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Today’s Reflections
Since I had gotten into the habit of actually listening (and enjoying) the play-by-play for a few days, I’m back to turning the audio down. The story below by Michael Cerami is a great article.
I think MLB has the same feelings (if it has feelings) that I do by the PCA drama at this point: What PCA did was horrible; hopefully he has learned the importance of professionalism; let’s move on. I’m tired of seeing the same story over and over take up half of my feed four days later. I think the fine is adequate — it acknowledges that something did occur, and that MLB is watching.
The stories below about Cabrera were before his blister issue Wednesday night.
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Wondering about Edward Cabrera:
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): ‘I think he has better in him’: How the Chicago Cubs are viewing Edward Cabrera’s start to the season. “Cabrera’s first season with the Cubs hasn’t seen the 28-year-old fully tap into the version they believe he can be.”
- Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): What’s Behind Edward Cabrera’s Struggles? “Why is Edward Cabrera struggling to keep the ball in the park—and can he get it fixed soon enough for a struggling Cubs rotation?”
Trade talk — Patience is wearing thin in some corners of Cubdom:
- Rich Eberwein (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ recent offensive slump highlights the biggest flaw in the starting lineup. “As the Cubs’ bats go cold, the lack of a true power hitter is holding the lineup back. Is it time for Jed Hoyer to target a superstar slugger via trade?”
- Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib): 3 Matt Shaw trade fits that could also solve Cubs biggest trade deadline need. “Shaw figures to be a much-discussed name in trade talks this season.”
- Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs .792 OPS slugger who makes perfect sense as ‘untouchable’ trade chip. “Between his age and talent, there’s not a player other than (Moises) Ballesteros who better fits this “untouchable” label than him.“
- Jon Conahan (Sporting News): Cubs should make obvious trade with division rival in deal that would benefit both teams. “Trades in the same division in Major League Baseball aren’t very common, though there are times when they make a lot of sense for both sides.”
- Tommy Erbe (OnTapSportsNet): Insider: Chicago Cubs “Already Making Phone Calls” for Trades. “The Chicago Cubs are in obvious need of pitching help. The MLB trade deadline is a ways away, but they don’t seem to be waiting around.”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): What rule changes are next? Who will go 1-2 in the MLB draft? It’s our MLB Mailbag, expert edition. “What pitchers with term do you think are realistic targets for the Cubs to consider trading multiple prospects to get?”
LOBby numbers by the Cubs’ hitters are getting out of hand:
- Tommy Erbe (OnTapSportsNet): By The Numbers: Chicago Cubs “Woes” With Runners On Base. “The Chicago Cubs lead the league in runners left on base by a wide margin. How detrimental is it, and how much stock should be put in it?”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): ‘Way Too Early’ to Watch Standings as Cubs’ LOB Issues Persist in Latest Losses. “The futility has not been of any one particular failure, though it’s hard to ignore the team’s prolonged issues with capitalizing on runners in scoring position.”
An excellent article — that doesn’t need to name names:
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): A Request for Marquee: Have Some Feel for the Moment … Please. “But (at Marquee), there are still some flaws – well, one main flaw today – I want to discuss. And that’s the occasional lack of feel for the moment.”
I can appreciate the proper usage of “Slumpy”:
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): With a Team as Streaky (and Slumpy) as the 2026 Chicago Cubs, It’s Important to Stay Even-Keeled. “The 162-game season is overloaded with temptations to read too much into a game or two. When a team runs hot and cold for over a month, that temptation grows. Fight it.”
- Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Pete Crow-Armstrong provides context about viral fan interaction. “Center fielder says fans at Rate Field were insulting his famous mom.”
- Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Latest Matthew Boyd injury update could not come soon enough for the Cubs. “So far, so good on the left-hander’s recovery from knee surgery.”
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): ‘It’s been a ride’: Chicago Cubs reliever Trent Thornton embracing return to majors after tearing his Achilles. “All Trent Thornton could do was hope for the best.”
- Nick Halden (Da Windy City): Cubs have little to lose by taking a flyer on Aaron Bummer. “Atlanta’s decision to move on from the veteran reliever could quietly create an intriguing opportunity for Chicago.”
- Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ sprint to the top of the NL Central has hit a Brewers-sized roadblock. “Well, the good news for the Cubs is the season is a marathon, not a sprint, according to sources.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): 3 potential Cubs call-ups who are tearing it up at Triple-A in 2026. “Reinforcements on the way?”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs lose grip atop NL Central as North Siders can’t solve Misiorowski. “Ben Brown turned in a decent performance opposite the Brewers’ budding ace, but Chicago’s lineup was not able to break through at all until after Misiorowski’s exit.”
- Brandon Glick (Cubbies Crib): If the Cubs are banking on Jameson Taillon’s reliability, that ignores a fatal flaw. “Taillon has broken down at the worst possible time for the Cubs.”
- Dan Fappiano (Clutch Points): Cubs get impactful reliever back from IL before Brewers game. “As the Cubs prepare to face the Milwaukee Brewers in an NL Central clash, Chicago will see one of their better relievers make their return.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Nico Hoerner’s Hot Start Has Given Way to a Cold Spell. Can He Turn Things Around? “This is no longer a walk year for Nico Hoerner, but the Cubs still need it to be a hit year, you know?”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): One weakness in Ian Happ’s profile is quietly derailing the Cubs’ offense. “Sure, power is expected from the No. 4 hitter in any lineup, but there also comes an expectation to produce with runners in scoring position.”
- Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): The Cubs Have a Major Bullpen Issue. “In addition to the injuries, the Cubs’ bullpen has seen a lot of inconsistent performances.”
- Bradford Doolittle (ESPN): MLB 2026: What we’ve learned so far about ABS. “While it’ll take years to truly assess the effects of ABS on the game, we can at least dive into the early results and see what stands out.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs’ home winning streak snapped by Brewers in NLDS rematch. “The North Siders have been trying to overtake their rivals to the north for three years running and understand that the finish line matters more than how the division race looks in mid-May.”
Food For Thought:
The Black Circles are no more but Sam Bratley is working on new music. The Black Circles have a big and energetic sound that is packed with attitude. Guitarist & Vocalist Sam Bratley has been compared to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Albert & Freddie King. The Blues is the blues whether you come from the deep-south or from Warrington in the North West of the UK.
Police in France are warning drivers to beware of drunk deer and other inebriated wildlife wandering into roadways after eating fermented fruits. The Saône-et-Loire Gendarmerie posted a video to social media showing a deer frolicking erratically and running in circles after apparently consuming intoxicants.
“Not all road users are sober,” the post said.
The Gendarmerie wrote deer and other creatures can become inebriated after eating buds, fermented fruits or decaying plants, leading them to “totally unpredictable behavior.” Drivers were warned to keep a lookout for “sudden crossing, inconsistent trajectory, immobilization on the road [and] disorderly escape. If Bambi overindulges on the forest aperitif, it might not be the time to drive like you own the road,” the post said.
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