Cubby-Blue

Despite contractual angst, there's alot of Cubs Spring goodness.

If you just forget that Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez need new contracts, things are actually pretty cool in Mesa.
It's just baseball.
KB hit his first springdinger.
Joc Pederson looks like a total beast.
Bummer for Cameron Maybin, but Jake Marisnick's calf healed and he's looking really good for outfielder #4.
Bleacher Nation says, "After today's performances, Jake Marisnick (1.500) has overtaken Joc Pederson (1.442) for the Cubs spring OPS lead."  (that statement has the usual "small sample" warning of course).
Pedro Strop got out of Covid-cheating jail and into the save column yesterday. Just great seeing him out there smiling in a Cubs uni again.
Trevor Williams, the guy who grew up in a Cub Fan household, will more than likely be the #4 starter after looking so good this spring.
Jake Arrieta has... well we all know about the slider(s), but he's got this curve that's really working for him. And he's sharing knowledge with Adbert Alzolay which seems to be making Adbert better. 
Willson Contreras has 9 hits in 29 at bats, 3 of 'em homers. 
We all know who's gonna be starting position-wise except at 2nd, except wait... it's going to be Nico Hoerner, right?
We got to hear Pat Hughes. 
The Cubs hired a female announcer for the first time in their history, Beth Mowins, and she was awesome in her debut yesterday.
There's just a ton of good stuff going on, and fan-wise you have to be feeling pretty dang good going into... real baseball games.
That's just 11 days away at 1:20 vs the Pirates. 

What else?
The other night, I realized that I had the grill going and... IT WAS STILL BRIGHT DAYLIGHT OUTSIDE!

Summer is gonna be here in no time, which makes me SO HAPPY.
What makes me sad?
Finding an xacto blade in a drawer.

Okay.
Go Cubs.
Oh yeah, the Javy Baez painting.
That's Javy with his bat that can splatter baseballs. 

Oct 22 was Kyle Hendricks' day in 2016.

Remember?
Kyle Hendricks vs Clayton Kershaw at Wrigley Field in game 6 of the 2016 NLCS.
Kershaw's ERA was 1.69 while Hendricks was at 2.13, and Kershaw's fastball about 5MPH faster than Kyle's.
But The Professor was in an incredible zone and went 7.1 innings and gave up 2 dinky singles and no runs, and my painting above shows him walking off the field in true aw shucks Hendricks Form with the timid wave.
When I look at the team in it's current state, my biggest hope would be that he heals from the shoulder thing and finds his old Professor ways. 
That guy... this last year had be just so incredibly difficult, and yet after every performance he stood in front of the camera and answered all the questions in the exact same manner he answered them in 2016.
Love that guy.

It's really weird but I think I've watched more playoff games this year than any I can remember, and it's all because some of my favorite players are now scattered around out there. 
I'm sure you saw Kyle Schwarber's deafening 488 footer off old buddy Yu Darvish. And since I can't look at the Padres without thinking of Steve Garvey and his smirky jerk face in 1984, I WANT THE PHILLIES TO WIN and old Schwarbs to be a giant hero.
They play game 3 tonight in Philly, tied at a game apiece.

While down in Houston, Captain Anthony Rizzo hit a 2-outed, full counted, choked-up dinger in game one, a classic shot.
But the Yankees are down 0 games to 2. 
I guess I'll just never get over hating the Astros and leave it at that. 
So MAY A MIRACLE happen in NY and the Yanks win the next 3 at home. 
And... one more thing about Rizzo. 
I could be wrong, but I swear his demeanor is waaaay more Yankee-ish now.
Like, you could just feel how much fun he was having when he was a Cub, and now it's just serious.
Almost grim.
Whatever, I hope he's a big part of a big comeback.

What else?
A miracle happened and both my kids came to visit from their different parts of the country.
We decided to take a beautiful drive to see all the fall colors and go pick apples at an orchard.
It looked like this:


Ahhh Chicago.
My kinda town. 

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.

The Cubs are doing what they're supposed to be doing vs the Pirates.

Game 1 vs the Pirates was a complete laugher - 9-0 shutout including Willson Contreras getting a salami as his 100th home run.
Wade Miley... he's been around and we've all seen him pitch for the Reds vs the Cubs, right?
Do you remember him as an uncommonly fast worker?
I don't.
I'd never seen him work as fast as he was working.
I was laughing at all the timeouts and step outs the Bucs were doing at the plate. 
7 innings, 1 hit, no runs no walks... the first 4 innings were 1-2-3 and he didn't give up the single until 2 out in the 5th. 
The game would have been FLYING except for the Cubs scoring 8 in the first.

I was at the game when the Cubs creamed the Pirates 21-0, but after that game the Cubs went into that funk. 
They went 6-12 during that stretch til the Pirates came to town Monday.
So I was worried about what would happen after the 9-0 laugher, and instead... well it's just the Pirates but these 2 games have made summer better in lots of ways.
First is Keegan Thompson.
5 innings, 4 hits, no runs.
He could obviously start, but the rotation... it's been better but still it's messy (and Covid hasn't helped with Stroman disappearing , although he could be back any minute).
Thompson is Mike Montgomery with what looks like better stuff and way less of that "I deserve to be a starter" head that Montgomery had.
I love this kid.
And THEN in the 6th, Norris comes in for a couple pitches and leaves with an Achilles thing.
In comes Brandon Hughes for his debut in The Bigs, and he strikes out 5 in his 1.2 innings.
He's the first guy to do that in the modern era.
He's also a 16th round pick by the Cubs, as an outfielder.
Read this from the Des Moines Register, it's a great story. 
But the point is... it's a pitcher the Cubs brought up, and it's crazy exciting because it's the kind of thing we see the Cardinals do all the time.
Couple years ago I'm at Busch with high school buddies watching the Cubs lose as Jose Quintana gives up 6 runs in the first inning.
Not a fun game, but Miles Mikolas gives up a couple and just when I think the Cubs might have some momentum, the Cards bring in a kid named Dakota Hudson for his Big League debut.
I remember saying something like, "Dakota Hudson? Sounds like a movie star, not a pitcher."
He strikes out 2 and his inning is over in a blink.
I HATE WHEN THE CARDINALS DO THAT STUFF, which is why Hughes performance gave me goosebumps.
And the other prospect making his B.L. debut, 22 year old Christopher Morel, he hits one out in his first at bat.

This game was just fantastic.

Tonight the Cubs have their first chance for a 2022 sweep. 
Please Baseball Gods, let this post not be a jinx.

Go Cubs. 

Last thing is just a quick story.
My wife and I go to one of those big, privately owned garden centers, supposed to be awesome.
And it is.
I mostly stand next to our gigantic metal push cart while she's picking out plants and dragging them over to me.
When we're checking out, the cashier sees that one of the plants has some other kind of plant growing in the pot and she says this:

I think she's joking, so I say, "SWEET!"
Had no idea she was so pissed til she dagger-eyed me.
I said to my wife, "Uh... I'll go get the car."