AP Photo/Jeff Dean

The Rundown: Cubs Treading Water Despite Win, Báez Protects Rizzo, Pederson Nears Return, MLB Bans Alomar

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMay 2, 2021

“I know perfectly well, I’m not where I should be
I’ve been very aware you’ve been patient with me.” –  Brian Wilson, You Still Believe in Me

Instant Replay

The Cubs and Reds split the first two games of their series and Chicago was so overjoyed with what Ryan Pace and the Bears in the NFL Draft did this weekend hardly anybody noticed. It’s hard to get a read on the Cubs now that we are one full month into the season, but I suppose as each day passes it looks more and more like dueling pianos:

  1. A small glimpse into the future thanks to promising starts by Nico Hoerner and Adbert Alzolay; and
  2. A wistful victory lap for pending free agents Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez.

Let’s not forget Craig Kimbrel, who has finally emerged as the dominant closer we all hoped he would be just in time for Jed Hoyer to shop him to teams with genuine postseason aspirations.

Despite yesterday’s 3-2 win over Cincinnati, Chicago remains in last place in the NL Central, five games behind the torrid Brewers. While Milwaukee has been terrorizing teams like the Padres and Dodgers, the Cubs have struggled against the likes of the Pirates and Reds. I know the Nationals proved in 2019 that even the worst teams can look pathetic through mid-May before turning it around, but that was a rare instance. We know who the Cubs are based on the last month of last season and the first month of this one: A team that will struggle to play .500 baseball.

Barring an unlikely stretch of about .600 baseball, expect the trade rumors to start as this month progresses. The good news is that despite three-game stretch against the Dodgers starting tomorrow, the Cubs have a very winnable stretch of May games against teams like the Pirates, Nationals, Reds, Indians, and Tigers. The bad news is, well, you’ve seen how bad the Cubs looked against Pittsburgh earlier this year.

Cubs News & Notes

Climbing the Ladder

“Aprils have never meant that much to me.” – Truman Capote

  • Games Played: 27
  • Total Plate Appearances: 1,003
  • Total Strikeouts: 273
  • Strikeout Rate: 27.2%
  • Team Batting Average: .218

Odds & Sods

I don’t know what’s going on here but I can’t wait until the Cubs play the Rockies just to get a little more insight on the mound presence of Justin Lawrence.

How About That!

Angels outfielder Mike Trout had a superb April and is playing the best baseball of his career.

Meanwhile, MLB umpires are off to their worst start ever. Bryce Harper was ejected from the dugout the other night for arguing a blown call on Andrew McCutchen.

When analysts talk about baseball’s best shortstops, Nationals star Trea Turner is often overlooked. Perhaps he deserves more attention.

The Brewers are making waves against some of the better teams in the league. Travis Shaw was the hero in Milwaukee’s 6-5 win over Los Angeles last night. Craig Counsell’s team goes for the four-game sweep this afternoon.

Roberto Alomar, who had been serving as a consultant to Major League Baseball, has been placed on the league’s ineligible list after an investigation into a 2014 sexual misconduct allegation.

The Blue Jays, who retired Alomar’s number, have also cut ties with the Hall of Fame second baseman.

Saturday’s Three Stars

  1. Nico Hoerner – The future face of the Cubs was 3-for-3 with a run, an RBI, a stolen base, and the go-ahead single in the 6th inning yesterday as he continues on with his true coming out party.
  2. Jack Flaherty – The St. Louis ace improved to 5-0 on the season, striking out nine Pittsburgh batters in six solid innings as the Cardinals upended the Pirates 12-5.
  3. Jameson Taillon – Kudos to the Yankees starter for winning his first game in two years as the Bronx Bombers defeated the Tigers 6-4.

Extra Innings

I’ve said this a hundred times if I’ve said it once, but Cubs fans are really going to miss Bryant if he plays elsewhere this season or next.

They Said It

  • “I’m just not gonna let [Amir Garrett] or anyone disrespect my teammates or my team.  I really don’t know, I don’t know what he’s got against Rizzo. He did it to me in the past. Like I said, I like what he does, he’s just got to do it to his team, not to us. Not after a strikeout. I hit three homers against him and I didn’t do anything to show him up, or his team.” – Javy Báez 
  • “To be disrespected by another player on the field kind of challenges your manhood. I think those are things that I wouldn’t have stood for as a player, that’s for sure. I would have been the first one in line for that. I can’t do that anymore, so I don’t fault any of our guys. That’s not the way that I think baseball is intended to go, but I think that’s [Garrett’s] style. I don’t agree with it. I think it’s garbage, but he’s not on my team.” – David Ross

Sunday Walk Up Song

Sloop John B by the Beach Boys – A Brian Wilson Pet Sounds bookend is a nice way to close the weekend.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMay 2, 2021
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