This is a Cubs News & Notes blog where I recap some of the miscellaneous stuff going on in the Cubs universe.
Let’s get into it:
- The Monday Morning Cubs Show is up and back and we tackle the Justin Steele injury to start the week. The general premise is that the Cubs can overcome the injury, it’s just a matter to what extent. Is the goal to improve the rotation to win a World Series? Then you’re probably making a trade without Justin Steele getting hurt anyways. Is the goal to make the playoffs? The needs go down a little bit. And if we’re just trying to turn a profit like Tom Ricketts makes me think, then don’t do anything at all and let the chips fall where they may.
- Personally, I think Jed is GM’ing for this job (or next) and he’s got his own pressure to get a big arm. In that case, he benefits from the Justin Steele injury because he can use it as an excuse for failure while still taking an appropriate risk the make the team better. And with Steele out, the excuse train keeps rolling right along for all involved. It’s really a perfect mix for the front office to side step accountability while giving Tom Ricketts enough ammunition to face the fans publicly. The Cubs love that kinda shit.
- People hate Nate Pearson but we should remember Craig Counsell didn’t have a choice last night. Hodge and Pressly were set up for 8/9 and Counsell had Morgan, Keller and Pearson for 6 and 7
- You either run Pearson back out tomorrow for an inning and commit to his usage or you send him down to AAA right now. Either give him grace to turn it around one more time or start the development process again in the minors. But don’t just exist on the active roster because Jed Hoyer traded for you and it would look bad if he didn’t stay on the big league club. That’s the kinda shit that drives me crazy and I believe we could be toeing that line on Pearson right now.
- In lighter news, this is awesome:
- Small but nice touch from MLB to give everyone the 42 on team websites to celebrate Jackie Robinson
- If Jackie Robinson doesn’t move your emotional needle then you just need to learn more about his story. Don’t take it personally just read a book one time on the guy.
- I watched 42 this morning and cried 5 separate times. The scene where Pee Wee Reese reads Jackie’s hate mail sends me into a fuckin tailspin.
- Cubs are 11-8 and in first place with some momentum. A lot of people have been salty about the bullpen but that’s just because you need the reactions and the content. My personal and professional advice is that you’ll be cashed out in mid-June if you stay at this pace. Just try to enjoy the baseball game even if they tragically blow it and consistently ruin our collective psyche over the next 6 months. Shut up and deal with it.
- Or don’t – totally up to you how to handle your own personal frustration with the Chicago Cubs.
- One personal thing I’m trying to do with the Cubs is take a step back from the pitching and stop being so serious about the granular data. Forever I have tried to be uniquely insightful into the Cubs pitching and it got to the point of data overload and I lose grasp of the conversation. I’m trying to live more high level this year and keep a good attitude because I think that’s important for the content and message I want to share about the Cubs. If we’re going to let ourselves be miserable then I should just stop right now because it’s most certainly going to end in misery anyways. So why not just get it out of the way now so we can enjoy ourselves the rest of the year?
- With that in mind – we’re in a really good spot if you’ve been paying attention to the blogs and following the MMCS. The big pieces are falling into place and Mahoney’s just about the best cohost I could possibly ask for in the next chapter of this Cubs conversation.
- Specifically, here’s the big picture stuff we’ve nailed perfectly:
- Kyle Tucker would be so much better than you thought
- PCA is converting to power when everyone wants him to bunt
- Miguel Amaya made ridiculous swing changes and now he’s a bonafide everyday catcher
- Matt Shaw has major question marks
- Nico Hoerner is the most important spark in the lineup
- Tom Ricketts is still propping up COVID losses to buy sympathy from fans and it’s not working to the extent that he might be peer pressured into a midseason extension and that’s awesome
- Jed Hoyer is doing the best he can
- Seiya Suzuki is one of the best free agent contracts in MLB
- The Cubs can win an NLDS
- The Cubs should win the NL Central
- Jed should make another move to improve the team
- Kyle Tucker will be your favorite player
- We’ve been on top of a lot of this stuff before the season even started and it feels good to have that momentum. I know this is a selfish note but I’m inclined to share because I’m proud of the work me and Mahoney are putting into this season.
- By all means please follow along here: