BCB After Dark: Grade the Cubs' first month

Yahoo

01-05-2025

It's Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Thanks for stopping by. We're always glad to see you. Let us know if you need anything. There are still a few tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
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The Cubs lost to the Pirates tonight, 4-3 in one of those games you say 'They should have won.' The BABIP Gods were against the Cubs tonight. Also, it seemed like no one wanted to play after that incident with the fan at PNC Park. Unfortunately, now the team has to beat the Pirates with Paul Skenes starting or they will lose their second-straight series.
Last night I asked you if thought it was time for the Cubs to call up Cade Horton. There was a real division of opinion there, but 38 percent think the Cubs should wait until at least Memorial Day. Another 31 percent voted to call him up now and 18 percent think he should stay in Iowa until the All-Star Break at least.
Here's the part where we listen to music and talk movies. You're welcome to skip that. You won't hurt my feelings.
Today (April 30) is International Jazz Day at the end of Jazz Appreciation Month. One of the events of Jazz Appreciation Month is the honoring of the new NEA Jazz Masters. One of this year's inductees is Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés. Here's Valdés playing one of those NPR Tiny Desk Concerts last summer.
I don't have any film to write about tonight. I watched Alias Nick Beal (1949) and I don't have much to say about it other than Ray Milland was a good Devil.
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So I thought I'd just throw the floor open to you and ask 'What films would you like me to write about?' If there's a film that you are curious about my take on it, tell me in the comments and maybe I'll write about it.
I don't write about the big classics like Casablanca, The Godfather, Some Like it Hot, Gone With the Wind, Raiders of the Lost Ark and so on because I think there are enough words spilled all over the internet on those films and I don't know what I would say that would be any more enlightening. I also don't do recent, 21st century films, unless they are obscure indie fare. Again, there are lots of people on the internet writing about Sinners and you don't need my take. (I haven't seen it anyway.)
But if there is some classic films you'd like me to write about, tell me in the comments and tell everyone why they should watch it. I'm not saying that I will watch and write about it, but I will consider it. The vast majority of the films I watch are viewable on one of the streaming services I subscribe to so if what you suggest isn't available on one of them, I probably won't write about it. Or at least I won't until it shows up on one of them.
Someone asked me to watch Ikiru a while ago and I swear it is in my watch list on the Criterion Channel. The problem is that Ikiru is part of Criterion's permanent collection and I'm always struggling to watch all the films on that channel that are only available for two or three months before they disappear.
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It doesn't have to be a movie you've seen. It can be something you've always wanted to see but haven't gotten around to it.
Even if I don't end up getting any workable suggestions, this gives you all a chance to talk about the movies you want to talk about rather than me dictating the conversation.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
We've finished the first month of the season and it was a long month, since the month of April started in Tokyo on March 18. It was a 31-game month.
There was much written, including by me, about how tough this first month of the season has been. They finished their season series with three NL West powerhouses already, the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres. In fact, until the Cubs faced off against the Pirates yesterday, every team they played in March/April has a winning record at the end of the month.
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Despite that schedule, the Cubs finish the month at 18-13 and in first place in the NL Central, two games ahead of the Reds and Brewers. There are a lot of good things to say about the month. The offense is the best in the majors. Kyle Tucker has been a huge addition. Pete Crow-Armstrong is showing himself to be a possible future superstar and Michael Busch has taken a step forward over his rookie year as well. The catchers have been ridiculously good—so good that no one believes that they'll keep it up.
On the other hand, Justin Steele is out for the year after elbow surgery. Dansby Swanson has struggled, although he's showing signs of coming out of it in Pittsburgh. The bullpen has been unpredictable, and not really in a good way.
So give the Cubs a grade for the first month.
Thank you for stopping by this evening and all week. We appreciate all of you who read, vote and comment. Please get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again next time for more BCB After Dark.
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