The Chicago Cubs took care of enterprise in Pittsburgh to arrange an enormous sequence at Wrigley Field.
They carry momentum right into a three-game set in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers after profitable three of 4 video games in opposition to the Pirates. It’s an opportunity to chip away on the Brewers’ National League Central lead, starting with Monday evening’s sequence opener in what needs to be an electrical environment.
It was per week of change for the White Sox after firing government vice chairman Ken Williams and common supervisor Rick Hahn on Tuesday. In the discharge asserting the information, the Sox mentioned they’ll “begin a search for a single decision-maker to lead the baseball operations department” and anticipate having somebody in place “by the end of the season.”
Every Monday all through the season, Tribune baseball writers will present an replace on what occurred — and what’s forward for the Cubs and Sox.
Seiya Suzuki on a roll since psychological reset
Sometimes watching the sport from the bench can present psychological readability and a unique perspective that may jump-start a slumping hitter.
Seiya Suzuki has been locked in since being benched almost three weeks in the past. The well-timed turnaround comes because the Cubs attempt to make up floor within the division race. Suzuki prolonged his hitting streak to a career-high 10 video games with a two-hit day in Sunday’s 10-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“I feel like I was able to think about the approach, getting into the game, even with things not affiliated with baseball,” Suzuki mentioned Sunday by means of interpreter Toy Matsushita. “Just trying to reset my feelings, my mental state and I think that’s why I’m doing pretty well right now.”
In his final 16 video games relationship to his return to the lineup Aug. 9 in New York, Suzuki owns a .390/.431/.763 slash line whereas producing 4 dwelling runs, six doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs and 15 runs scored. He’s additionally tallied 5 walks and struck out seven instances.
“I don’t know if it’s confidence, but I just feel really good,” Suzuki mentioned. “I think I’m being very aggressive in the box and taking good swings, so I just want to make sure I continue this.”
Suzuki’s confidence and aggressiveness on the plate have carried over to his base working. He has been discovering alternatives to show singles into doubles and seizing alternatives to take an additional base or rating.
“If I can’t get a hit then I want to try to get on base for the walk,” Suzuki mentioned. “I feel like as a team right now we can’t really lose any games and when I get on base I want to try to advance to the next base as much as I can. I’m trying to contribute to the team as much as I can.”
Recapping per week that received’t be forgotten at Guaranteed Rate Field
The Sox have been settling in for the start of a seven-game homestand Monday as a report broke on the crew contemplating a transfer from Guaranteed Rate Field when their lease expires six seasons from now.
It was simply the beginning of per week that won’t be forgotten.
According to the report, from Crain’s Chicago Business, no choice is imminent, however a brand new stadium within the metropolis or suburbs and relocating to Nashville, Tenn., have been among the many prospects.
“I focus on this game, I focus on us trying to get better and putting ourselves in a position to win this game, winning tomorrow, finish strong,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “I don’t focus on things I don’t control. That’s out of my control.”
A few hours after Grifol met with reporters got here the shocking newse from the crew that Williams and Hahn have been relieved of their duties, efficient instantly.
“Not only did they give me an opportunity to let me fall flat on my face when I was a 23-year old kid, find my way in the big leagues, and find a place to call home for a very long time,” reliever Aaron Bummer mentioned after Tuesday’s recreation. “Me and my family are forever thankful for the opportunities they gave us. We wish it would have ended differently.”
Wednesday got here a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale itemizing present assistant common supervisor Chris Getz and former Kansas City Royals common supervisor Dayton Moore as choices for entrance workplace openings.
“When I was in the minors we talked a lot when he was down there coming to the affiliates,” pitcher Michael Kopech mentioned of Getz on Wednesday. “If he’s the one doing the job, I think he’ll do a great job.”
Friday the information went past baseball when two ladies have been wounded by gunfire whereas sitting within the outfield stands at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“Well wishes to the two fans who were injured last night,” senior vice chairman of communications Scott Reifert mentioned Saturday. “Continue to hope for their speedy recovery.”
What we’re studying this morning
Week forward: Cubs
An enormous week in opposition to division rivals awaits the Cubs.
They return to Wrigley 4 video games again of the division lead after a 5-2 journey to Detroit and Pittsburgh. The Cubs have a possibility to make up floor on the first-place Brewers, who will probably be beginning outdated good friend Wade Miley (Monday) and their two greatest pitchers, Corbin Burnes (Tuesday) and Brandon Woodruff (Wednesday). The Cubs are countering with Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks.
