The Cubs took two of three in Houston and won a series on the road against a team fighting to make the playoffs. The Cubs became the first team to 90 wins on Friday behind Jon Lester and a two-run homer from Kris Bryant. The offense broke out in Sunday’s finale and put a nine-spot on the board before the Astros tried to make a game of it.
The Cubs are 91-51 on the season, 40 games over .500 and have a 16-game lead in the NL Central. With the Cardinals losing on Sunday, the Cubs’ magic number is down to five. The Cubs have a chance to win the first division title in eight years this week.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Eugene Emeralds advanced to their league championship series. And the Pelicans received one of the top prospects in the system as an injury replacement for one of their big bats.
The postseason recognition and awards continued to roll in down on the farm.
And there was an update on the Twins interest in several of the Cubs’ execs.
Here are the headlines packed with all of the news, recaps and highlight videos from the last three-plus days to get you caught up before the huge three-game series in St. Louis …
Cubs Prospect Matt Rose Named Midwest League Player of the Month for August
After a slow start to the season, Matt Rose finished his year on an uptick and the Midwest League noticed what he was doing offensively. Rose was named the best player in the league for the month of August.
Eloy Jimenez Makes Baseball America’s 2016 MiLB All-Star Team
Baseball America named its first and second-team All-Stars for the recently completed minor league season. And the Cubs were represented by one of its top prospects.
Eloy Jimenez was included on a who’s who list of minor league prospects. Baseball America recognized the sensational season by the 19-year old outfielder including him on their first team All-Star roster.
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/09/16
Tom recapped all of the action from the first round playoff action down on the farm. If you missed any of the updates or just like reading about the prospects then this report is for you.
The Daily CCO: Dexter Fowler, Cubs Not Concerned about Lack of Offense
The long weekend of baseball started with looking back at Dexter Fowler’s numbers. And that his recent struggles at the plate are in line with the way he’s played in September throughout his career.
Lots of numbers to take a look at for Fowler and what he’s done at the plate since returning from the DL.
The Daily Report includes all of the news, notes, links, video and the popular This Day in Cubstory.
Cubs Hire Scout Spike Lundberg
Spike Lundberg was one of the top scouts in the Astros organization … and now he’s with the Cubs.
Twins Reportedly Looking at Cubs to Fill Front Office Vacancies
Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod, Shiraz Rehman and Randy Bush have all been linked to the Twins by various media outlets. The Cubs front office says they are focused on the team they built winning a championship.
For the latest from the rumor mill on the Cubs’ execs, click on the report.
Cubs Prospect Review: INF Jeimer Candelario
Jeimer Candelario had an excellent, but confusing, season that came to an unexpected end last week when he wasn’t called up for September.
This report includes all of the tremendous numbers and a few videos of the third best prospect in the Cubs’ system.
Lester, Defense Superb in Cubs Shutout of ‘Stros – Cubs 2, Astros 0
Jon Lester pitched seven innings of shutout ball in the opener with the Astros. Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman blanked Houston for the other two innings.
Kris Bryant smacked a two-run homer for the Cubs’ runs. And Joe Maddon’s team won for the 90th time on the season.
Recap from the Cubs first win in Houston includes video.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans – Eugene Emeralds
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Eugene Emeralds advanced to their respective league championship series on Friday night.
Click on the links for the recaps as both of the Cubs affiliates advanced in the postseason …
- Myrtle Beach Advances to Mills Cup Championship Series
- Eugene Takes Down Hillsboro, Advances to Northwest League Finals
The Daily CCO: The First to Ninety, More Defensive Gems and Other Cubs News
The Cubs became the first team to reach 90 wins on the season with the 2-0 victory over the Astros on Friday night … 90 wins by Sept. 9, just a special season.
Javier Baez and Jason Heyward turned in two excellent plays in the field on Friday night, and this report has the video to prove it.
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo … just read the numbers. Bryzzo just continues to make their mark in Cubs history.
Info on changes to the Cubs-Cardinals series at Wrigley, This Day in Cubs History and all of the news, notes and links are included in the Daily Report.
Lackey of Offense a Problem in Houston – Astros 2, Cubs 1
The Cubs managed only two hits and scored their only run on a sac fly from Willson Contreras. John Lackey had one ‘rough’ inning in which the Astros scored both of their runs … one on a solo homer, the other on a bunt single, a single and a safety squeeze.
The bullpen did its job. The offense could not get it in gear.
Two Cubs Prospects Named Northwest League Year-End All-Stars
Two of the youngest arms in the Cubs’ system had excellent short-seasons with the Eugene Emeralds in the Northwest League … Manuel Rondon and Dylan Cease.
The Daily CCO: Cubs Goal is to Clinch in St. Louis
The Cubs are inching toward the franchise’s first division title in eight years. And Miguel Montero admitted to the Sun-Times, the Cubs would like to wrap up the division in St. Louis.
Cubs and Cardinals announced their starting pitchers for the upcoming series. The Cubs have already made a change.
Video of Willson Contreras and Javier Baez making excellent plays in the field are included.
The Cubs lost pitcher A.J. Alvarez on waivers to the Rangers.
And the Daily Report includes all of the news, links and This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs Promote Eloy Jimenez to High-A Myrtle Beach
Unfortunately Yasiel Balaguert got hurt on Friday and South Bend’s season came to an end on Saturday in order for the Cubs to be able to promote Eloy Jimenez to High-A Myrtle Beach. But with the Pelicans playing in the Mills Cup Championship Series they needed a bat to replace Balaguert and Jimenez was sent to help.
Jimenez was in the starting lineup, batting cleanup on Sunday in game two of the championship series.
Cubs Offense Fiers Early, Play a Complete Game and Take Series in Houston – Cubs 9, Astros 5
The Cubs clicked on all cylinders in Sunday’s finale with the Astros. The Cubs played excellent defensive and the excellent baserunning helped build a big lead … and two home runs, one from Jorge Soler and the other from Addison Russell, a two-run shot didn’t hurt.
The Cubs scored nine runs on 10 hits and quieted concerns about the offense for at least one day.
Jake Arrieta was sharp through five innings before struggling in the sixth. The bullpen of Justin Grimm, Trevor Cahill and Travis Wood was very good, with two exceptions in the ninth.