The Cubs played a good series out of the break against the Rangers. Joe Maddon’s team took two of three from one of the top teams in the American League and quieted concerns about the team for at least three days.
The Cubs finished the weekend with a 55-36 record, 19 games above .500 and the .604 winning percentage is second in the National League. The Cubs will begin play Monday night against the Mets with an eight-game lead over the Cardinals and 8 ½ games in front of the Pirates. The Cardinals lost again Sunday to the Marlins (6-3) and the Pirates edged the Nationals 2-1 in the 18-inning marathon in Washington DC.
There were plenty of prospect updates over the last three days. The Cubs made four roster moves and more are on the horizon early in the week with Joe Nathan on the verge of being added to the mix in the bullpen.
The Cubs announced signing 24 players selected in last month’s draft.
Theo Epstein talked about his team’s needs. And with the non-waiver trade deadline two weeks away, the rumor mill picked up.
Here are all the headlines chock full of the news, recaps, rumors and video to get you caught up from the last three days …
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/15/16
The weekend started on the CCO with Tom’s recap of the action down on the farm. The Cubs had one of the top pitching prospects make his first start of the season. Justin Steele returned to South Bend and Ryan McNeil picked up a save.
The veteran relievers in the system had a good end to the week.
Click on the link to get caught up with the news Down on the Farm.
The Daily CCO: Cubs Get Back to Work
The All-Star break came to an end and the Cubs resumed the season with a three-game series against the Rangers at Wrigley.
The Daily Report included updates on Dexter Fowler, Munenori Kawasaki, David Ross, the Cubs roster, Rob Zastryzny and Aaron Brooks
Joe Nathan is inching closer to the big league team. And the Red Sox set the market for starting pitching with the acquisition of Drew Pomeranz.
This Day in Cubs History, news, notes, links and rumors are all included in the Daily.
From the Wire: Cubs Place Trevor Cahill on 15-Day DL, Activate Clayton Richard and David Ross
The Cubs announced four roster moves prior to the series opener with the Rangers. Munenori Kawasaki was optioned to Iowa. Trevor Cahill landed on the DL. And the Cubs activated both Clayton Richard and David Ross from the disabled list.
The Professor, Cubs Shutout the Rangers – Cubs 6, Rangers 0
Kyle Hendricks set the tone for the afternoon in the first inning when he bent a little but did not break. Hendricks tossed six innings of shutout ball and the relief corps followed his lead.
Javier Baez drove in Addison Russell with the game’s first run. Russell added a two-run single. Matt Szczur delivered a two-run pinch hit single and the Cubs scored five runs in the sixth inning.
The Cubs started the ‘second half’ with a win over the Rangers.
Cubs Sign 24 Players from First-Year Player Draft
The Cubs announced Friday the team signed 24 players that were selected in last month’s draft.
Click on the report for the complete list, signing bonuses and the total amount the Cubs spent on the 24 players.
Baseball America’s Midseason Top 10 Cubs Prospects
Baseball America released its ranking of the 10 best players in the Cubs’ system at the midway point of the season. Gleyber Torres retained his top spot, but Ian Happ is not too far behind him according to John Manuel.
Click on the report to read the complete list, that includes more than a couple of pitchers.
The Daily CCO: A Good Restart, Cubs Rotation, Hendricks, Fowler and Other News and Rumors
The Cubs began the ‘second half’ with an impressive win over the Rangers. Theo Epstein met with the beat writers and talked about the perceived struggles of his team.
Joe Maddon announced a change to his starting rotation. Jon Lester, not Jake Arrieta, will start the opener against the Mets. Arrieta gets game two of the Mets series and will face Noah Syndergaard.
Daily Report includes updates on Kyle Hendricks, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler, Joe Nathan, Rob Zastryzny and Joel Peralta.
The Cubs announced a change to the start time for the Mariners game on July 31.
Rays pitching rumors, This Day in Cubs History, and all of the news, notes, links and rumors are mixed in an information filled daily.
Pitching, Defense and a Pair of Two-Out Knocks Down the Rangers – Cubs 3, Rangers 1
Jason Hammel allowed one run in six innings. The Cubs pen kept the Rangers off the board for three innings. Anthony Rizzo doubled in two runs with two outs against Yu Darvish. And Matt Szczur delivered a second pinch-hit RBI single in as many days.
The Cubs did all of the little things right to win the series with the Rangers.
Front Office Exploring Various Options and Ways to Improve Cubs Roster
The Cubs are expected to make moves to boost the roster in the next two weeks leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1.
Theo Epstein addressed his team’s needs and said the front office would not focus on just one area.
It’s believed the Cubs would like to add a left- and right-handed reliever for the back of the pen, a lefty hitting outfielder and starting pitching.
Read the report for the latest from the Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations.
The Daily CCO: Matt Szczur is Excelling Off the Cubs Bench and Other News and Rumors
Matt Szczur is really carving out a niche for himself on the Cubs’ bench. Szczur drove in runs in each of the first two games of the Rangers’ series with pinch-hit singles. Szczur has actually put up better numbers coming off the bench in games than he has in a starting role.
The Daily Report includes updates on Joe Nathan, Brian Matusz, Dan Vogelbach, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell … and of course, all of the news, notes, links, This Day in Cubs History and tons of rumors.
Cubs Prospect Gleyber Torres Reaches Base Five Times, Collects 20th Double of Season
Gleyber Torres reached base five times in the Pelicans’ extra innings win on Saturday night. Torres drove in four runs and hit two more doubles. Torres is just four doubles short of the 24 he hit last season and just one extra basehit shy equaling his total from a year ago.
For all the numbers and video, click on the report.
Cubs Still Can’t Figure Out Cole Hamels – Rangers 4, Cubs 1
The Cubs won the first two games of the series with the Rangers but could not complete the three-game sweep. John Lackey wasn’t able to keep the ball down and the Rangers off the scoreboard. Lackey had no room for error with Cole Hamels on the hill. Lackey did not step up while the offense performed better than expected against the greatness that is Cole Hamels.
Javier Baez doubled in the Cubs only run of the game.