Slight Rotation Shuffle, Smyly Coming, Big Night in Iowa, and Other Cubs Bullets

Shota Imanaga MLB Notes
Shota Imanaga MLB Notes

The Cardinals are cowards and they were afraid of Shōta Imanaga. It’s the only explanation for last night’s delay and then postponement. The only explanation. OK, I mean, I guess weather is also possibly an explanation, but who really believes that?

  • The Cubs just going to skip Imanaga’s start and go with Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad this weekend for the other two Cardinals games. That way, Imanaga will be available to make a start in the following series against the Brewers.
  • With the rainout, they couldn’t do that Joe Buck-Chip Caray game, and I’m not sure if it’ll be made up or not. Clearly a higher power did not want Joe Buck back on the mic.
  • Drew Smyly is expected to be activated from the IL this weekend, according to Craig Counsell. So it’ll just have been the one rehab outing for Smyly at South Bend, and then he’ll slot back into a utility role in the bullpen. The Cubs could really use him, presuming he pitches like the guy he has the last couple years in relief.
  • It’s possible Smyly replaces Luke Little or Porter Hodge in the pen, but if it is instead Jose Cuas, the Cubs could have upwards of six relievers who converted to relief in just the last 12 months (and there is also Tyson Miller, who converted two years ago, and Mark Leiter Jr., who had been a swing guy, but fully converted two years ago). That doesn’t mean anything, I just find it interesting. The only healthy reliever on the Cubs who has been a reliever through and through for years and years and years is Hector Neris.
  • The Iowa Cubs game will get attention primarily for the UNBELIEVABLY bad-ass Pete Crow-Armstrong moment, there were a ton of other great things. Jordan Wicks’ first rehab outing appeared to be a success (two innings, 33 pitches, fine results). Daniel Palencia had a successful rehab appearance of his own. Big games up and down the lineup. Another home run for Alexander Canario.
  • PCA’s night, by the way, not only featured the home run, but also a single and two doubles. Huge night. Pushed his season line at Iowa back to over league average (.265/.308/.551/109 wRC+). Bah, I want to watch the homer again:
  • This is a pretty crazy play to end a game, with absolute disaster on the other end of it if the play doesn’t get completed:
  • Old friend did something absurd back in February, but I just saw it making the rounds today:
  • Franmil Reyes, who is still only 27, is not doing so hot right now in Japan overall, but I bet he’s still fun.
  • Some Shōta delight:
  • 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.

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