NEWSLETTER
The ‘Spider-Man’ trailer was good. Like I said yesterday, I’d intentionally waited to consume it, and also had intentionally avoided learning much about the expected plot for the flick until the trailer. I didn’t know it was going to be so Dr. Strange-heavy, though I suspect that his presence will be pretty similar to Iron Man in the first ‘Spider-Man’ – more of a framing device from afar than a character that is constantly on screen. In any case, though, it makes me excited for how all these pieces are going to fit together from the other MCU shows and movies. The way things built together in the Infinity Saga was so damn good that I want more of that.
• We’ll see if the Cubs bring up a 27th man for the double-header today. There’s an off-day tomorrow, which makes it feel less urgent, everyone is well-rested, the games are just seven innings, and there wasn’t a lot of notice to get someone to Chicago if he wasn’t already on the taxi squad with the team. The last double-header a couple weeks ago, the Cubs just didn’t utilize a 27th man. Sometimes, particularly in the pandemic era, you might just not mess with it. That said, if someone is available, why not give the guy a little experience if the situation arises?
• Patrick Wisdom was asked about Rookie of the Year considerations, acknowledging the oddness of it (NBCSC):
Wisdom, of course, has heard “whispers” of the Rookie of the Year talk he’s generating with his power bat and cannon of an arm.
“I just go out there every day and just play hard,” he said. “Those accolades will happen at the end of the year if they’re meant to happen.”
Does it feel weird to be talking about rookie awards at this point in his career?
“For sure,” the 29-year-old said, laughing, “because age-wise I feel like I’m older than a lot of the guys. But in terms of (major-league) baseball years, I’m definitely a rookie.”
• Wisdom’s 1.9 WAR is second most in the NL among rookies, though he’s far behind the presumptive winner, Jonathan India (3.3), as well as the leader on the pitching side, Trevor Rogers (3.3). Barring an absurd run to finish the year, Wisdom isn’t going to win the award. But he’s going to deserve down-the-ballot votes, and that’s pretty darn cool, all things considered.
• In case you were curious, Wisdom’s teammate, and fellow 29-year-old, Frank Schwindel has already totaled 0.9 WAR in just 21 games with the Cubs. That’s tied for 12th among position playing rookies in the NL, in by far the fewest number of games and plate appearances.
• The Yadier Molina extension may indeed be the final deal of his career. Here’s how Cardinals President John Mozeliak introduced it in the team’s announcement press release: “We are pleased to announce that Yadi has agreed to cement his career legacy with the Cardinals for a final season in 2022.” Seems pretty clear, no? So that’ll mean it’s a farewell tour for the first-ballot Hall of Famer (hate him all you want, that part’s just true at this point). I wonder what the Cubs will do for him at Wrigley Field – surely they’ll do something after playing against the guy for a couple decades on the hated rival? Perhaps a number 4 from the Old Scoreboard? Some leftover sticky stuff for his catching gear? A team-autographed trough from his debut season?
• Just gonna note whenever someone else notes this, because just about everyone agrees:
The #Cubs want to change their offensive profile next season and while they’ll have some contact, there’s still plenty of room for slug.
One familiar name could add that and ignite what they hope is a speedy rebuild.
Enter Nick Castellanos.https://t.co/JRo3qRz5MF
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) August 24, 2021
• If Castellanos opts out, note that he’ll be eligible for a qualifying offer, which he’ll decline, attaching himself to draft pick compensation. Not saying it’s a reason not to pursue him (or any of the many other qualified free agents that are coming), but since he was an opt-out situation, just thought I’d mention it in case anyone forgot about that factor.
• Projectors, notebooks, and vacuums are among your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• I feel like Alexander Canario has cemented himself as my current favorite “holy crap he hits the ball so far”-type Cubs prospect. This is his latest homer, and although the number is half a joke, I do think when you hit it to center/center-oppo and the center fielder doesn’t even move, you must have absolutely destroyed it:
Alexander Canario just hit about 473 feet. He had a little wind behind him pic.twitter.com/gkUGV4co45
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) August 25, 2021
• Gotta love how Canario has responded to the trade and a concurrent promotion to High-A. The strikeout rate is definitely still a concern as he faces more advanced pitching, but you can’t argue with the power. In the years ahead, as we Cubs fans focus more on the desire for high-contact bats (which I do still think is going to be a particularly great approach in the world of limited shifts, which could be coming), we can’t lose sight of the fact that power is still pretty great to have mixed into the lineup, even if there are warts.
• It hasn’t been a good offensive debut for Ed Howard, and we’ll just have to see how he finishes out the year. Struggles in the first half of the season against much older/experienced competition, having not played regularly since his junior year in high school, did not concern me much. But if he doesn’t show marked improvement as the year goes on, then you’d have some justifiable concerns relative to expectations for a first-round pick. Unfortunately, his numbers over the last month have been truly awful in just about every way you could evaluate them. At least he homered last night:
ED HOWARD. GONE. pic.twitter.com/6RqYJI9Vyk
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) August 24, 2021
• Javy Báez got to play alongside his good friend Francisco Lindor last night for the first time, which is pretty darn cool. Unfortunately it was a nothingburger of a game for the two, who were a combined 0-fer at the plate with one Báez walk, and whose Mets got smoked by the Giants 8-0. Even more unfortunately, this was the one highlight floating around and getting buzz from the game:
This swing by Javy Baez 😬 pic.twitter.com/WwTrwyFOuG
— MLB Errors (@mlberrors) August 24, 2021
• He got a little fooled, ok! It, uh, could happen to anyone! … 😬 indeed.
• The Red Sox are taking quite well to Kyle Schwarber, who is expected to make his first base debut this week:
“Kyle’s been so easy, like he’s been here the whole year.”
It’s only been eight games, but Kyle Schwarber is impacting the Red Sox in subtle, but important ways in the clubhouse and beyond https://t.co/MmwOvRnWL6
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) August 25, 2021
• This is a pretty darn good robbery:
AJ Pollock ROBS Manny Machado 🤯
(via @Dodgers)pic.twitter.com/aTVYpYtCZG
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 25, 2021