On Friday, the Cubs can add one pitcher and one place participant when rosters broaden to twenty-eight gamers. They presently have two spots open on their 40-man roster, including flexibility to who they’ll deliver up. To be eligible for a postseason roster, a participant have to be within the group by Friday, nonetheless, they don’t have to be added to the 40-man roster by that date as a result of they are often introduced as much as substitute somebody on the injured record who has served the minimal IL time.
As the Cubs consider their September call-up choices, they received’t utterly dismiss future 40-man concerns to keep away from offseason roster issues. It’s thought-about a secondary issue because the Cubs steadiness their decisions.
Among the gamers the Cubs have mentioned citing with expanded rosters: outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. The group is weighing whether or not it’s extra helpful for Crow-Armstrong to proceed enjoying each day at Triple-A Iowa. Barring an damage or a protracted stoop by Mike Tauchman that creates enjoying time, their place participant call-up Friday will seemingly be restricted to largely pinch working and defensive substitute alternatives.
That doesn’t imply Crow-Armstrong received’t be introduced up Friday, but it surely wouldn’t be a shock if the Cubs decide to let their prime prospect acquire extra expertise at Iowa, whose season ends Sept. 24, the place he has logged solely 99 profession plate appearances. His elite protection, velocity and base working potential may be an asset the Cubs look to make the most of in some unspecified time in the future over the ultimate month.
Speaking usually in regards to the impending expanded rosters, supervisor David Ross famous how roles proper now are fairly set however there are a whole lot of prospects which is “the sign of a good team down there, a lot of healthy players that are performing well.”
“We’ve even got guys on the bench that could really help us so that whoever it is has a skill set that can help us and there’s roster implications,” Ross mentioned. “There’s lots that goes into that pinch hitting and someone’s most likely not going to come back up and begin. There’s not a whole lot of enjoying time for whoever that’s.
“The good thing about Triple A is it’s going all the way basically until we end so there’s still development opportunity for young players and all those things so we’ve talked through it. The one thing I know about this job is things change day to day and we may have a need that is different today than it will be Sept. 1.”
- Monday: vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m. Marquee
- Tuesday: vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m. Marquee
- Wednesday: vs. Brewers, 1:20 p.m. Marquee
- Thursday: off
- Friday: at Reds (doubleheader), 12:10 p.m./5:40 p.m. Marquee
- Saturday: at Reds, 5:40 p.m. Marquee
- Sunday: at Reds, 11:10 a.m. Marquee
Week forward: White Sox
The Sox will proceed to get a more in-depth have a look at prospects like infielder Lenyn Sosa and catcher Korey Lee.
Sosa is slashing .273/.273/.545 with three homers and eight RBIs in 10 video games since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 18.
“Just trying to minimize the movement of my hands and put the barrel on the ball and put the ball in play,” Sosa mentioned by means of an interpreter Friday.
The Sox promoted Lee from Charlotte on Thursday and caught the primary three video games of the four-game sequence in opposition to the Athletics.
“I’ve been really impressed with everything he’s done on the defensive end,” Grifol mentioned of Lee Sunday. “Yesterday, we had a long pitcher’s meeting. I was impressed with his leadership capabilities and characteristics. Most rookies go in there and they just keep their mouth shut. They don’t say anything. That’s not his style. He communicated.”
- Monday: at Orioles, 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH
- Tuesday: at Orioles, 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH
- Wednesday: at Orioles, 12:05 p.m., NBCSCH
- Thursday: off
- Friday: vs. Tigers, 7:10 p.m., NBCSCH
- Saturday: vs. Tigers, 6:10 p.m., NBCSCH
- Sunday: vs. Tigers, 1:10 p.m., NBCSCH
This week in Chicago baseball
Aug. 28, 2005: Cubs retire Ryne Sandberg’s No. 23 jersey at Wrigley Field.
This was Sandberg’s day at Wrigley Field, and though the Hall of Famer had already had his massive day in Cooperstown, this smaller model was for the locals to see and contact. Sandberg’s quantity was retired, a flag in his honor raised up the right-field foul pole and a profession was acknowledged.
With his household and 38,763 of his closest pals with him, he checked out ease. Andre Dawson, Bobby Dernier and Gary Matthews helped increase his No. 23 flag into the wind.
He received 9 Gold Gloves at second base and was a 10-time All-Star. He’s a Hall of Famer, and now no different Cub will ever put on his quantity. His legacy? Not simply in these numbers but additionally in his method to the sport.
“An outstanding dude” is how supervisor Dusty Baker put it.
On the identical day in 1990, Sandberg turned the primary second baseman in historical past to have consecutive 30-homer seasons, main the Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Astros.
