After beating the Pirates Friday afternoon, the Cubs dropped back-to-back games to the Mighty Pirates. But (pardon the pun) Jason Hammel had a good outing in Sunday’s loss to the Bucs.
After two subpar starts against the Pirates in Pittsburgh and in Miami, Jason Hammel completed seven innings for the first time in three starts and allowed two runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. One of the Cubs most valuable trading chips had struggled entering Sunday’s start after giving up eight runs on 19 hits with three walks and 15 strikeouts in 11 innings.
The Cubs are expected to move Hammel before Jeff Samardzija and Hammel helped the Cubs on Sunday afternoon while taking one on his backside for his current team.
Jason McLeod
The Padres announced the firing of GM Josh Byrnes Sunday afternoon and not five minutes after his dismissal was made official, the decision had been made before Tony Gwynn passed away and the team delayed the announcement, Jason McLeod popped up on the shortlist of candidates to replace Josh Byrnes.
Jason McLeod signed a five-year contract with the Cubs when he and Jed Hoyer left San Diego to take jobs on Theo Epstein’s staff in the fall of 2011. McLeod has an excellent reputation throughout the game and will be a General Manager one day. McLeod is thought to be one of the leading candidates, along with Mike Hazen (Red Sox) and Billy Eppler (Yankees).
Kevin Towers could also end up back in San Diego and the A’s David Forst is also thought to be high on the list.
Jason McLeod is under contract but if the Padres ask Theo Epstein to interview him for the GM job, do not look for Epstein to reject the request.
Emilio Bonifacio
Emilio Bonifacio has not started baseball activities yet and the Cubs are “in wait and see mode” with Bonifacio according to a report from Cubs.com. Bonifacio has been on the DL since June 13 with what was diagnosed as a right rib cage strain at the time. Results from an MRI revealed Bonifacio has a strained right oblique.
Rick Renteria addressed Bonifacio’s status prior to Sunday’s game and said that Bonifacio is “feel better” and he’s “not feeling discomfort anymore.”
Emilio Bonifacio is “doing some exercises, lower extremity exercises, some movement exercises.”
According to the report, the Cubs are being cautious with him and it could be awhile before Emilio Bonifacio is able to swing a bat.
News and Notes
Jason Hammel said he was fine after getting hit in the backside in Sunday’s game. But Hammel is sick of seeing the Pirates.
Rick Renteria defended his decisions in the eighth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Pirates.
The amount of innings the relievers are throwing is a concern for the Cubs.
Jorge Soler
Jorge Soler played in back-to-back games for the AZL Cubs this weekend as he works to get back to the Tennessee Smokies. Soler went 3-for-5 with two doubles Saturday and 1-for-3 in Sunday’s game.
The Cubs have not given a timeframe on when Jorge Soler will return to the Smokies.
Minor News and Notes
Tommy Thorpe and Ryan Williams posted photos on their twitter accounts they signed with the Cubs. The Cubs selected Tommy Thorpe in the eighth round and Ryan Williams was taken in the tenth round. The Cubs have not announced the signings yet.
Theo Epstein addressed the first half of Albert Almora’s season. And a lot is being made about a 20-year old struggling in his first full season of pro ball.
Joey Martarano also tweeted this weekend that he was ready to sign his contract and “get to playing some baseball.”
Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-6 in Sunday’s doubleheader. Schwarber is 17-for-32 in his first nine games in pro ball with two doubles, one triple and five home runs … .531/.568/1.125/1.693. In four games with the Cougars, Schwarber has a .417/.462/.750 slash line with one double, one home run and a 1.212 OPS.
Weekend Headlines
It was a rather busy weekend for the Cubs that begun with a little rambling about the Cubs home away from home. The Cubs made three roster moves, Kris Bryant hit a homer or two and the rumors picked up as July approaches. Here are the headlines from the weekend …
- June 20 – Rambling About the Cubs Home Away From Home
- June 20 – The Daily CCO: All Eyes on the Cubs Minor League System
- June 20 – Report: Cubs Looking Into Multicast Options for TV Rights
- Updated June 20 – Cubs Sign Jake Stinnett, RHP James Norwood and Announce Signings of Carson Sands and Justin Steele … Update Includes Bonus info on James Norwood
- June 21 – Cubs Reportedly Expect to Trade Jason Hammel in the Next Two Weeks
- June 21 – The Daily CCO: Anthony Rizzo Likes the Way the Cubs are Playing
- June 21 – Cubs Notes from Down on the Farm
- June 21 – Manny Ramirez Could Report to Iowa in the Coming Week
- June 22 – Catching Up and Updating the Jeff Samardzija News and Rumors
- June 22 – From the Wire: Cubs Activate Welington Castillo from the DL, Eli Whiteside Designated for Assignment
- June 22 – From the Wire: Cubs Select the Contract of LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, Officially Option Wade to Iowa
- June 22 – Cubs See Jake Arrieta as Part of the Plan
- June 22 – Kris Bryant Hit Two Home Runs Sunday in Iowa’s Comeback Win
This Day In Cubstory
1997 – Cubs traded Saul Bustos and Dave Jefferson to the Expos for Gil Heredia
1984 – The Sandberg Game
1980 – Cubs traded a PTBNL and cash to the Indians for Cliff Johnson. Cubs sent Karl Pagel to the Indians on June 30 to complete the trade
1978 – Expos traded a Jerry White to the Cubs for Woodie Fryman.
1970 – Cubs purchased Milt Pappas from the Braves
1970 – Cubs purchased Roberto Rodriguez from the Padres
1961 – Ernie Banks consecutive games played streak ended at 717 games when he was sidelined with a knee injury. Banks began the streak on August 26, 1956.
1960 – Jim Deshaies, born
1946 – Eddie Waitkus and Marv Rickert hit back-to-back inside the park home runs in the fourth inning, the first time in Major League history as the Cubs lost to the Giants 15-10 at the Polo Grounds.
1945 – Cubs selected Ray Starr off waivers from the Pirates
1933 – Cubs swept the Phillies in a doubleheader. The Cubs won game one on Harvey Hendrick’s pinch hit grand slam in the 10th inning. It was the second pinch hit grand slam in Major League history and the second for the Cubs in three years. Cubs won game two 3-1
1930 – Hack Wilson hit for the cycle with two singles, a double, a triple and a homer, scored five runs and drove in six as the Cubs ripped the Phillies 21-8 at Wrigley Field. Pitcher Guy Busy chipped in with a triple and two singles
1895 – A pressure group called the “Sunday Observance League” led by Rev. W.W. Clark, held up play in the third inning and the entire Cubs team is arrested for aiding and abetting the forming of a noisy crowd on a Sunday. Cubs owner, Jim Hart posted bond, securing a warrant from Justice Cleveland of Norwood Park, and the game was resumed. The franchise that would be known as the Cubs 20-plus years later trounced Cleveland 13-4 behind Clark Griffith before 10,000 fans at West Side Grounds.