Javier Baez homered last night; it was his first at Wrigley Field and fourth since being called up. He didn’t walk, and hasn’t yet since being called up. That’s a little troubling, but it’s too early to say much about that. He also didn’t strike out, which is also a little early to make any judgements about, but is something …
DFP: Missing Game 6
It’s funny. I deleted a post I was writing this week about appreciating the moment, appreciating what we have right now. It was about Javier Baez, the Cubs as they are, and life. Too preachy, too obvious, too blah-blah-blah. So, deleted. Obviously Robin Williams taking his own life has very little to do with Cubs baseball or even baseball at all, …
DFP: Jacob Turner
In case you missed it, the Cubs acquired RHP Jacob Turner last week for two non-prospects. Turner’s stock has really fallen off since 2012, when his name was being tossed around as a potential centerpiece from the Tigers in a Matt Garza trade and was eventually a big part of the trade that brought Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to …
DFP: How Badly Did the Rays Screw Up?
The most striking aspect of yesterday’s deadline was just how many trades involved major league players. The classic mode of deadline dealing is this: sellers send soon-to-be free agents to buyers in return for prospects. Yesterday, by contrast, sellers picked up Yoenis Cespedes, Joe Kelly, Allen Craig, Drew Smyly, Nick Franklin, and Tommy Milone. Of the bunch, only Franklin is …
DFP: The Deadline Cometh
Did the Cubs Win? Nope. Maybe they should have pinch hit a few pitchers. Trade Deadline Update The deadline is at 3 pm CT. The Cubs were active yesterday. No word yet on the where Emilio Bonifacio is headed, but the Royals have been mentioned, which is almost too cruel. The Giants are also a potential destination, and have released …
DFP: What A Dumb Game
Did The Cubs Win? Good Lord, where to begin? It was the longest game in team history, at nearly six and a half hours. Travis Wood pinch hit in the 4th inning. His fly out was followed by an Emilio Bonifacio homer, after which neither team scored for the next 12 innings. Jake Arrieta pinch hit in the 13th so …
DFP: Technical Difficulties and Selfish Sutcliffe
Technical Difficulties I know that many of you are struggling with the question of whether life is worth living in the wake of yesterday’s Darwin Barney trade. Know that OVBlog is dealing with the same struggle. Hold fast, you patient ones. We will get through this together. (Alternate theory: evil genius Brett is planning to shut down the entire Cub …
DFP: Neil Ramirez and Rusney Castillo
Did the Cubs Win? Nope. Dropped two of three to the Cardinals this weekend. Huh? The Cubs sent Neil Ramirez to Iowa over the weekend, citing the need to rest his arm, which strikes me as extremely odd. Ramirez has been arguably the best reliever on the team, but has not been overused by anyone’s definition of the word. I …
DFP: The Lost Generation
I’m in the minority around here when it comes to fretting about the Cubs leaving WGN next year. My argument is basically that being on basic cable around the country when no one else is has a huge impact on a team’s future bottom line, even if that impact is less today than it was twenty or thirty years ago. …
DFP: Welp, It Begins
Update Your Depth Charts Darwin Barney —> DFA Emilio Bonifacio —> Activated from the DL Tsuyoshi Wada —> Cubs Arismendy Alcantara —> Time to play Mike Olt —> Iowa Jorge Soler —> Iowa Albert Almora —> Tennessee Jacob Hannemann —> Daytona Moving Too Late The Yankees acquired Chase Headley yesterday for Yangervis Solarte and Rafael De Paula (maybe). I really …