There are a variety of open health issues for the Cubs, though thankfully it seems most are heading in a generally positive direction. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times rounded up the latest updates.
Kris Bryant and Javy Baez aren’t far from returning to the Cubs infield. The former has been out of the lineup for two games after a collision, while the latter has been in the DH slot to help rest a minor heel injury. Both could get back to their regular duties as soon as today.
Keeping those star players healthy is all the more important with Ben Zobrist’s status in question. Still, the Cubs have ample infield/utility depth, particularly with Addison Russell joining a roster that already included David Bote and Daniel Descalso. It’s worth remembering that Ian Happ remains marooned at Triple-A, as well.
With some recent bullpen hiccups, it’s also notable that reliever Pedro Strop is on the mend and nearing activation. He seems to be on the fast track back now that his hamstring is back in good working order. Strop made it through a rehab appearance last night and will work another frame Thursday. Wittenmyer says that the veteran hurler could be activated thereafter.
Strop had served as the Cubs closer before he went down. Whether he’ll take that job back from Steve Cishek remains to be seen. Regardless, it’s good news for the depth of the late-inning mix.
There was also a positive update on the team’s most flexible hurler, swingman Mike Montgomery. He was unable to pitch in Monday’s contest due to a finger issue that arose while he warmed up. The southpaw says he was likely dealing with a popped blood vessel, but wasn’t bothered as much when he picked up a ball yesterday. It’s not clear precisely when he’ll be available, but it seems reasonable to hope for a rather speedy return.
Just leave Bryant at third and stop with the outfield crap.
Why you so concerned by this? They have ample infielders and their best move at times is to put him in the OF rather than play Zagunis for instance!
He’s horrible for one, and he’s gonna get really hurt. Bad enough they’re playing a DH in Left.
The chances of him getting hurt in the OF aren’t any more likely than him getting hurt at 3B.
Both Kris and Kyle are decent defensive outfielders, Bocephus.
It’s amazing how, with these 1,354,275 managers they have, they can win any games.
He just got hurt bro. Did you watch the play? Two players out of position…
@ Bochepus—and Javy just got hurt playing shortstop and Montgomery got hurt, gulp, in the bullpen and Rizzo was hobbled also and go north and Yelich is playing hurt…..it happens—-that’s why you have depth and the ability to move players multiple places. Without Zobrist, Bryant is the next “most logical”—maybe not ideal, but “next’ guy to go out there. I’d rather see him out there and Bote at third than Bryant at third and Bote in the outfield—or Zagunis or Adduci…….
So your argument for why he’s a bad fielder is because he got hurt in a freak accident that has happened to even good fielders?
Convincing, truly….
It’s interesting to me the number of replies that put the rightfield choice down to Bryant instead of Zagunis or Aducci. The actual player on the bench who could/should have been playing on Sunday was Almora, who in my view should have been in center rather than Heyward. Heyward should have been in right, and Bryant should have been playing third. Almora has been swinging a hot bat and there was no apparent reason to plug in Bote at third and bench Albert, weakening the OF defense in two positions and replacing the hot bat of Almora. In short, I think Madden plays with the lineup too much. BUT, having said that and vented my distaste for Genius Joe’s inability to stop his infernal lineup tinkering, outfield collisions are not that uncommon and could have happened between Heyward and Almora just as did it between Bryant and Heyward. Injuries are a part of the game. You roll with them. As far as Bryant’s abilities as an OF are concerned, he’s adequate. Not terrible, but not a polished OF, either. No reason to expect him to be. And also no reason to panic about the two losses to a very good Houston team in their ballpark with terrible starts from Hamels and Lester. Both of those guys have had rough outings lately, but based on track record, they can be expected to come around. As for Bryant, hate to see his good groove at the plate get interrupted, and hopefully when he comes back, he’ll pick up where he left off.
JH gold glove RF, capable CF but maybe below average there. KB capable corner OF, probably better suited CF if moved to OF. CF maybe safer place for KB being able to call off corner OF for balls in play. The collision was completely KB’s fault due to in familiarity of the situation. Crowd noise, wind, sun, whatever the excuse, he still should have been aware of CF calling and give way, just as when SS can call off while playing 3B.
IMO it is stupid to use ROY, MVP as utility player. How may other teams move a player of that stature in this manner. He wasn’t drafted to be utility player. No reason to be moving him to OF, other than managerial style, when he has shown to play 3B very well.
Zagunis had previously been optioned to Iowa and the Cubs had 9 man bullpen at the time.
You have to give guys a day off every now and then, unless you want the whole team completely exhausted come September.
Bryant’s also a considerably better hitter than either Zagunis or Aducci, and has proven himself a capale outfielder before.
So yeah, there seems to be a good reason Maddon is a manager and the people second guessing him are commenters…
We don’t need Bryant!!! We got Bote!!!
Exactly and leave Baez at SS as well.
Happ a good trade chip for SF relief pitching (unfortunately their only bright spot). I really don’t see Happ becoming what they thought he might become, but more like a Randy Grichuk-which is still better than average.
Happ has little to no value.
More likely leaning to the no value side of that statement.
happ is a throw in piece in any deal
The giants are terrible and have a worse bullpen than the Cubs. They need Diaz from the mets or sign kimbrel for 1 year and an option for a 2nd year. 14.5mil 1year..possibly worth 27 mil over 2 years.
Then why would SF want to trade for him?
At the time of this post… where are they in the standings?
Why does not one mentioned the efant in the room. The Cubs have no relief staff and NO closer???
Because it was mentioned in the article and the reality (as opposed to the perception) us the Cubs bullpen hasn’t actually been the dumpster fire many predicted?
Because people tend to gravitate to the home run Cishek gave up the other day, not the eleven scoreless appearances he had before that. The Brewers bullpen gave up five runs last night—not a single article I can find on the despair there. Josh Hader has lost three games giving up home runs in the ninth inning or later…not much to worry about there. And for what it is worth—the Cubs have closers–they just happen to be hurt. Even more important, it’s May 29th, not October 29th. The guys that run these teams have an uncanny ability to stay away from knee jerk reactions (see Cishek) and balance emotion over the long haul.
I don’t see an efant, fact what is a efant?
electric elephant