Joe Maddon’s team wrapped up the holiday weekend with a win over the Reds and snapped its four-game skid. The Cubs had a tough time in New York against the Metropolitans. Even with dropping four in a row, the Cubs are a first place team.
The Cubs will begin play on July 5 with a 52-30 record, a half-game better than the Giants for the best record in the NL and nine full games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central. The Cubs .634 winning percentage is tops in baseball.
Joe Maddon’s starting lineup Monday did not have a single player over the age of 26 and featured three players with less than two months of combined big league service time (Willson Contreras, Albert Almora Jr. and Jeimer Candelario). For the first time, the Cubs starting lineup featured nine players all born after the lights were turned on at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs active roster on the Fourth of July included Carl Edwards Jr., Spencer Patton, Joel Peralta, Willson Contreras, Javier Baez, Jeimer Candelario and Albert Almora Jr. Those seven players were not with the big league team on Opening Day in Anaheim.
Jeimer Candelario received The Call and made his Major League debut on Sunday in his hometown. Then he started his second straight game Monday and played his first game at Wrigley Field. Candelario is 1-for-7 with two walks in his first two big league games.
With the non-waiver trade deadline (Aug. 1) less than a month away, the rumor mill picked up big time over the weekend to the point Theo Epstein had to address the reports about Kyle Schwarber.
And the Cubs have signed each of the first eight draft picks, including Thomas Hatch.
As usual, it was an incredibly busy weekend on and off the field for the Chicago Cubs, here are all the headlines chock full of all the news, notes and rumors to get you caught up from the holiday …
Report: Yankees Will Only Talk Andrew Miller with Cubs if Kyle Schwarber is Part of Conversation
The Cubs have scouted the Yankees’ trio of ‘No Runs DMC’ at least two times in recent weeks. The Cubs have been connected heavily to Andrew Miller and linked to Aroldis Chapman. Miller would fit in the front office’s plan, for the most part, that contract not so much.
According to a report from Buster Olney, if the Cubs want Andrew Miller the Yankees would want Kyle Schwarber in return. If Schwarber is not available (because he’s not) then the Yankees will find another team willing to pay the price for Miller.
Click on the link for all the details
Anthony Rizzo, an Inside-the-Park Home Run and Absurd June Numbers
Anthony Rizzo hit an inside-the-park home run in the finale of the Reds series (click on the link for the video). Rizzo had an excellent June at the plate, especially with the back issues he was (is) dealing with.
First-Year Player Draft Update: Cubs Sign Fourth Round Pick RHP Tyson Miller
The Cubs have signed several of the picks from last month’s draft. Fourth round pick, an intriguing arm, RHP Tyson Miller, inked his deal with the Cubs. Report includes a scouting report on Miller.
Click on the link to get caught up on all the draft pick signings and their bonuses.
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/01/16
Tom recapped all of the action down on the farm before the long, holiday weekend.
The Cubs received solid pitching performances throughout the system and Jeimer Candelario stayed hot with the I-Cubs.
The Daily CCO: Theo Epstein Says Cubs are Not Trading Kyle Schwarber
Theo Epstein addressed the Kyle Schwarber rumors without mentioning any teams. Epstein once again shot down the notion the Cubs would trade Schwarber.
Kyle Schwarber isn’t going to be traded. Those that think he will be dealt at all, much less for a reliever, simply are not listening to what the Cubs front office is saying (both with words and actions).
Updates on Jason Heyward, Adam Warren, Tommy La Stella, Joe Nathan, Dillon Maples, Sean Doolittle, Clayton Kershaw, Bud Norris and the Marlins’ setting the reliever market with the acquisition of Fernando Rodney are all included.
The jam packed Daily Report also includes all of the news, notes, links, rumors and This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs Month in Review – June 2016
Chris recapped the month that was and despite the perception, the Cubs had a good month of June.
Cubs to Celebrate a Century of Playing at Wrigley Field During Upcoming Homestand
The Cubs will celebrate 100 years of the Cubs playing at the corner of Clark and Addison during the brief, four-game homestand.
For all of the details on the homestand, click on the link.
Hammel Hammered, Mets Rain Over Cubs Continues – Mets 10, Cubs 2
Jason Hammel didn’t have it Friday night. And the Mets hit a bunch of home runs in between two in-game rain delays.
It was an ugly night in every since of the word for the Cubs in Queens on Friday.
The Daily CCO: It Was Three Years Ago Today the Cubs Traded for Jake Arrieta
Saturday was the three-year anniversary of the trade that landed Jake Arrieta, and Pedro Strop, with the Cubs. Arrieta has become one of the best pitchers in baseball since getting out of Baltimore and working with Chris Bosio.
The Daily Report includes all of the stats for Arrieta’s time with the Cubs.
Updates on Dexter Fowler, Tommy La Stella, Adam Warren, Tim Federowicz and all of the news, notes, rumors and links are included in the Daily Report.
Jon Lester Named National League Pitcher of the Month for June
The day before the dud in New York against the Mets, Jon Lester was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for June.
Lester was sensational in June and really has been all season, with two exceptions.
Dan Vogelbach, Armando Rivero Named to Pacific Coast League All-Star Team
Dan Vogelbach and Armando Rivero have put together good numbers in the first half. And it was announced Vogelbach and Rivero will represent the Cubs organization in the upcoming Triple-A All-Star Game.
First Year Player Draft Update: Cubs Sign RHP Bailey Clark, RHP Dakota Mekkes
The Cubs inked two more high draft picks in RHP Bailey Clark and RHP Dakota Mekkes to over-slot deals. Both right-handers, like Tyson Miller and many of the pitchers Jason McLeod drafted, are rather intriguing based on the scouting reports.
Click on the link to learn more about both pitchers and what the Cubs signed them for.
Cubs Hand Another One to the Mets – Mets 4, Cubs 3
Jake Arrieta’s struggles continued in the third of four games at Citi Field. The Mets scored all four runs off Arrieta and if not for Travis Wood his line would have looked a lot worse than it did. Arrieta issued two walks, both scored and the second was the difference in the game.
The Cubs had the tying and go ahead runs on base when the game ended.
Cubs Prospect Jeimer Candelario Staying On Track After Promotion to Triple-A Iowa
Checked in on Jeimer Candelario just before the news surfaced early Sunday morning that he received The Call and was on his way to The Show. Candelario put together very good numbers with Iowa and earned the call up to the majors.
The Daily CCO: Cubs Set Six-Man Rotation Leading into the Break and Other News and Rumors
Joe Maddon announced the Cubs starting rotation going into the All-Star break. Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, Adam Warren, Jason Hammel, Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey get the ball the last seven games of the first half.
The Daily Report includes updates on Joe Nathan, Matt Moore and the latest Tampa Bay Rays rumors. Along with all of the news, notes and links, the always popular This Day in Cubs History wraps up the daily look at Cubs news.
From the Wire: Cubs Recall Jeimer Candelario from Triple-A Iowa, Place Chris Coghlan on 15-Day DL
The Cubs made a surprising move. Jeimer Candelario was recalled from Triple-A Iowa prior to Sunday’s game when Chris Coghlan had to be placed on the DL. Reports suggested the Cubs would activate Tommy La Stella from the DL. But he’s not ready and the Cubs called up one of its top prospects.
Coghlan landed on the disabled list with a right rib cage strain.
Cubs Lose Four in a Row to the Mets – Mets 14, Cubs 3
The Cubs ended a challenging road trip by dropping all four games to the Mets. The Cubs struggled with the Mets again. And the Mets squared up Jon Lester and the Cubs pitching staff like they knew what was coming before the pitch was thrown.
If possible the game was harder to watch than the final score indicates.
Cubs Scouts Attend Rich Hill’s First Start Off Disabled List
Rich Hill has shown, so far, that it was no fluke the way he pitched with the Red Sox at the end of last season. Teams are doing their homework on Hill in advance of the non-waiver trade deadline (Aug. 1). And the Cubs might have been one of those teams. Cubs scouts were on hand to watch his start Saturday against the Pirates … but the Cubs wrap up the first half of the season against the Pirates, so it may have been just advance scouting.
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/04/16
Tom recapped all of the weekend action Down on the Farm. Several pitchers continue to stand out while John Andreoli and Bijan Rademacher led the I-Cubs and Smokies to wins.
The Daily CCO: Cubs News on the Fourth of July
The Cubs returned to Wrigley Field for Independence Day. The Cubs have three on tap against the Reds and a makeup game with the Braves.
Report includes update and an extended view on Dexter Fowler. Jeimer Candelario, Tommy La Stella, Clayton Richard and Brian Matusz are also in the Daily.
All of the news, notes, links and This Day in Cubs History from the Fourth of July are just a click away.
Kris Bryant Leaves Game with Contusion on Left Lower Leg, Cubs Not Expecting to Miss Any Time
There was a rather big scare in the fifth inning of Monday’s game. Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. collided in left center in the top of the fifth. Bryant initially appeared to be okay. He stayed in the game and finished out the half inning in the field.
When Bryant’s turn in the lineup came around in the bottom of the fifth, Matt Szczur was sent up to hit for him and the team announced Bryant left the game with a contusion on his lower left leg.
Kris Bryant is okay and Joe Maddon said he’s not expected to miss any time.
Cubs Fly the ‘W’ Flag on Independence Day – Cubs 10, Reds 4
The Cubs returned home and played their first game at Wrigley since June 22. A little home cooking and the Reds pitching staff is exactly what Joe Maddon’s team needed on the Fourth of July.
Addison Russell had a huge game with a two-run homer, three knocked in and he was responsible for two more runs scoring on an error.
Kris Bryant launched a two-run shot. Jason Heyward doubled in a pair. And Kyle Hendricks picked up the win after allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Recap includes video.
Cubs Sign Third Round Pick RHP Thomas Hatch
The Cubs agree to terms with third round pick RHP Thomas Hatch. The Cubs have signed each of the team’s first eight pick in last month’s draft.
Report includes all of the Cubs signings and the bonuses that have been reported from trusted outlets.