Cubby-Blue

Cubs' Frank the Tank sent to Iowa

For me, one of the minor-bad things about times like these (rebuilding) is when the team's marketing plays up one of the temporary Cubs like Frank Schwindel, and then this happens.
Shipped off to Iowa.
I mean, I know Frank won't be on the next "contender" Cubs team, but for now, this summer of losing, I'm supposed to like him.
And I do!
He was an amazing bat story last year, and seriously... what a hilarious character.
Until this happens.
Frank's having a rough go of it at the same time the Cubs decided to pick up an underperforming Cleveland Guardian, Franmil Reyes. Franmil has had a big power bat, but this season he kind of lost it.
The Cubs think they might help him get it back.
Makes sense, but I'll miss The Tank and those facial expressions.

Speaking of marketing... Hey look! It's the Field of Dreams Game!
It's like National Oatmeal Day brought to you by Quaker.
This year, it features two teams sporting a combined 89-131 record, our Cubs vs the Reds.
I still can't believe the success of such a weird ploy - I haven't watched a single one yet.
But I will tonight.
All snide-ness aside, it's kinda wild watching some of these new faces in the bullpen.
There's Sean Newcomb with a 9.45 ERA, and Kevin Castro checking in at 19.64.. but there's also Erich Uelman at 3.52 and Anderson Espinoza at 2.84.
Espinoza is 24 years old - I bet he's in Rossy's circle of trust.
And starting tonight will be Drew Smiley vs the Reds' Nick Lodolo.
I wish it were Steele or Stroman or Thompson, but whatever.
I recommend some ribs on the grill and settle down at 6:15 pm and tune into FOX or even better... this kind of nostalgia-esque game seems like a perfect Pat Hughes vehicle. 
Get out your transistor.

You'll notice that I've hardly been posting this summer, and that's because I"ve been out of my mind painting, making prints, matting, and framing all kinds of art for the Bucktown Arts Fest. 
Sorry.
But if you're in town August 27th or 28th, stop by my tent and say hi.
I probably won't have that Frank the Tank painting up (it's kind of too big for my tent), but still there's a ton of Cubs art. 
And this is just a sneak peek into the future, but next summer there's a remote chance I'll try for a job at Wrigley.
Maybe one of those people helping you find your seat or something.
Haven't really thought it through, but if I do it, there's surely gonna be some fun stories.
HEY YOU KIDS! YOU CAN'T BE IN THE FRONT ROW LIKE THAT... LET ME SEE THOSE TICKETS!

Last thing.
I did get to go golfing for the first time in years.
Don't you hate when you swing too hard and there's that guy in your foursome WAY better than you who says, "Let the club do the work."

Weekend's overall score: Yankees 28 Cubs 5.

What was it like watching the Cubs get slaughtered by the Yankees this weekend?

Like this.
Right now, there are of course injuries especially to the starting staff. 
But in addition to that, the kids who've done well, didn't.
And that's either because they had bad games or the Yankees just figured them out.
Swarmer's first couple starts were AMAZING! How can a guy with that pedigree and only 2 pitches be wily enough to have 2 really good starts in a row to begin his career in the Bigs?
But I can't remember watching a guy get sliced apart in sort of slow motion over so many innings with all the solo homers... ever.
Oh.
That's because it tied a record from 1932 for giving up 6 solomers.
Even I'm not that old.
Why did Ross leave him in for soooo long?
Well, he shot most of his bullpen bullets in Friday's game, and Swarmer just had to... be a sacrifice.
I keep thinking that with those 2 pitches - a fastball and his slider that has versions... don't you think he'd have success in the bullpen?
But, you know, circumstances.
Sunday's game was.. ahhh never mind.
So Rizzo got to beat the Cubs brains out, and tonight if Yu Darvish does the same, well the Cubs haven't been this low in a looong time.
And if that isn't bad enough, there's gonna be a Sriracha shortage!

NOOOOOOOOOO!

About 15 of the next 77 or so hours will be Cubs vs Cards.

 

This schedule is nuts!
During the next 77-odd hours, 15 of them will feature the Cubs playing the Cardinals.
5 games (about 15 hours) in 4 days (96 hours minus today's 19 hours waiting til 7PM game time).
I always screw up math but whatever.
Also, 11 year old me can't help doing the Cardinals pooping on their logo.

How about Christopher Morel?
I don't believe this is like a Tuffy Rhodes thing, where Morel will start off on fire and flame out.
Rhodes hit those 3 homers on Opening Day in '96, and then... honestly I can't remember BUT... Morel feels real and a godsend.
That scene last night..
Bottom 10th with Jason Heyward at third, one out and Morel down 2 strikes... He looks over his shoulder at Willson Contreras who takes an exaggerated deep breath to remind Morel to just  b r e a t h e.
Which Morel does. 
Then he delivers with the fly ball to Christian Yelich, who's got something hitchy going on with his arm because it wasn't even close.
Heyward tags and scores, Cubs win 4-3.

AND NOW IT'S SO GREAT TO GO INTO THIS CARDINALS SERIES WITH A LITTLE MOMENTUM!

Tonight at 7:05 we'll get to see two crazy-talented kids - our Keegan Thompson and the Cards' Matthew Liberatore.
Tomorrow's Stroman and then we'll see Swarmer and Steele and somebody else by Sunday, and by then, I'm gonna be needing some caffeine.

Go Cubs.

Also I forgot the double header will be 7-inning games so they won't be the 3 hr 5 min MLB average so.. sue me.

Patrick Wisdom with the clutch home run!

Maybe I should be happy I still have hair rather than complain about more of it turning gray.
We were visiting up in Wisco, and spent half of game 1 of the Memorial Day Cub/Brewer doubleheader at a little bar on a lake. 
Then watched game 2 while grilling filets from a store called Sausage Plus.
Both games... you know... it's not the Three Stooges, but more like watching a juggler as somebody off screen keeps tossing in flaming bowling pins. 
I was just sick of the losses where afterwards you say, "Yeah but a pretty good game."
I needed the kind of joy one can only experience when Patrick Wisdom hits a clutch rocket out the park in the bottom of the 8th and the Cubs actually get a W.
Seriously, I was all ready to say the "pretty good game" thing again, because it was. 
Lots of really tough plays (or misplays haha Milwaukee) in the outfield, and trading the momentum back and forth. 
And finally thanks to Wisdom, the late lead and David Robinson saving it.
Ahhhhhh.
That's better.
So far this year the Brewers have 5 wins to the Cubs 4 - so they can tie it with a win tonight, and then an insane 5 games in 4 days vs the Cardinals. 
The Cards will start with Matthew Liberatore and Miles Mikolas while the Cubs will start with Tobe Determined. 
The bullpen has been overall very good all season, but this stretch has been and continues to be beyond brutal. 
Sox/Brewers/Cardinals... eleven games in the same nine days that starters Wade Miley and Drew Smyly disappear (along with Seiya Suzuki and Jonathan Villar). 
They already brought up Matt Swarmer who did well in his start the other day, but Rossy already said that top pitching prospect Caleb Kilian is not on the table yet.
The doubleheader extra man rule means on Saturday the Cubs can pick a 27th player, surely a pitcher, from the 40 man but...
if I were a betting man I'd say that some time in the next 5 days we'll see a position player pitching for the home team.
I'll also say I CAN'T WAIT FOR CUBS CARDINAL ACTION AT WRIGLEY FIELD!
But I'm breaking the don't look ahead rule, and today the biggest wish is a vintage Kyle Hendricks performance that goes deep into the game. 
Fingers crossed and Go Cubs!

Last thing.
I can't really talk about this yet, but there's going to be a new show on Marquee called "Is This Seat Taken?"
It's kind of a talk show including a fan, a celeb, a former Cub and current Cub, created by my old group creative director Dave Merhar. 
He called out of the blue and asked if I could work on it, so... as of now this watercolor is the "logo" for it:

And they say they'll also use some of my paintings in the show itself.
Needless to say I'm very excited.
I went to the filming of the first couple episodes and... well, I'll tell you more about it later.
If you're on FaceBook, you can follow here and maybe get to sign up to be in the live audience at the next filming.