Fulmer Nasty, D at First, Notable Minor League Starters, Horton’s Debut, Cubs New Partner, and Other Cubs Bullets
Yeah, so I’m an idiot and got a bad sunburn yesterday at the Cubs game. Obviously I know how the sun works – that was The Wife’s question to me this morning – I just forgot to think about sunscreen because the temperatures were so moderate. Like I said, I’m an idiot. Remember your sunscreen, folks.
- Michael Fulmer, who is the Cubs’ closer but not the “Closer,” came into yesterday’s two-run game in the 8th inning for good reason: the top of the order, including Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, was coming up. Even if Fulmer had labored a little bit but managed to get through the 8th, a lower part of the lineup would’ve been there for whoever was going to close things out otherwise (Brad Boxberger? Adbert Alzolay?).
- But Fulmer cut through the Rangers that inning, with two strikeouts, on 19 pitches, and David Ross decided to send him back out to finish off the 9th for the two-inning save. The guy had a 39%(!) CSW for the outing. Just dominant. Fulmer’s two-seamer and new sweeper were DANCING:
- Fulmer did get a defensive assist in the 9th:
- It might not always be a good idea to do the big swipe pick, but boy does it look beautiful there. Clearly, it’s how Eric Hosmer prefers to do it, and although MOST times he won’t be traveling quite that much with the glove – you can pick one different ways when the bounce is that big – you gotta do what you’re comfortable with. Hosmer has definitely been better over there than what the Cubs had at first base a lot of the time last year defensively, no disrespect to Frank Schwindel intended.
- Ump Cam on the Cody Bellinger RBI single from yesterday:
- A single, by the way, that would’ve been a routine out last year:
- Outdoor gear, including the chairs you might need to take along to various outdoor activities this summer, are on a Deal of the Day at Amazon. #ad
- Great to see Riley Thompson get the start for Iowa last night, throwing four innings of one-run ball, while striking out six (57 pitches, 1 hit, 1 walk). The 26-year-old righty has reached Triple-A despite pitching just 176.1 professional innings total since he was drafted in 2018. Injuries and the pandemic have cost him those innings, but the fact that he nevertheless has been promoted as aggressively as he has tells you everything you need to know about the Cubs’ belief in the ability. Just stay healthy.
- At Double-A Tennessee, it was Jordan Wicks getting the start, and he didn’t quite make it four innings thanks to some sloppy defense behind him. He was showing off a LIVELY elevated four-seamer, though:
- That looks like 94-ish mph with good life, which is pretty great to see from Wicks. He’s got a big breaking curveball and a great changeup, while the work on the slider continues. I’m a big fan. Wicks and Thompson are probably both already considerations in that starting depth pecking order if the Cubs had a serious rash of injuries, though 40-man considerations will always be part of the equation (neither is on it right now, and although Thompson would be Rule 5 eligible after this season, Wicks is not until after 2024).
- One more pitching prospect note for now: Cade Horton, the Cubs’ top draft pick in 2022 (and recent top 100 prospect inclusion), makes his pro debut for Myrtle Beach tonight. I’d expect a relatively limited outing (2-ish innings, 30-ish pitches), and I will try VERY HARD not to overreact in either direction to whatever happens.
- Andy Garriola, the Cubs’ 17th rounder last year, is a massive dude who hits it very hard:
- Although the Cubs went super pitcher-heavy in the draft last year, in those later rounds, they clearly had a type with the Garriola and Haydn McGeary picks: get a giant dude who hit the crap out of the ball in college and see what happens.
- The Cubs announced a sponsor relationship with Mynd Drinks, a CBD “wellness and recovery beverage brand.” It’s a Chicago-based company.
- Lmao – O’Neill DARED to say (1) I did my best, and (2) I don’t think I should’ve been blasted publicly by my manager, and this is what he gets in St. Louis:
- O’Neill was back in the lineup yesterday as the Cardinals lost to the Brewers, striking out twice and going 0-4. In the game, Cardinals pitchers walked 8 and barely managed a 50% strike rate. I’ll let you fill in your own comment there about a sudden and extreme lack of strike-throwing befalling Cardinals pitchers.
- The two best players in the world … constantly surrounded by not enough else:
- Whoopsiedoodle:
