Superior Cubs Outfield Defense, Dodgers “Unlock” Heyward, Everyone Gets a Sweeper, and Other Cubs Bullets

The first Sunday after football season ends is a bummer. Look, baseball is my first and primary love, and the switch being flipped to baseball season this week got my energies up. No question about it. But we’d gotten into certain enjoyable rhythms in our house on Sundays, and I recognize it here this morning … and I realize it won’t include football this afternoon. Gotta wait for next Sunday to put on a Spring Training game in the afternoon …

  • There’s little reason to root for anything but success for Jason Heyward:
  • That said, we’ve certainly heard this before. Maybe the Dodgers found the right swing approach to compensate for the bat speed deterioration (and the whole thing where his swing path gives him so little margin for error), and maybe Heyward really will be able to bounce back to league-average (or better) contributions at the plate, which would make him a really nice fourth outfielder. By the end of his time with the Cubs, it seemed more or less impossible, but he’s still only 33. If any team out there was actually going to “unlock something,” it’d probably be the Dodgers.
  • If Heyward does become a useful player for the Dodgers, we’ll call it an even trade if Cody Bellinger or Edwin Rios does the same with the Cubs. Let’s not even start imagining a world where Heyward winds up outproducing both of those guys in 2023. (And before you ask how the Dodgers could find room for Heyward while casting off Bellinger and Rios, remember that Heyward is in camp with the Dodgers on a minor league deal. No 40-man – or arbitration price tag – considerations involved.)
  • Speaking of the outfield and former Dodgers, Cody Bellinger likes his bookends in the outfield:
  • I feel like we haven’t talked much about the defense in the outfield as a whole for the Cubs. We’ve talked about Cody Bellinger more as part of the up-the-middle group, and as part of the defensive-additions group, but not necessarily just “hey, how good could this outfield be defensively?” If everyone is healthy and that trio are in there most days, it’s not just that the Cubs added a Gold Glove-caliber defender in center field, it’s that they also could have that tier defender in left and right, too. Ian Happ literally just won a Gold Glove in left, and Seiya Suzuki – while we don’t quite yet know how good he could be defensively in MLB – won five Gold Gloves in Japan. The Cubs could have an extremely good defensive outfield!
  • This is hopefully effective, obviously, but even setting that aside … it’s fun:
  • You get a sweeper and YOU get a sweeper and YOUUUUU get a sweeper:
  • In all seriousness, the sweeping slider is a great pitch if you can execute it, but we’re definitely in the bubble phase, where (1) hitters are going to have had sufficient experience against the pitch to start adjusting, and (2) guys who really shouldn’t be throwing sweepers – and should be focusing on a gyro slider or a cutter or a curveball – are going to be chasing sweeper development when it’s just not there for them.
  • THAT SAID, it’s not necessarily cheesy that the Cubs have so many guys working on sweepers at the same time. For one thing, the Cubs have been trying HARD over the last two years to develop organizational expertise on teaching and shaping the pitch. For another thing, you never know how certain ideas, approaches, grips, whatever could work for one new pitcher in your org, and then that guy winds up helping two other guys in ways you couldn’t have anticipated. And then THOSE two guys help others. It’s like the best kind of infection.
  • Humorous to me:
  • Harry Caray passed away 25 years ago this weekend, and I can’t believe it’s been that long. One of the most important voices from my childhood.
  • 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

    The Cubs Walk It Off on a Weird Play at the Plate!

    Whew. That game was kinda dumb, but I tell you, the ending sure was fun. And also weird! So, to set the stage, the Pirates and Cubs' offenses could do nothing all day long. The game was still 0-0 in...

    Brennen Davis FREAKING DID IT AGAIN! AND THEN HE DID IT AGAIN AFTER THAT!

    This guy. What do I even say? I was already kinda buzzy when Brennen Davis homered again - a grand slam - for the fifth time in six games, and sixth time in eight games. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/1791967453888598441 Truly...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 1, Pirates 0 – May 18, 2024

    What matters most is that the Cubs won the game. And it was a fun ending, too. So I'm happy. But I also do feel a little frustrated - or concerned might be the better word - as I'm sure...

    Pre-Gamin’: Pirates at Cubs (1:20 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — Losing to the Braves (and then Jared Jones and Paul Skenes), when you have 10 people on the IL, including your entire middle infield, is not really that concerning to me. It sucks and banking losses is...

