A day after Javier Baez posted on Instagram that he is close to 100 percent and is ready to start playing again, a report from the Des Moines Register put a timetable on Baez’s return to Iowa.
Jaron Madison told Tommy Birch that Baez would start playing rehab games on Thursday and he “could be back in Iowa in a little over a week.” The Cubs’ farm director added Baez is “anxious” to get back to Iowa, he is tired of being in Arizona.
Javier Baez broke his left ring finger sliding headfirst into second base on June 7 and was placed on the disabled list June 8 with a non-displaced fracture of the left ring finger.
Reports suggested Baez was close to being called up to the majors at the time of his injury. Baez made the adjustments at the plate and the Cubs had just moved him to third base to expose him to the position.
Once Javier Baez gets his timing back, he will give the front office another option over the last two-plus months of the season.
Rafael Soriano
RHP Rafael Soriano made his Cubs’ debut in the eighth inning of Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Reds. Soriano walked Joey Votto and gave up a ground rule double to Jay Bruce. Soriano got out of the jam without allowing any runs.
Soriano had decent command, considering it was his first game in the big leagues this season, it could almost be called a good outing. Soriano’s fastball was in the low-90s which is rather concerning.
Joe Maddon is throwing him into the late-inning mix and Soriano said he is ready for any role that will help the Cubs win games. The veteran reliever did not want to talk about the second half that cost him his closer’s job with the Nationals.
The Cubs’ skipper will continue to mix and match, attempting to get the most out of his bullpen, and Maddon liked what he saw from Rafael Soriano on Monday.
Zac Rosscup
LHP Zac Rosscup is getting closer to being another option for the bullpen. The lefty reliever was placed on the DL on June 17 with left shoulder inflammation.
After two rehab outings in Arizona, Rosscup had his rehab transferred to Double-A Tennessee. The Smokies did not play Monday, the game was rained out. In two games for the AZL Cubs, Rosscup struck out five and did not allow a hit or walk a batter in two innings.
In 26 games for the Cubs this season, Zac Rosscup is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 4.58 FIP (21 hits, 11 walks, 25 strikeouts in 23 innings).
News, Notes and Rumors
• Miguel Montero was scheduled to have a second opinion on his left thumb on Monday in Arizona. According to the Sun-Times, the Cubs have not given an update on the severity of the thumb injury. Montero could be out for six weeks.
• Joe Maddon and David Ross called Kyle Schwarber a ‘sponge’ as the rookie catcher is absorbing his role with the Cubs. And Kyle Schwarber is out to show the Cubs he’s here to stay according to a report from Comcast SportsNet.
• 1B Dan Vogelbach is still rehabbing in Arizona from a strained oblique. According to a report from the Des Moines Register, Jaron Madison said the Cubs are looking for Vogelbach to be back with the Smokies at the beginning of August.
• Joe Maddon is trying to ease in RHP Neil Ramirez and is not looking to overuse him. Ramirez told the Sun-Times he is healthy and feels great.
• The Cubs are 22-21 against teams that currently have losing records and according to the Sun-Times, to be the best, the Cubs have to beat the worst. Comcast SportsNet reported the Cubs need to capitalize and take care of business against the Reds.
• The Cubs released RHP Barret Loux and RHP Marcelo Carreno according to Baseball America.
• INF/OF Ben Zobrist is a real possibility for the Angels according to Jim Bowden.
• From Christopher Kamka: Monday was the first time since May 29 the Cubs allowed three home runs in the same game. The pitching staff had allowed four home runs in previous 18 games.
• The Orioles released former Cubs RHP Michael Bowden and the Rockies released RHP Brett Marshall.
• Jim Bowden detailed what it takes to make a baseball trade … Anatomy of a Trade.
• Anthony Giansanti leaves Ronda Rousey a ticket for every game at will call.
• The Cubs wives will be selling #WeAreGood t-shirts prior to Saturday’s game against the Phillies (3:05pm CDT) for $25, proceeds benefitting Ronald McDonald House.
And last, but not least, David Price responded to Jake Arrieta on Twitter.
This Day In Cubstory
2004 – Cubs traded Ricky Gutierrez to the Red Sox
2000 – Cubs traded Glenallen Hill to the Yankees for Ben Ford and Oswaldo Mairena
1998 – Kerry Wood outpitched Greg Maddux and beat the Braves. Wood struck out 11 batters in 7 2/3 innings and was the sixth time in 18 starts Wood recorded double-digits strikeouts. Wood handed Maddux his first loss against the Cubs.
1992 – Cubs released Dennis Rasmussen
1989 – Before the game against the Giants at Wrigley Field, OF Dwight Smith sang the National Anthem. Smith went 0-for-4 in the game the Cubs dropped 4-3. Mark Grace hit a two-run homer in the eighth. All of the Giants runs scored off Rick Sutcliffe.
1986 – Cubs traded Davey Lopes to the Astros for Frank DiPino
1980 – Kyuji Fujikawa, born
1972 – Billy Williams drove in six runs with four hits that included a double and a home run in an 11-3 victory over the Astros
1971 – Ernie Banks hit the 511th home run of his career, tying Mel Ott, in the Cubs 11-7 win over the Mets at Wrigley Field
1951 – Phil Cavarretta replaced Frankie Frisch as Cubs manager
1881 – Johnny Evers, born
This Day in Baseball History
1988 – Yankees traded Rick Balabon, a PTBNL and Jay Buhner to the Mariners for Ken Phelps