A Chance Today, Bellinger’s Robbery, Taillon Solid, HosMervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

We’ve got a weird sickness holding serve in our house, with three of five Taylors dealing with high fevers and general malaise, but no other symptoms or positive tests for anything. Just one of those weird viral things, but lasting a long time. Hopefully the two of us who didn’t get hit can hold it off, and if not, I hope the other three recover before I do get hit. Having sick kids is bad enough, but when both parents are sick, too … woof.

  • Before the Dodgers series opener, I said, “Going on record now so you can yell at me later when I don’t stick to it: going 1-2 in this west coast series at the Dodgers is not at all a bad outcome this weekend.”
  • Well, you might wind up yelling at me. After the Cubs won the series opener and then came within a foot of winning the second game, it’s impossible for me to fight the feeling that a loss today would be extremely disappointing. And facing Julio Urias today means a win is going to be tough to come by. So the 1-2 series that I said I’d be OK with is pretty likely at this point … but it doesn’t feel OK. Heck, you can preemptively start yelling at me.
  • … OR! The Cubs will win today, and it will be an extremely awesome road series win. Baseball happens!
  • Cody Bellinger’s home run robbery (of Jason Heyward of all people) was one of the few highlights last night, especially because he immediately got booed by the Dodgers fans who’d been celebrating his return until that moment. He reached his arms out to soak up the boos, and he said after the game it was all out of love.
  • Jameson Taillon struggled through his first inning last night, getting through it unscathed, but taking 28 pitches in the process. That shortened his night, but other than the long Heyward fly out, he was pretty dominant in innings two through five. His best start with the Cubs so far, and it seems like things are progressing well with him.
  • I expect it was very special for the Cubs to be at Dodger Stadium for Jackie Robinson Day:
  • The HosMervis Meter is the difference in OPS between Eric Hosmer at Matt Mervis at any given time. It currently stands at .408. I could be talked into giving this thing another two weeks or so, but if we get into May and Mervis is still raking at Iowa (currently .293/.456/.585/160 wRC+, with a 22.8% BB rate and a 15.8% K rate (no, I didn’t get those backwards)) and Hosmer is still struggling in MLB (currently .256/.326/.308/76 wRC+, with a 66.7% groundball rate (no, I didn’t typo that)), then the calls to make a switch are going to be VERY LOUD.
  • The Cubs will not be one of the teams extending beer sales in response to the shorter games – part of the Wrigleyville night game ordinance (remember that whole thing? the FIGHT to get some more night games?) dictated that booze sales at Wrigley Field have to stop by 10:30pm or the end of the 7th inning, whichever comes earlier (The Athletic).
  • A truly bizarre situation in the Twins-Yankees game, as Yankees starter Domingo German (who was dominating) was thoroughly investigated during a foreign substance check, and the umpires concluded that he just needed to go wash his hands … ? The explanation after the game, which followed Twins manager Rocco Baldelli getting ejected for arguing about how it was handled, was that German simply had too much rosin on his hands. Rosin, of course, is legal, but apparently the umps felt he was getting too much on his hands between innings (he doesn’t really use it on the mound, apparently), which was creating an unfair level of tackiness. But, again, rosin is legal. So I guess “wash your hands” was the compromise solution.
  • The problem there is that if a guy is rosin’ing up his hand between innings, it wouldn’t be THAT hard to get an illegal substance on there, then hit the rosin bag, and then claim at the check that you simply got too much rosin on your hand and that’s why it’s sticky. If I had to guess, the umps maybe wondered if something like that was going on, but they couldn’t be sure – rosin sometimes does get pretty tacky on its own – so they went with the “wash your hands” approach instead of the immediate ejection that is typically to follow any detection of illegal stickiness. I wonder how many pitchers hit the rosin hard between innings (I haven’t really heard of that before), and whether this is something that’ll get more attention.
  • 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

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 2, Cubs 0 – May 13, 2024

    Well that ninth inning rally started off great, with Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel reaching, the latter on 12-pitch walk (the longest PA of his career). And then POOF. In just two pitches, the Cubs made three outs and the...

    Craig Counsell Was Just Thrown Out from the Dugout … by the First Base Umpire

    Well you don't see that very often. Craig Counsell was just thrown out of the game from inside the Cubs dugout *by the FIRST BASE umpire* after a check-swing appeal. Here's what happened. In the bottom of the fourth inning,...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Braves (6:20 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Atlanta Braves are one of, if not the toughest opponent the Cubs will face this season. But Seiya Suzuki is back, Cody Bellinger is back, and Shota Imanaga is on the mound. This Cubs team is...

