The twitters were churning this afternoon after this tweet from Javy Baez’s brother: Congrats to my brother @javy23baez on getting called up! Welcome to the show baby!! — Gadi Baez (@OMGADI) August 4, 2014 No confirmation from Jim Bowden this time, but Bruce Levine later confirmed it on The Score Cubs source confirms Javier Baez to join team in Colorado …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (45-62) at Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles (62-47)
It’s Vin Scully week! Even better, we’ll get another Vin Scully week next year, as he returns for his 66th season broadcasting Dodgers baseball. @CeeAngi did a great piece on Scully’s process and career last month, which is worth a read (or re-read). The Dodgers were in on a bunch of players at the deadline, but didn’t end up making …
Minor League Update: 7/29/14
Graduation! When I started the (now) Minor League Update, I chose the name Journeymen of Tomorrow because it seemed apropos. The vast, vast majority of players in the minor league system never make it to the big leagues. They are more likely to make it to shift manager at Home Depot… and that’s not a bad thing! Matt Loosen has …
Series Preview: Rockies (43-61) at Cubs (42-61)
With a 42-61 record, the Cubs are now in last place in the National league, a half game back from their opponent this series. The Rockies actually started off the season fairly well, thanks to an All-World performance by marketing departmental bane Troy Tulowitzki, and were tied with the Giants for first place in the NL west on May 7 …
Series Preview: Cardinals (54-47) at Cubs (41-59)
The Cubs worked on racing to the top in their last series, winning one of three against the Padres with a combined score of 12-21. Giving up an average of seven runs a game to this year’s historically bad Padres offense is pretty impressive. Though to be fair in the last game, to quote MO, “Padres could turn their backs, fart …
Journeymen of Tomorrow: 7-25-14
New Orleans Zephyrs 2 @ Iowa Cubs 11 Stargazing Javier Baez: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 SO Kris Bryant: 1-4, 2 R, SO Jorge Soler: 1-3, R, 2 BB, SO Rafael Lopez: 1-4, 2 RBI Has-Beens Matt Szczur: 1-5, R, 2 SO Brett Jackson: 1-4, BB, 2 SO Mike Olt: 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, SO Josh Vitters: 1-1, HR, …
Cubs 3, Padres 8 (7/24/14)
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Tsuyoshi lays an egg, and the Cubs bats (with Luis excepted) fall mostly silent. Three Up 1. Luis Valbuena hit a 3-run HR, which provided the entirety of the Cubs’ scoring. In the best case scenario, Valbuena is a super-DeRosa in 2015, and even if he starts, you don’t feel too bad. 2. Anthony Rizzo …
Cubs 6, Padres 0 (7/23/14)
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: (one of the) 24-year olds homered twice, and the 22-year old homered once. Three Up 1. Anthony Rizzo now leads the NL in HR, and he is sneaking up on the ML lead. I thought Rizzo’s peak was a .250/.350/.500 guy, and he’s at .283/.385/.539 right now. Just enjoy the ride, however long it lasts. …
Series Preview: Padres (43-55) at Cubs (40-57)
Since leaving for my summer travels*, the Cubs have gone 2-10, pushing their run differential from around even to today’s -38. Oh well, at least the Cubs minor league bats have been hitting. I chatted with a Padres fan at a SFO bar who was glum about his team and seemed to think the Cubs beat up in them recently …
Why you shouldn’t care that Jeter started the ASG
Today is another day without any baseball. Thanks, Obama! To fill the void, many backseat fans decided to bag on Jeter getting the starting nod in the All-Star Game (it need not be said that fans voted Jeter to start the ASG). The prime argument is that “the games matter!” I’m here to show you how little it matters. We can’t …