From Bleed Cubbie Blue

  • Red Sox 5, Cubs 4: So close

    If Dansby Swanson can hold on to that little floater into left field, the Cubs probably turn a double play in the bottom of the ninth, because Jarren Duran had strayed from third base. In that case the game probably goes to extra innings. But he didn’t. Don’t blame Dansby, that would have been close to the play of the year if he makes it. It didn’t happen and the Cubs lost the rubber game of the series 5-4. Give the Cubs a lot of credit, though — they came back with late-inning rallies to tie...

  • 2024 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 27

    I have one real goal in writing about this one. Write even less than Al did. He had to cover some of the carnage. There is really no need to talk about this game. It was a train wreck. From my perspective, there were two frustrating things about this game and neither really amounts to much in the long run. First, part of the fun of following baseball is the fun of following statistics. This one will distort the Cubs pitching numbers and particularly that of its bullpen for months to come....

  • Cub Tracks runs aground

    WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. Ben Brown (0-0, 3.72) looked to continue his skein of recent pitching performances, facing Boston’s Josh Winckowski (1-1, 4.20). Winckowski came in averaging more than a strikeout an inning (18 in 15 innings pitched) versus 8 total...

  • Red Sox 17, Cubs 0: Flush this one and move on

    Remember when I wrote these words in the recap to Friday’s game? I’m not going back on those words but oh my goodness, the Cubs did not look like a very good baseball team in a blowout 17-0 loss to the Red Sox Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. The Red Sox scored a pair off Ben Brown in the first inning and really, everyone could have gone home right then, because the Cubs managed just five hits off five Red Sox pitchers, just one for extra bases. The game was still fairly close at 3-0 Boston...

  • First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Red Sox, Friday 4/26, 6:10 CT

    In This Stream. Cubs vs. Red Sox Friday 4/26 game threads · First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Red Sox, Friday 4/26, 6:10 CT · Chicago Cubs vs.

  • 2024 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 24

    For the second straight game, the Cubs rode the same strategy to victory over the visiting Astros. That formula was, ambush them with a big inning in the bottom of the first, ride a strong pitching performance and cruise to victory. Well, actually, like any good sequel, the second one was a bit of a pale imitation of the first one. As a result, this one didn’t quite reach “cruise to victory” status. Notwithstanding the track record of the team in the other dugout, this one never felt like it...

  • On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Astros series preview

    Here is the boxscore from the last game these two teams played in Wrigley Field before today. Just four men who played in that game nearly 11 years ago are still active: Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez, Jordan Lyles and Anthony Rizzo. One is deceased (Luis Valbuena, who died in a car accident in 2018). The Cubs won that game 14-6. Rizzo homered for the Cubs. So did Ryan Sweeney, who is now doing studio work for Marquee Sports Network. That series was the first time the Cubs faced the Astros after...

  • Cubs roster moves: Jameson Taillon, Patrick Wisdom activated from injured list

    Even with today’s rainout, the Cubs announced two roster moves, about an hour after the postponement. First, the Cubs activated Jameson Taillon from the injured list. He was going to start Thursday night’s game. It’s not yet clear whether he’ll start Friday afternoon instead. Taillon missed all of Spring Training with back issues, though he’s healthy now. He’s made two rehab starts at Triple-A Iowa, which will have to do for his preparation for the season. Last year, Taillon had a rough...