The Cubs get back to work Tuesday night following a much-needed day off. The Cubs welcome the Brewers to Wrigley and must not let up against the red-hot Khris Davis and a dangerous Brewers team.
Baseball America posted its Best Tools lists for the 2015 season Monday. Baseball America asked every big league manager to break down the best Major Leaguers in a variety of categories.
Joe Maddon came in as the third best manager in the National League. Bruce Bochy was first followed by Mike Matheny. Maddon made headlines and silenced some of his critics with the way he managed the Giants’ series. Those that do not see how good Maddon is and the impact he’s had on this team just doesn’t understand the game.
Kris Bryant was voted as the third best defensive third baseman in the National League, behind the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado and the Reds’ Todd Frazier.
Bryant has shown steady improvement at third base, and his throws across the diamond have gotten a lot better throughout the year. Bryant has been charged with 13 errors this season.
Offensively, Kris Bryant has been really good at the plate over the last eight games. Bryant is 7-for-23 (.304/.484/.478) with a double, a home run, six walks and eight strikeouts for a .962 OPS. Bryant has enjoyed hitting at Wrigley (.281/.399/.573 with eight doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and .972 OPS) and could use this time at home to put a bad July in the rearview mirror.
• Baseball America – 2015 Major League Best Tools
Trey McNutt
According to Baseball America, the Cubs released RHP Trey McNutt.
Trey McNutt was considered the Cubs second best pitching prospect after the 2010 season and took over the top spot after the trade with the Rays for Matt Garza. McNutt was considered the top pitching prospect in the system when Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over in Oct. 2011.
McNutt went a combined 10-1 in 25 starts during the 2010 season for Low-A Peoria, High-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee with a 2.48 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. McNutt struck out 132 batters with 37 walks in 116 1/3 innings.
Trey McNutt struggled with his command during the 2011 season and posted a 5-6 record in 23 games, 22 starts, for Double-A Tennessee with a 4.55 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. McNutt gave up 120 hits with 65 strikeouts and 39 walks in 95 innings.
Injuries derailed his career and cost him the entire 2014 season. McNutt appeared in eight games, one start, for the AZL Cubs this season. McNutt pitched eight innings in Rookie Ball and allowed six runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts (6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP).
Trey McNutt turned 26 on Aug. 2.
Tommy La Stella
With Monday’s off day, the Cubs did not provide an update on Tommy La Stella. But he was back in the Smokies’ lineup Monday and played the entire game at second base. La Stella was 0-for-4 in Double-A Tennessee’s 6-5 win over Jackson.
In seven games on his current rehab assignment, La Stella is 7-for-26 with two doubles, two walks and a strikeout.
News and Notes
• The announcement has not been made, but according to the transactions page on Cubs. com, OF Matt Szczur was optioned Monday to Triple-A Iowa. It appears David Ross will be reinstated from the bereavement list Tuesday.
• Weekly Power Rankings: The Cubs have cracked the top five in a majority of the weekly power rankings around the game. ESPN ranked the Cubs fifth behind the Cardinals, Royals, Pirates and Dodgers.
• Jay Jaffe reported the Cubs improve playoff odds with Starlin Castro on outside looking in.
• Jeff Passan took a look at a historic season for rookies and a scout Passan talked to about Kyle Schwarber compared him to a left-handed only hitting Lance Berkman.
• Dan Haren is one win shy of 150 for his career and is 28 strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career. And according to a report from Cubs.com, Haren is eager to make the most of what is likely his last hurrah. Haren wants to help the Cubs reach and play deep into the post-season.
• Jesse Rogers examined the moves and decisions Joe Maddon made during the Cubs signature sweep over the Giants.
• Comcast SportsNet reported the Cubs are evolving up Joe Maddon’s mad scientist method.
• Cubs’ rookies offered a window into the future during Giants sweep according to the Sun-Times.
• And the Sun-Times spoke with Anthony Rizzo, James Russell and Travis Wood about how much has changed during their time with the Cubs.
• According to Baseball America, the Tigers released 2B Tony Thomas and he signed a minor league contract with the White Sox.
• Baseball America reported the Brewers released INF Donnie Murphy and LHP Michael Kirkman.
This Day In Cubstory
2010 – Cubs traded Mike Fontenot to the Giants for Evan Crawford
2006 – Cubs signed free agent Mac Suzuki
2005 – Gregg Maddux tossed a complete game against the Cardinals and snapped the Cubs eight-game losing streak. Maddux posted the 314th win of his career.
2003 – Kerry Wood became the youngest pitcher in Major League history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts mark. Wood set the record in 134 games. The Cubs lost to the Astros 3-1.
2002 – Sammy Sosa hit a grand slam and a run scoring double against the Rockies and set a National League record with 14 RBI in a two-game stretch. The Padres’ Nate Colbert (1972) and the Cardinals’ Mark Whiten (1993) held the previous record (13).
1981 – Cubs traded Jesus Figueroa, Jerry Martin and Mike Turgeon to the Giants for Phil Nastu and Joe Strain
1972 – Milt Pappas drove in five runs with a single, a double and a home run in the Cubs 7-2 victory over the Mets at Wrigley Field
1968 – Billy Williams hit two home runs, a three-run inside the park homer in the 15th inning and a two-run homer in the sixth. Don Kessinger recorded five hits in seven trips to the plate as the Cubs beat the Reds 8-5 in Cincinnati.
1966 – Randy Hundley hit for the cycle and drove in three runs in the Cubs 9-8 victory over the Astros at Wrigley Field
1961 – Warren Spahn beat the Cubs 3-1 in Milwaukee for the 300th win of his career
1941 – Phil Cavarretta, Stan Hack and Bill Nicholson went back-to-back-to-back in the fifth inning, but the Cubs lost 7-5 to the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park. The three-straight homers in the fifth inning marked the first time in Cubs history three players hit three consecutive longballs.