On the day the Cubs turned in their worst defensive effort of the young season, Jason Heyward was presented with the Gold Glove Award he won patrolling the Cardinals outfield last year. Heyward has earned three gold gloves in six seasons.
Jason Heyward received the 2015 MLB Defensive Player of the Year Award on Thursday.
Heyward’s defense has been spectacular. And it appears his swing is starting to come around.
The Cubs have played pretty good defense as a team this season until Friday.
Run prevention is just as an important component to winning a game as scoring runs. The Cubs handed the Rockies five extra outs, and allowed them to take extra bases at will. No matter how good and deep the lineup may be, the Cubs have to play mistake free ball in the field.
Friday’s Post-Game Reports
Friday has not been kind to the Cubs so far this season. Last week the team dealt with the news Kyle Schwarber would miss the entire season. Yesterday, the Cubs arguably had their worst day on the field in a year. The Cubs did not play their game and simply looked flat.
Joe Maddon said after the game, “We had a bad day. It’s not always going to be an oil painting. I believe in the power of 24 hours. Throw that one in the can and comeback tomorrow.”
- CCO Recap – Rocky Day for Cubs Offense, Defense
- Comcast SportsNet – Chalk It Up: Cubs Refuse to put much stock into sloppy loss
- ESPN Chicago – Cubs end win streak with sloppy play against Rockies
- CBS Chicago – Cubs Play Poor Defense, Have Five-Game Winning Streak Snapped
- Bruce Levine – Cubs Look Human in Loss to Rockies
- The Tribune – Bad Combo: No offense, porous defense do in Cubs in loss to Rockies
Javier Baez
Javier Baez is back in the big leagues. The Cubs officially activated Baez prior to Friday’s game and optioned Munenori Kawasaki to Iowa. Baez is expected to see regular playing time at several positions.
Joe Maddon said Friday that Baez will be used “all over the place and all over the map.”
Since the start of the exhibition season, Baez has played all four infield positions and both center and left field. Baez hasn’t played right field in a game.
Maddon pointed out Baez has “gotten all of this work at all of these positions and continues to do so.” The Cubs “want him in the action” and Maddon said he will be “out there relatively soon.”
Baez told Bruce Levine that the Cubs “will be rotating a lot.” Baez may not have a set position but he plans on being on the field every day. Baez is expected to see his first action at second and shortstop to give Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell a breather.
Pierce Johnson
Pierce Johnson made it through Spring Training healthy. But after taking a comebacker off his elbow in his first start of the season, Johnson has been placed on the disabled list.
X-rays on Johnson’s arm came back negative and he told Tommy Birch that he would make his next start. Not long after Birch tweeted the news, Johnson was placed on the DL with a forearm bruise.
Johnson landed on the 7-day DL retroactive to April 13. The Cubs have not said how long he will be sidelined.
Stephen Fife
Stephen Fife was forced out of Wednesday’s game with a rib cage injury. And Friday, Fife was placed on the 7-day DL retroactive to April 14. Fife is expected to miss at least a month.
Fife reportedly was having a very good outing Wednesday that came to an abrupt end. Fife looked good in Spring Training and is one of several pitchers the Cubs signed in the off-season to provide depth in the minors.
News and Notes
• According to multiple reports, Kevin Costner wants to make a movie about the Cubs. During an appearance on Larry King’s show, Costner said, “I’ve enjoyed all the baseball movies. I think I have one more in me. It has to do with the Cubs. I don’t know, I have to get it written.”
• Jesse Rogers asked Cubs battery how they would attack patient Cubs hitters.
• Anthony Rizzo received some new shoes according to a report from Carrie Muskat.
• Bill Mitchell attended Opening Day for the Cubs’ extended Spring Training team. Aaron Crow pitched, which is the good news, but the numbers look like a pitcher rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Mitchell reported Crow’s fastball was in the 87-90 mph range. Crow completed one inning and allowed two runs on two hits (two-run homer by Jabari Henry) with a strikeout and no walks.
• Dylan Cease also pitched Friday and completed three scoreless innings. Cease had his fastball up to 99 mph with a curveball that “looked good.” Cease allowed two hits with two walks and two strikeouts according to Bill Mitchell.
• LHP Giovanni Soto was placed on the temporarily inactive list on Friday. The Cubs sent RHP Stephen Perakslis and RHP Michael Wagner to Iowa to help with the lack of pitching that now exists at the Triple-A level.
• According to Ken Rosenthal, the Diamondbacks are “passing on Michael Bourn, at least for the moment.”
This Day in Cubstory
2013 – Cubs selected Cody Ransom off waivers from the Padres
2008 – Blue Jays returned Randy Wells to the Cubs
2003 – Cubs signed free agent Nate Teut
1997 – With a 4-0 loss to the Rockies, the Cubs losing streak was extended to 12 games, a new record for the worst start in league history.
1994 – Albert Almora, born
1972 – Burt Hooton pitched a no-hitter at Wrigley Field. The Cubs beat the Phillies 4-0. Hooton became the 12th rookie to pitch a no hitter in baseball history.
1972 – Antonio Alfonseca, born
1957 – Cubs traded Ray Jablonski and Ray Katt to the New York Giants for Bob Lennon and Dick Littlefield
1955 – Randy Jackson, Dee Fondy and Ernie Banks hit three consecutive home runs in the second inning, but the Cubs lost to the Cardinals 12-11 in 11 innings.
1955 – Cubs purchased Lloyd Merriman from the White Sox
1948 – The first Chicago baseball game was telecast on WGN-TV with Jack Brickhouse on the call. The Cubs lost 4-1 to the White Sox at Wrigley Field.
1948 – Cubs signed free agent Vern Morgan
1947 – Cubs purchased Lonny Frey from the Reds
1946 – Cubs stunned the Reds 4-3 after scoring four runs in the ninth inning of the opener at Crosley Field. Bob Scheffing, after spending three years in the Navy, delivered the game winner, a pinch-hit, two-run single.
1943 – Frank Fernandez, born
1938 – Cubs traded Curt Davis, Clyde Shoun, Tuck Stainback and $185,000 to the Cardinals for Dizzy Dean.
1929 – Ed Winceniak, born
1906 – Johnny Evers and Frank Chance were ejected from the game in a 3-0 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati. And Joe Tinker got into a fight with a fan outside the park on the same day.
1906 – Tommy Sewell, born
1894 – Detroit (Western League) purchased Bob Glenalvin from the Chicago Colts for $600.
1892 – Dutch Leonard, born