 Mexico
🇩🇴 Dominican RepGROUP B
🇰🇷 Korea
🇺🇸 USA
🇮🇱 IsraelPRESS RELEASE: 📰https://t.co/wevgr64X6P #tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/DmDKH7vRXq
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) June 28, 2021
• Fanatics has collectibles 20% off today, so check out the Cubs selection (or other teams!) here.
• This play is just awesome, and even better to see Yadi Molina’s reaction:
.@KeBryanHayes makes one of the craziest plays at 3B you'll ever see. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Y2cK60RHUT
— MLB (@MLB) June 27, 2021
• I love this:
https://twitter.com/jasonhurst25/status/1408632397948665858