Aug. 29, 1918: Cubs, behind the pitching of Lefty Tyler, clinched the National League pennant with a 1-0 victory over the Reds.
Aug. 29, 1991: White Sox’s Carlton Fisk hit two homers to grow to be the oldest participant within the twentieth century to perform the feat at age 43.
He’d prime this mark by hitting two homers on Oct. 3.
Jack McDowell went the gap to beat Cleveland 7-2, snapping a 9-game shedding streak.
“A long time since I congratulated the guys on the field,” supervisor Jeff Torborg mentioned after the sport.
“A big night for everybody,” Fisk mentioned. “Maybe the monkey’s off now.”
Aug. 29, 2002: Mark Bellhorn turned the primary participant in NL historical past to hit a house run in the identical inning from either side of the plate, within the fourth of the Cubs’ 13-10 win.
Bellhorn joined Cleveland’s Carlos Baerga — who did it in opposition to the Yankees on April 8, 1993, as the one ones to perform it.
“He really did have a sensational day,” Cubs supervisor Bruce Kimm mentioned of Bellhorn, whose 5 RBIs in a single inning tied Billy Williams’ crew file set in 1964.
Bellhorn was scheduled for a time off till Sammy Sosa was scratched from the lineup. That prompted Kimm to maneuver Angel Echevarria from first base to proper discipline, clearing a spot for Bellhorn.
The low-key Bellhorn didn’t know he had entered the file books till after the sport. He didn’t attempt to retrieve the house run balls.
“But if somebody wants to give them to me, I’ll keep them,” he mentioned. “If not, oh well.”
Aug. 30, 2015: Cubs’ Jake Arrieta throws a no-hitter vs. the Dodgers.
Arrieta pitched the sixth no-hitter within the majors — and second in opposition to the Dodgers in 10 days — within the Cubs’ 2-0 win.
He struck out a season-high 12, one off his profession excessive and walked one.
“It’s tough to put that into words, because you think about that all the time as a kid,” mentioned Arrieta, who walked right into a convention room to satisfy the media in onesie pajamas with a mustache theme as a part of the Cubs’ street journey pajama get together.
He was the primary Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Carlos Zambrano in 2008. Arrieta is the thirteenth pitcher in crew historical past to perform the feat.
Arrieta received the advantage of a detailed name for the official scorer within the third inning, when Kike Hernandez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Starlin Castro. Hernandez hit a one-hopper at Castro, who tried to play it on the brief hop because the ball bounced off him. The play was dominated an error however most likely may have gone both means.
It was the end result of a profession growth that Cubs supervisor Joe Maddon may see coming.
“The thing with Jake, for the folks that have not seen enough of him, he has that stuff nightly,” Maddon mentioned. “It’s really crazy. The ball looks like a Wiffle ball, even from the side. You could see the break on the slider, the curveball, the cutter. Right now he’s pitching at a different level.”
Arrieta turned the primary Cubs pitcher to win six straight begins since Carlos Silva in 2010. He can also be the primary Cubs pitcher with 14 straight high quality begins since Greg Maddux in 1992.
Aug. 30, 2020: For the primary time in MLB historical past, all three of a crew’s beginning outfielders hit two dwelling runs in a recreation. Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Justin Heyward starred in a Cubs’ 10-1 win over the Reds.
Aug. 31, 1935: Vern Kennedy of the White Sox pitched a no-hitter to beat Cleveland 5-0.
Kennedy additionally had a bases-loaded triple.
Aug. 31, 1998: Cubs’ Sammy Sosa ties Mark McGwire by hitting his fifty fifth dwelling run.
His fifty fifth got here on an 0-1 pitch from Reds pitcher Brett Tomko with Lance Johnson on first and one out within the third inning. It landed within the no-beer part in left discipline, leaving Sosa one shy of Hack Wilson’s National League and Cubs mark of 56 dwelling runs.
Sosa had homered in 14 straight sequence and the two-run shot was his thirteenth of August, growing his league-leading runs batted in whole to 136 and placing him on tempo to drive in 160 runs.
After the sport, Sosa held up a bottle of Flintstones nutritional vitamins to the reporters, joking that his dwelling run energy comes from consuming little, tiny Freds and Barneys, a reference to the controversial androstenedione tablets that McGwire has taken this season.
Does Sosa ever cease and take into consideration what he has achieved?
“Maybe after the year is over and we go to the playoffs, I can say, ‘Wow, I did something unbelievable,’” he mentioned.
Quotable
“They believed in me and now I had to watch them walk out the building. That really hurt me. You go out there every day to give it your very best. And it just wasn’t good enough.” — Pedro Grifol on Ken Williams and Rick Hahn
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com