Some of yesterday’s news, some of today’s news, some of tomorrow’s news. Clickbait and A. I. ‘journalists’ think that the Cubs are going to platoon PCA next year and also make a huge play for Kyle Tucker after the season. They might be half-right. Might be. Their track record isn’t very good. But then even the cognoscenti have their moments.
Tucker departed Tuesday night with a bit of calf trouble but it sounds like he’ll be okay. He says so, but then players always do. Pete is flailing away but his
defense keeps him on the field, by his manager’s admission. Kevin Alcántara’s bat hasn’t yet show that it’s useful in the Majors, and that’ll have to change before he gets more playing time. Billy Hamilton joined Jaxon Wiggins in Iowa, where the Cubs are stockpiling an emergency squad of sorts, with Austin Gomber, Joe Ross, and a plethora of rehabbing veterans. Ben Cowles has emigrated to the South Side.
It remains to be seen how all of these plot threads are woven together. In the meantime, there are baseball games to play. PCA got a breather. Tucker, too*.
Potential RoY Cade Horton took the hill to close out the series on a high note, facing the Braves’ Bryce Elder. Both pitched well enough, though the Cubs took the early edge on a Willi Castro single [VIDEO]. Horton worked five scoreless, hitless innings, and Ben Brown took over. Brown walked Nacho Alvarez, Jr., and threw a wild pitch but he had his carving set out and served some yakkers, striking out the side.
Clearly the managing of Horton’s innings is of long-run value so I’m not going to carp about him being yanked. Elder stayed late and was more effective than his data would have indicated.
Ozzie Albies broke up the no-no and Drew Pomeranz was summoned after another batter and wild pitch. The Braves took a two -run lead shortly afterward as Ha-Seong Kim blasted a long drive with two on. The game was essentially over at that point. Meatloaf is good, too.
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- Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball*): Cade Horton’s evolution has required an old-school approach. “Horton is absolutely filling up the strike zone…“
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Horton spins 5 no-hit frames in latest gem, but ‘pen unable to hold on. “Horton headed off the field with little reaction, displaying steadiness in demeanor equal to his recent run on the mound.“
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Tucker crushes clutch 3-run HR before exiting with calf tightness. “Yeah, it kind of sucks I wasn’t able to finish the game or add anything to that, but the team really did a good job.” Sahadev Sharma has more {$}:
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong gets the night off against a left-handed pitcher. “Look, Pete’s been out there a whole bunch and it’s because of his defense, he’s so valuable on defense, no matter what’s going on at the plate,” Counsell said Tuesday. North Side Baseball has more PCA.
- Mack Liederman (Block Club Chicago*): Lost something in Lake Michigan? This Chicago scuba diver will find it for you. Anthony Rizzo’s wedding ring, reportedly.
Food for thought:
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