    Cubs Roster Move: Alzolay to the IL, Cuas Returns (UPDATE)

    It felt like this situation with Adbert Alzolay could not go on much longer, and it has now resolved itself with an Injured List move. Today, the Cubs placed Alzolay on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain. Jose...

    MLB Has a New Streaming Home For Its ‘Sunday Leadoff’ Games

    Fans can now watch MLB games via Roku. Do with that what you will. The "MLB Sunday Leadoff" games will begin this weekend. The first game, featuring the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, starts at 12:05 p.m. CT,...

    Let’s See How They Measure Up in Atlanta: Cubs vs Braves Series Preview

    Cubs vs Braves — Six of the Cubs next ten games come against the Atlanta Braves, and the first three are on the road starting tonight. And while the Cubs did recently get Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Steele...

    MLB Pipeline Added Two MORE Cubs to Their Top-100

    Over the weekend, MLB Pipeline updated their top-100 MLB Prospect Rankings, with eight new players making the list after graduations and other considerations. And TWO of those players, Moises Ballesteros and Jefferson Rojas, are Chicago Cubs prospects. All together, that...

    For the Second Time in a Few Days, Birthday Boy Nico Hoerner Saved the Game

    A happy 27th birthday to Chicago Cubs second baseman, and fill-in shortstop, Nico Hoerner. He is currently hitting a career-best .275/.364/.399/122 wRC+, and walking more often (9.7%) than he's striking out (9.1%). He has been absolutely scorching over the past...

    MLBits: Padres Best the Dodgers, Skenes Debut Reactions, Guardians New Threads, More

    The Dodgers have a comfortable lead in the NL West, but the Padres are proving to themselves that they can make this a two-horse race. Plus, reactions from Paul Skenes' major league debut and more in today's MLB Notes. Padres...

    David Peralta Has Opted Out of His Minor League Deal with the Cubs

    The Chicago Cubs have had veteran outfielder David Peralta around as emergency depth going back to Spring Training, when he was working his way back from offseason arm surgery. But he might now be heading off to join another organization....

    Latest News

    Rangers vs. Guardians: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In a series opener on Tuesday, Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers (22-20) face Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (25-16), with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET at Globe Life Field.Find out how to watch the Texas-Cleveland matchup...

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

    The Houston Astros (15-25), who will give the start to Ronel Blanco, host the Oakland Athletics (19-23) with JP Sears on the mound, Tuesday at 8:10 PM ET.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading for TV and streaming...

    Craig Counsell Was Just Thrown Out from the Dugout … by the First Base Umpire

    Well you don't see that very often. Craig Counsell was just thrown out of the game from inside the Cubs dugout *by the FIRST BASE umpire* after a check-swing appeal. Here's what happened. In the bottom of the fourth inning,...

    Red Sox vs. Rays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In a series opener on Tuesday, Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox (21-19) play Isaac Paredes and the Tampa Bay Rays (20-21), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park.Find out how to watch the Boston-Tampa...

    Brewers vs. Pirates: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Joe Ross will take the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers (24-16) when they host starter Quinn Priester and the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) in a series opener on Tuesday, with first pitch at 7:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out all...

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

    Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (27-15) visit Ryan Jeffers and the Minnesota Twins (24-16) at 7:40 PM ET on Tuesday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for TV and streaming options for the New York-Minnesota matchup.When...

    Braves vs. Cubs: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Tuesday, in a series opener at Truist Park, Chris Sale takes the mound for the Atlanta Braves (24-13) versus Jameson Taillon and the Chicago Cubs (24-17), with first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this...

    How to Watch Phillies vs. Mets: Live Stream or on TV

    On Tuesday, Alec Bohm and the Philadelphia Phillies (28-13) take on Brandon Nimmo and the New York Mets (19-20), with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM ET at Citi Field.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

    How to Watch Orioles vs. Blue Jays: Live Stream or on TV

    On Tuesday at 6:35 PM ET, Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles (26-13) take on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays (18-22) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for TV...

    Tigers vs. Marlins: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Tuesday, in a series opener at Comerica Park, Reese Olson starts for the Detroit Tigers (20-20) versus Ryan Weathers and the Miami Marlins (11-31), with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the Detroit-Miami matchup...

    more cubs news