The Pearl Jam concert last night at Wrigley Field was freaking awesome. Eddie’s connection to Chicago and to the Cubs just makes it that much more special. I am tired as all get out today, but it was worth it.
- Before his implosion this week, Kyle Hendricks had gone two solid months without that kind of extreme-uh-oh type outing. To be sure, it hadn’t been a great two months, but a 4.54 ERA during that stretch was at least playable. We’ll see where things go on that front, as we know the Cubs will soon be able to bring up an extra pitcher for September, and may very well want to re-adjust the rotation in any case to manage the workload on the other starting pitchers.
- Nothing announced on this front, but something I noticed this morning when looking at the day’s listed starters:
- It’s possible the Cubs just had to push Wicks back at day at Iowa or something, and the listed starter for the big team is accidentally TBD (it was supposed to be ShÅta Imanaga). But as it looks right now, you’d wonder if Jordan Wicks is coming back, which would be good for the rotation – Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen? six-man? – but bad news for someone’s health. We know Jorge Lopez has a groin injury and Ethan Roberts has an ankle issue.
- The Athletic with a reminder on some of Craig Counsell’s late-season comebacks with the Brewers (which you almost certainly hadn’t forgotten, but just in case): “In 2018, 133 games into the season, Counsell’s Milwaukee Brewers were six games out of a playoff spot before catching the Cubs and then beating them to win the division in a Game 163. The next season, the Brewers were five games out of a wild card spot 139 games into the season. They ended up taking that final spot by three games.”
- Thankfully the Braves finally lost a game – CRUSH THEIR DIVISION HOPES THIS WEEKEND, PHILLIES! – so the Cubs are now an even 5.0 games back in the Wild Card race.
- Meanwhile, the Mets, who sit between the Cubs and the Braves, get the White Sox this weekend, so it would be a miracle if they lose even once. The Cubs just have to take care of business against the Nationals.
- If you thought the Tennessee Smokies would fall way off after their roster was gutted for promotions to Triple-A Iowa, that has not been the case. They won their NINTH straight game last night, and clinched a return to the postseason already:
- Special props to corner infielder Jonathon Long, whom you might recall as briefly putting up hilarious numbers upon his promotion to Double-A … well, it hasn’t stopped. Through 34 games and 154 plate appearances at the level, Long is hitting .364/.480/.545/201 wRC+ (17.8% BB, 16.4% K(!)). Even if you discount the .419 BABIP heavily (which isn’t all luck, mind you), you’re still going to wind up with a very impressive line. The 22-year-old was the Cubs’ 9th rounder just last year, and there does come a point where the offensive results are so outrageous that you have start seeing a guy as a top-20 type prospect.
- Speaking of corner infield prospects who keep on raking:
- Biiiiiiiig news, with more to come: