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Chicago Cubs Thread - Playoff Push Pending

Fun day at Wrigley.

The Miller decision is what happens when injuries hit in bunches like the Cubs are experiencing.

Opportunity knocks for Kohl Stewart. With Williams likely on the IL for an extended period Stewart gets a spot start and shines. With Alec Mills on the IL and struggling in rehab at Iowa, Stewart might get a second start off today's performance. Good stuff with more octane than Mills might get the job done if he performs well.

Opportunity knocks for Patrick Wisdom. Bote is gone for awhile. Wisdom is clearly making an impression with the bat and plays the corners in the outfield and infield. If he keeps showing as he has, he could earn a spot as the 13th position player. I don't know how many options are available but his play reminds me of Bote making the team in 2018.
 
Shelby Miller officially released. Tyson Miller news will likely be today or tomorrow at the latest - hoping Cubs can get something back, not very likely he skates through with a bunch of lower level teams that would likely take a chance on him.

Has been a fun couple of games agains the Pads - the crowd, even at less than capacity, has been amazing. The Javy chants, the full bleachers - its Wrigley again. If the starters can start going 6 innings, would really help the pen. Chafin has been amazing this year, but leads the league in games pitched. Tepera found his cutter and has been lights out since mid April. Kimbrel looks like Craig Kimbrel. The movement on Tommy Nance's 2 seemer is crazytown at 96+. Keegan Thompson gave up his first run of the season, but has really helped with his ability to go more than 1 inning. Wieck is back and dealing. Winkler, Maples and Brothers have good looking ERAs, but are the least trustworthy - as any of the three could as likely walk 3 straight batters as they could get 3 straight outs.

Alzolay up today and he has gone 5+ in 3 of his last 4 starts - averaging over 9 K/9 and less than 2 BB/9 and sporting the best ERA+ and FIP in the starting staff. AAAA lineup with Wisdom, Ortega, Sogard, Higgins all starting - lets see if they can keep up the hot play. KB sitting out today as is Tatis, but the Cubs will likely have their hands full with Dinelson Lamet from the Padres - but he hasn't gone more than 3 innings so far this year, guessing his pitch count is in the 60-80 range for today. And with the Padres pen having a great year, not sure there is any value in working counts to specifically get him out of the game
 
Alzolay really has good stuff. Cubs 9-1 last 10, hottest team in mlb. I certainly didn’t see that coming a month ago
 
I would like to see Alcantara get more starts than Sogard at 2B over the next few days before Nico comes back, just to see what he's got - he has hit the ball hard so far, lots of high MPH doubles and liners. He does have an option year left, so assume he would still go down when Nico is back even if he keeps crushing the ball instead of releasing someone. But, a guy like Wisdom is making it easy to continue to keep Duffy on the shelf until he is fully healed.

Alec Mills, JHey, Marisinick and Romine started in Iowa last night, so they are close. Would assume that means Stewart, Ortega and Higgins are sent down - and I guess it would be Alcantara unless they send down a pitcher, but the only guys with options left are Thompson and Nance, and I don't see them going anywhere.
 
DaDeacs, the Romine brothers fooled you too. Austin, the catcher, remains on the 60 day DL. He hasn't played since the injury and has no anticipated time of return. His older brother Andrew is a shortstop who was signed on March 29, 2021 and has been playing for Iowa. I was fooled as well. BTW, Tony Wolters went unclaimed after DFA. He was signed by the Cubs and is catching for Iowa. Cubs need a viable option for Contreras. His performance is enhanced by a day off each week. Romine, Walters and Higgins are a combined 5 for 49. That won't cut it.

Agree on Alcantara. He has shown some pop in his bat at Iowa and with the Cubs. Has a discerning eye and legit speed as well. Ninth year as a pro and 2690 plate appearances suggest he has the required seasoning. Will turn 25 on July 10. He and Wisdom have given the team a big lift in the past week and are playing with confidence. They are buying time for Hoerner, Duffy and Bote as well as making a case to stay in Chicago.

Sogard has more starts at 2B than anyone. Rock solid off the bench. He, Duffy and Marisnick much better than anticipated. Stewart might see another start to enable Mills to take his slot in the rotation. Team performance since May 1 is the best I've seen since 2016. Hope it continues.
 
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JHey back, Martini cut. No big loss there.

It looks like Cory Abbott is being called up too - not sure if there is a hurt starter or what.
 
Nice comeback win.

Bryant could be playing outfield for a little longer. Patrick Wisdom is unconscious hot. Let him play 3B until it ends. Fastballs over the plate disappear. Spin is swing and miss. Enjoy until the league catches up.
 
Heyward, Rizzo, KB and Baez went 2-17.
Hendricks went 1-3 with an extra base hit and scored.

Whatever it takes.
 
JHey back, Martini cut. No big loss there.

It looks like Cory Abbott is being called up too - not sure if there is a hurt starter or what.

Wieck was sent down. Guessing they just wanted another reliever than can go more than 1 inning.

Another 3 gamer with the Pads, this time we don't miss their Ace - and the 3rd game will pit Arrieta against Darvish. Weathers and Lamet again in game 1 and 2 against Alzolay and Davies. Need a good series here as the Brewers keep winning against poor competition - they do have 3 game series against the Reds, who just swept the Cards, though, and need them to stay hot.

Someone needs to work with Jake - he started off the year ok, but when he doesn't have his A stuff, he is getting completely rocked now - hanging sinkers, missing the strike zone with every secondary pitch. And when his sinker sits at 91, its not tough to hit when the hitters know its coming. He has always been wild, but had the stuff still get outs and swings and misses, not anymore.
 
Also, not sure Heyward is ok - his arm and mobility are just not there. He is OPSing under .600 and in this lineup where Ross continues to trot out Sogard every day, we can't afford any more non producing hitters.

Saw some reports out that said the "ship has sailed" on the Cubs trading away everyone. I am not sure that is the case, but it is nice to see - and there are some options out there for the Cubs to grab some help without having to give up top pieces, but just spending money. Offensive guys like Justin Upton, Jonathan Schoop, CJ Cron, Charlie Blackmon, Assdrubal Cabrera don't add a new complexity, but would add some more pop into the lineup. The big name pitcher is Scherzer, but the bidding war (from the Yanks) likely takes him waaay out of contention for the Cubs (Marquez probably too) - some names like Michael Pineda or Alex Cobb would be upgrades at a more reasonable price. But, with Mills coming back and if Stewart and Abbott can keep throwing, there wouldn't really be too much out there to upgrade at the Cubs price (I mean, every starter could be upgraded, save maybe Hendricks and Alzolay, but the price to get significantly better grows).
 
Good win this afternoon with Bryant, Baez and Contreras on the bench. Arrieta with five strong innings to match Darvish, then Brothers, Tepera and Kimbrel shut it down the final four. The bullpen has been lights out and everyone is contributing. Pederson and Alcantara provide the long ball but the lead was taken by Happ and Wisdom playing small ball in the seventh.

I'm concerned about the bench. Wisdom and Alcantara have been good but at some point the absence of Baez, Duffy, Hoerner and Bote will be felt, especially with Heyward and Happ scuffling. The lack of offense from anyone backing up Contreras makes it worse. 5 for 56 is terrible.
 
Duffy went on IL on May 25 with a lower back strain. He did some running, took ground balls at 3rd base and took BP for the first time yesterday. Day to day and will do a minor league rehab before returning.

Hoerner went on IL on May 26 with a left hamstring strain. Participating in light baseball activities, playing catch and hitting off a tee. No ETA. Will require minor league rehab.

Bote went on the IL on May 29 with a dislocated left shoulder. Participating in light baseball activities. No ETA. Will require minor league rehab.

Baez is on the active roster and is day to day with right thumb soreness. Could play vs. Cardinals. I expect a cautious approach from Cubs. Hand injuries are subject to linger or persist and can alter a players normal movements in effort to minimize pain.
 
Hoerners injury was running to first on a ground ball - looked painful. They said at least 4 weeks early on, haven't seen any updates.

Bote got a good diagnosis - his was from sliding into second. They thought it was a separated shoulder and he would go on the 60 day, but was only dislocated. Still wouldn't expect him back before the end of June.

Duffy made the trip and was practicing in San Fran- he might be back in a week if he seems OK in AAA.

Alcantara seems up for the role - like him filling in at 2nd when Javy is back on Friday and moving Sogard back to bench/utility. Happ started at 2nd today with Marisnick back (kohl Stewart sent back down) which helps with the lack of middle infielders.

Same story for the Cubs - if they can get good starts from their starters, they win. Nice to see Jake bounce back- he was placing his sinker well and that change-up has such great movement if he can throw it where he wants.
 
The holdouts on getting the vaccine, and the Cubs over 80% as a team vaccinated are Rizzo, Arrieta, Sogard and JHey. Thats rough. I honestly am shocked - no politics or anything, but would have expected them to be more educated on the reasoning for a vaccine.
 
Today’s game was awesome. You could tell the crowd made a difference. Solid offense, defense, and pitching performance.
 
Everyone at Wrigley was juiced today. The 14 pitch Rizzo home run was quite a moment. The crowd, the announcers, the players and the television audience were treated to something straight out of Hollywood.
 
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