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Today’s Reflections
Monday, 2:30 PM MST — Instead of my trashing Jameson Taillon after his latest meltdown as I’ve been doing for a few starts, I was glad to let several writers do that job for me for once. That allowed me to concentrate on all the good things from the past weekend.
I had basically finished this article, left for a couple of hours for an appointment and returned to see if there was any new news to add in. Now, with Taillon being DFA, part of my article has been rewritten/reorganized.
This was quite the move by the Cubs. There was no messing around, but it was definitely needed, and time to move on. And if Jed Hoyer thought the price for SP was high last year, the Cubs are going to be put through the wringer this year.
Back to regularly scheduled comments:
The Cubs’ offense had multiple strong performances, including six hitters with at least one multi-hit game.
Let’s start with PCA, who posted 5-for-10, three runs, four RBI with two doubles, a triple and a home run. His big day was Saturday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a HR. Within that line, he went 2-for-3 against Paul Skenes, including a 400+ foot line drive off the center-field wall for an RBI double. Skenes did give up five runs in 5.1 innings, but rang up 11 strikeouts, so it wasn’t like he was flailing. Pete was a triple short of a cycle with three runs scored and three RBI in the game. PCA only had one hit Sunday, but it was that missing RBI-triple from the game before.
A bit overshadowed by PCA was Michael Busch’s 5-for-10 weekend with a double and walk (something PCA didn’t do), three RBI and a run scored.
Pedro Ramirez and Dansby Swanson had a nearly-duplicate pair of games. They each went 4-for-8 with three runs scored and two RBI. The only difference was Swanson’s RBI-double.
Miguel Amaya made his one game on Saturday count, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Nico Hoerner went 3-for-8 in the pair of games with two runs scored and an RBI.
A big honorable mention goes to Seiya Suzuki. While he only managed going 1-for05 in each of the two games, he had four RBI, including his two-run home run in the ninth inning Sunday that cut the Pirates’ lead to 8-7.
On the mound Saturday, ***** Imanaga tossed six scoreless innings against Skenes, stranding four hits and a walk while striking out four. Imanaga has had one similar game in each April, May and June while having struggles in his other outings. But this is the first time he has had back-to-back scoreless outings this season.
It was almost a perfect three-game series. Almost.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Sunday’s Game Stories:
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs face a tough Jameson Taillon decision as veteran doomed again by costly home runs in 8-7 loss. “Jameson Taillon’s future in the Chicago Cubs’ rotation became uncertain Sunday after an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
- John Perrtotto (MLB.com): Could Taillon move to Cubs’ bullpen? Veteran righty searching for answers. “Winless in last nine starts, Taillon bit by long ball once again.”
Saturday’s Game Stories:
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): MVPETE > Cy Skenes? Pete Crow-Armstrong dazzles as Cubs beat up October-type ace Paul Skenes. “Skenes reached a season-high 11 strikeouts, but the Cubs got five runs off the reigning Cy Young winner, with Crow-Armstrong bolstering his MVP candidacy with a four-hit night and a couple wins in showdowns with Skenes.”
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- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): M-V-Pete? Crow-Armstrong adds to his case with 4-hit night — including a HR — in Chicago Cubs’ 11-0 rout. “The M-V-P chants started among Chicago Cubs fans behind the visitors dugout as Pete Crow-Armstrong crossed the plate.”
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Trade, Injury and Roster Talk:
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs DFA Jameson Taillon in middle of rough season, further stressing pitching need ahead of trade deadline. “The Cubs cut their longest-tenured active pitcher loose Monday, with the veteran righty failing produce in a positive way for a team in the thick of a playoff race.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer quietly sent Cubs’ biggest trade deadline message with Jameson Taillon decision. “Monday was an important day for the Cubs front office.”
- Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Latest Cubs rumor from Jeff Passan suggests Jed Hoyer is about to level up at the trade deadline. “The pressure is on for Chicago’s president of baseball operations to deliver.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs once again have a path toward popular trade deadline target after Marlins’ skid. “We’re doing this again?”
- Casey McAleer (DaWindyCity): The Cubs cannot afford to ignore a Tarik Skubal blockbuster. “Chicago should pursue the two-time Cy Young winner without recklessly sacrificing its future for a rental.”
- Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs May Hold Key Trade Chip to Landing One of Angels’ Best Starting Arms. “The Cubs need a pitcher.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs Injury Update: Hunter Harvey’s surprising timeline, Daniel Palencia’s next step, Shelby Miller. “Hunter Harvey, Daniel Palencia, and Shelby Miller are all tracking to return to the Chicago Cubs before the end of the season.”
Players’ Views/Development RE: Trade Deadline:
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs’ clubhouse believes. As the trade deadline nears, does Chicago’s front office? ““The players that we have in this clubhouse right now,” Matthew Boyd said, “we believe are good enough to win the World Series.”
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Pete Crow-Armstrong says any trade-deadline adds will only help Cubs, but ‘I love what we’ve got’. “The Cubs’ MVP candidate knows what happens at this time of year and would be happy to welcome any additions the front office makes at the trade deadline. But he’s also thrilled with the current group and ready to chase a championship.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Jacob Webb’s New Pitch Softens Cubs’ Need for Reliever at MLB Trade Deadline. “He’s not a traditional relief ace, but Jacob Webb loves his high-leverage role with the Cubs—and the new breaking ball he and the team engineered has made him viable in it.”
Assorted Stories:
- Tom Ley (The Defector): Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Good Enough To Raise The Forbidden Question. “Let’s acknowledge that there is no conversation to be had about who the best player in baseball is, so long as Shohei Ohtani is drawing breath and applying his skills as a two-way player.”
- Tony Andracki (AllChgo.com): Pete Crow-Armstrong is taking a page out of Anthony Rizzo’s book and it’s paying off. “Pete Crow-Armstrong may be on his way to an NL MVP award in 2026 and he has a legendary former Cub to thank for his development.”
- Bill Heyen (Sporting News): Cubs legend Kerry Wood threw mind-blowing behind-the-back pitch for Savannah Bananas. “There’s no way you could do this even if you tried.”
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): How a new changeup and an extended opportunity have fueled Chicago Cubs reliever Gavin Hollowell’s success. “Chicago Cubs reliever Gavin Hollowell is getting an extended opportunity to show what he can do in the majors.”
- Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball): The Cubs Lineup Isn’t Good Enough to Go All-In. “Go past WAR accumulation. Is the lineup as good as it needs to be to truly contend?”
- Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Fueled by NLDS loss to Brewers, Cubs relish chance to turn regular season’s ‘dog days’ into playoff momentum. “The Cubs are hungry to go further than they did last postseason, when they were bounced by the division-rival Brewers, and see the late-summer days of the regular season as part of the exciting road to a deep October run.”
Food For Thought:
The founder of the eponymous Betty Fox Band fills the stage with smoky notes and a sultry presence, energizing crowds with smooth, powerful vocals. Born into a musical family, the Tampa native discovered her passion at an early age. Fox’s grandparents traveled around to churches with their kids, singing gospel hymns. Later, the family gathered around the piano every Sunday to sing harmonies, a tradition they continue now on holidays.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
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