Today’s Reflections
Today’s Reflections have no one to reflect positively on. I mean, PCA won NLPlayer Of The Week, but even he doesn’t want to talk about it (below). So the players listed in the title are SOME of the problem guys mentioned in the articles below.
The story below about Nico Hoerner’s problems is very interesting, with graphs and stuff. Some people drool in happiness when they see graphs; I just think, “Just tell me what it says.” But this time, I’m going to give this a re-read because
it was so well presented and informative. Or at least, a very intriguing viewpoint of his situation.
That’s really all I got, other than the news of Matthew Boyd’s setback that dug the Cubs’ hole a little deeper.
Now, I didn’t jinx the Cubs! But I think it was early May when things were really rolling, I thought, “This is a lonnnggg season. Hurry up and get to the playoffs!” A month later, it’s, “The Cubs’ season is almost over.”
Gotta keep playing.
Before the links, a bit of news (Bluesky link):
Reports from Tuesday’s game:
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Cubs {$}): Chicago Cubs put in a big hole early by Colin Rea in 7-3 loss to Colorado Rockies: ‘We just didn’t do enough’. “Tuesday night’s performance certainly failed to deliver an inspiring performance or suggest a turnaround is on the horizon.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs take accountability for slump, but bats stay cold against Rockies. “Pete Crow-Armstrong was not in much of a mood to talk about any personal accolades sent his way on Tuesday afternoon — not when the Cubs as a team are trying to pull out of a persistent cold spell.”
Trade Talk:
- Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs trade deadline plans have major Alex Bregman, Ian Happ problem. “….. the Cubs’ offense has three of the worst eight batters in RBIs below expectation, with Happ at minus-8.8, along with the two worst in MLB, with Seiya Suzuki at minus-12.7, and Bregman at minus-13.2. Those marks are a good example of the issue plaguing the Cubs right now, and it’s not only their starting rotation.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Jameson Taillon injury update could lead to shocking end to Cubs’ tenure. “Even if the Cubs aren’t a defined seller, if the rest of the pitching staff is in better shape by then, there’s an argument to make that trading Taillon would still be one of the better moves Jed Hoyer can make this summer.”
- Nick Halden (Da Windy City): Cubs should consider calling Braves to solve Dansby Swanson woes. “Atlanta may be one of the few teams capable of taking on Swanson’s contract if Chicago decides to move on.”
- Matt Johnson (Sportsnaut): 4 Trades to Help Rebuild the San Francisco Giants This Summer. “Robbie Ray Traded to Chicago Cubs.”
- Zachary Draves (Clutch Points): Cubs rumors: Farm system collapse could lead to trade of once-promising young star. “The Chicago Cubs may be poised to trade away Matt Shaw as the farm system collapses beneath them and amid underutilization.”
Assorted activity, chatter and complaints:
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Nico Hoerner Has to Get Earlier Again. “It’s been a long, horrid stretch for the Cubs’ newly-minted long-term second baseman. To snap out of this funk, he has to stop settling for solid contact.”
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Sore shoulder sparks Cubs to ‘back off’ Matthew Boyd’s IL return, Javier Assad likely starter this weekend. “The team’s Opening Day starter won’t make his comeback from knee surgery this weekend after experiencing shoulder soreness during a recent bullpen session, yet another injury-related woe for the Cubs’ rotation.”
- Zachary Draves (Clutch Points): Cubs disappointing season gets even worse with White Sox reality. “The struggles of the Chicago Cubs are very real, compared to that of the White Sox, who are surprisingly strong.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): How Ben Brown Got Hitters Off the Barrel. “Last season, Ben Brown gave up too much hard contact and way too many home runs. He remade himself this winter, and now, he’s not just a bat-misser. He also limits damage.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Understand Job Requirements, Just Can’t Get Work Done. “If the Cubs have a sign tracking the days since their last workplace accident, it hasn’t gotten past two in over a month.”
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Struggles of Cubs’ offseason additions a major reason for their spiral. “Fans have been begging the team for years to be aggressive and complete a full offseason. But 65 games into the campaign, what looked like the Cubs’ desired path for the winter has not turned into success on the field.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Shaw Activated, Alcántara Optioned, Taillon to IL, Roberts Recalled. A lot of movement on the Northside.
- Zachary Cariola (Yardbarker): Matt Shaw’s return to the Cubs couldn’t come at a better time. “The Cubs could potentially use Matt Shaw at third base with Alex Bregman struggling.”
- Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Cubs’ Recent Struggles Have Done Real Damage to Playoff Hopes. “It probably doesn’t come as a shock given the magnitude of their recent woes, but even in early June, the Cubs’ stumbling has their playoff positioning looking quite grim.”
- Jeff Vorva (Chicago Tribune {$}): 3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ homestand, including Alex Bregman’s self-critique: ‘I’ve been terrible’. “Ryan Rolison is on a roll.”
- Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): Charting Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Evolution with the Cubs. “Pete Crow-Armstrong is still growing as a player, but he’s proving the Cubs right for their decision to extend him.”
Food For Thought:
Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, he has recorded albums for several major record labels and singles that have reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Hot Country Songs charts.
Four of his albums have been number one on the blues chart, and another reached number two. McClinton has earned four Grammy Awards – 1992 Rock Performance by a Duo with Bonnie Raitt for “Good Man, Good Woman”, 2002 Contemporary Blues Album for Nothing Personal, 2006 Best Contemporary Blues Album for Cost of Living, and 2020 Best Traditional Blues Album for Tall, Dark, & Handsome.
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