    REPORT: Cubs Trade Richard Lovelady to the Rays

    When the Chicago Cubs traded Jake Slaughter to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Tyson Miller, they needed to open a spot on both the active roster and the 40-man roster. They did that in one move by designating reliever Richard...

    Cubs Set a Target Date for Dansby Swanson’s Return, Daniel Palencia Also On His Way

    First, a quick update I kept out of the headline: Nico Hoerner is not in the Cubs lineup today, as he continues to deal with left hamstring tightness. The Cubs have now blown past the maximum IL backdate optimization, which...

    Hendricks Will Get More Chances, Many Injury Updates, A Possible New Scandal, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Sports Saturday around the Taylor household, so it's time to run all over to soccer fields and baseball fields and dance centers. First, Cubs Bullets ... Kyle Hendricks may not have made a load of terrible pitches in yesterday's game...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 9, Cubs 3 – May 17, 2024

    For six hitless, profoundly dominant innings, Paul Skenes today looked like the best pitching prospect I've seen since maybe Stephen Strasburg. The other two who came to mind as I watched were Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez. Those three, when...

    MLBits: Elly De La Cruz Continues to Electrify, Yanks Want Soto for Long Haul, More

    Elly De La Cruz continues to dazzle and the Yankees want Juan Soto in New York for the rest of his career. That and more in today's MLB Notes! Elly De La Cruz's Four Steal Night Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly...

    Cubs Farm Report | May 17, 2024: I-Cubs’ Homer Party Helps Cade Horton Get His First Triple-A Win

    The Iowa Cubs mashed four home runs and scored 10 runs, as Cade Horton made his best start at Triple-A on Thursday. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report | May 17, 2024 Triple-A Iowa Cubs...

    Latest News

    How to Watch Diamondbacks vs. Tigers: Live Stream or on TV

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (21-24), with Jordan Montgomery on the hill, host the Detroit Tigers (22-22) who will start Matt Manning, at 4:10 PM ET on Sunday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch Arizona square off...

    How to Watch Red Sox vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

    Nick Pivetta will take the ball for the Boston Red Sox (22-23) when they visit starter Matthew Liberatore and the St. Louis Cardinals (19-25) on Sunday, with first pitch at 1:05 PM ET and the Cardinals aiming for a series...

    Royals vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Sunday, looking for a series sweep, Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals (27-19) face the Oakland Athletics (19-28), with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 PM ET at Kauffman Stadium.Find out how to watch the Kansas City-Oakland matchup...

    How to Watch Astros vs. Brewers: Live Stream or on TV

    Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (20-25) host William Contreras and the Milwaukee Brewers (26-18) at 2:10 PM ET on Sunday.Find out how to watch the Houston-Milwaukee matchup below.When is Astros vs. Brewers and when does it start?This matchup between...

    Rangers vs. Angels: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Sunday, Michael Lorenzen will start for the Texas Rangers (23-23) against Jose Soriano and the Los Angeles Angels (17-28), with first pitch scheduled for 2:35 PM ET at Globe Life Field.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading...

    Phillies vs. Nationals: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Aaron Nola will take the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies (32-14) when they host starter Trevor Williams and the Washington Nationals (20-23) on Sunday, with first pitch at 1:35 PM ET.See how to watch the Philadelphia-Washington matchup below.When is Phillies...

    Orioles vs. Mariners: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Sunday, going for a series sweep, Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles (28-14) face the Seattle Mariners (24-21), with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Keep reading to find out how to watch...

    How to Watch Guardians vs. Twins: Live Stream or on TV

    On Sunday, going for a series sweep, Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians (28-17) play Ryan Jeffers and the Minnesota Twins (24-20), with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 PM ET at Progressive Field.Keep scrolling to find out all the details...

    How to Watch Cubs vs. Pirates: Live Stream or on TV

    Jameson Taillon takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs (26-21) when they host starting pitcher Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh Pirates (21-26) at 2:20 PM ET on Sunday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch Chicago...

    Knicks vs. Pacers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 – Sunday, May 19, 2024

    The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers take the court in a decisive Game 7 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks are favored by 2.5 points in the contest, which will be broadcast on ABC...

    more cubs news