Cub Tracks' outFoxed
The Cubs blew the first game of the series, as their bats were still sick. Ryan Brasier, who has been decent at times, looks like one of the walking dead right now as Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon ride recent successful outings toward the Show and they'll need roster room if and when they arrive. The nine-year vet has no minor-league options.
I quite enjoyed the long silences Jason Benetti engineered, and Smoltz didn't indulge his sesquipedalian side. The Cubs were looking to atone for, if not avenge, the previous night's ugly loss, and one would suppose that simple dumb luck favored more safely-batted balls from Cub bats on this day, but then how many 0-fers tip the scales, exactly? Inquiring minds want to know.
Colin Rea (8-5, 4.23) took the ball for the blue as Andre Pallante (6-8, 4.57) hurled for the red. Rea has been as advertised as a Cub and Pallante has been.
The Cubs jumped out to a quick lead on an rbi single [VIDEO] and a 'steal of home' by Kyle Tucker on a bonehead play by the Cardinals.
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Rea continued to hit his spots and the Cubs got that old-time game up and running, exposing some sloppy defense as they put the pressure on. Michael Busch supplied a big slash, his 22nd [VIDEO].
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More runs were coming. Matt Shaw had a busy day with seven total bases [VIDEO], [VIDEO]. A quality start for Rea, quality work from Caleb Thielbar, Taylor Rogers, and Drew Pomeranz. The Cardinals rallied for a run but failed to bury the lead. The meatloaf is at stake.
*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.
Bernie Lincicome (Daily Herald* {$}): Should the Cubs faithful panic? If not now, when? 'The race to dismiss the Cubs is on…'
Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs have rotation decisions to make this week. 'Could right-hander Jameson Taillon return from the IL to make his next start with the major-league squad?'
Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs could see return of Miguel Amaya, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad soon. '… a trio of players are inching closer to a return…'
Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors*): Brewers, Julian Merryweather agree to Minor League deal. '… reports Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.'
Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs Takeaways: What we learned as bats go silent in series-opening loss to Cardinals. 'Since the All-Star break, Busch, Suzuki, Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong are collectively slashing .193/.299/.332.' Sahadev Sharma takes a swing {$}.
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Why the Cubs aren't panicking despite this troubling offensive trend. 'I don't think we swung the bats bad enough to get shut out,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. Maddie Lee reports* {$}.
Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball*): Kyle Tucker's slump can be fixed, but his timing needs work. '… the pitching hasn't been the issue of late.'
Zoe Grossman (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs 2025 draft pick Kane Kepley already turning heads in Single-A. 'He's a menace out there,' Dan Kantrovitz told Marquee Sports Network.
Kalen Lumpkins (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs fans are 'really excited' for Wrigley Field's 2027 All-Star Game. But how much will tickets cost? 'The 2025 All-Star Game at the Atlanta Braves' Truist Park sold out in a blink of an eye — despite the cost. The get-in price was $220 for standing room only, while seats ranged from $260 to more than $2,500.'
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