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Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/index.xml

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xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
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<title type="text">Bleed Cubbie Blue</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Chicago Cubs news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-10-14T14:10:16+00:00</updated>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" />
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<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[2025 Cubs final season grades: Pitchers]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-analysis/199410/2025-cubs-final-season-grades-pitchers" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199410</id>
<updated>2025-10-14T10:10:16-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-14T10:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs commentary and analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Cubs had quite a bit of success from the pitching staff in 2025. There were some breakout performances, some guys who had been discarded from other teams did well, and there seems to be pretty good hope for the future. As was the case in my companion piece about position players, these grades are […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2233664349.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=19.30078125,8.6749642547406,80.69921875,91.325035745259" />
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The Cubs had quite a bit of success from the pitching staff in 2025. There were some breakout performances, some guys who had been discarded from other teams did well, and there seems to be pretty good hope for the future.
As was the case in <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-analysis/199357/2025-cubs-final-season-grades-position-players">my companion piece about position players</a>, these grades are my personal opinions and as such, are highly subjective.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Matthew Boyd: B</h4>
I gave Boyd an A+ in <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2025/7/15/24467741/2025-cubs-midseason-grades">my midseason grades article</a>, and he certainly earned that, making his first All-Star team.
His second half? Not so good, a 4.63 ERA and nine home runs allowed in 68 innings after the break in 12 starts.
Just when it appeared Boyd was totally gassed, he put together an outstanding outing in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202510090.shtml">Game 4 of the Division Series against the Brewers</a>, helping the Cubs force the decisive Game 5.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/09/216a7270-dd0ed86f-c581a7b0-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here, Boyd talks about Game 4 and how much he loves Wrigley and Cubs fans [VIDEO].</a>
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Cade Horton: A</h4>
The Cubs’ No. 1 pick in the 2022 Draft had not pitched even close to a full season as a pro due to several injuries.
Then he stepped up when the Cubs needed him most. In 12 starts after the All-Star break, Horton posted a 1.03 ERA and 0.783 WHIP and was dominating his starts… until he suffered a rib injury just before (or during) his final outing of the season, which he left after three innings.
The team hoped he would be available for the NLCS, but, well, you know. A healthy Horton against the Brewers might have made for a different result in the Division Series.
Horton turned 24 in August and I’d expect him to be one of the top starters in MLB in 2026.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Shōta Imanaga: C</h4>
Imanaga had another good first half, though it was interrupted by a hamstring injury suffered in Milwaukee in May. He came back from that and threw well before the All-Star Game and through one start after (five outings, 1.78 ERA) but then a horrid outing vs. the White Sox (seven runs, three HR in five innings) started an awful run. Including that game through season’s end: 12 starts, 5.17 ERA, 20 home runs in 69.2 innings, yikes, that’s just awful.
Imanaga has talent, and I believe the right approach to fix things and be productive going forward. The Cubs and Imanaga have a complex set of contract options that will have to be sorted out before 2026.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Jameson Taillon: B</h4>
Taillon had an awful first start of 2026, allowing nine hits and six runs in 4.1 innings to the Diamondbacks March 28.
After that: 22 starts, 3.38 ERA, a 4.4 percent walk rate. In those 22 starts he allowed two or fewer runs 17 times. He did serve up too many home runs (24 overall) and missed some time with a pair of injuries. But all told, this was a good year for Jamo.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Colin Rea: B</h4>
You might think that grade is a bit high, but Rea stepped in when injuries to the rotation needed a solid inning-eater and he did that j0b exceptionally well. 
Especially notable was his seven-inning, one-run outing vs. the Reds Sept. 18, when he struck out 11, a career high and season-best for any Cubs pitcher.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-09/18/8b259918-8672405f-f0657739-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here are those 11 K’s [VIDEO].</a>
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The Cubs have a club option for $6 million for Rea for 2026 that they will almost certainly exercise.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Ben Brown: D</h4>
Brown can dominate hitters when he’s on: six one-hit innings with nine strikeouts vs. the Reds <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202505310.shtml">May 31</a>, for example.
Too often, though, he’d get lit up and serve up home runs (18 total in 106.1 innings). Brown allowed at least five runs in seven of his 25 games and that’s way too many.
He really needs to develop a third pitch or he’s going to wind up in the bullpen, which might not be a bad idea as he can dial things up to 98 miles per hour.
<img src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-13-at-9.31.28%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,97.767857142857,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#676962_2025">Baseball Savant</a>" />
Work on that changeup more often and make it effective, and maybe develop a slider or sweeper — then Brown could be a solid MLB starter.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Justin Steele: Incomplete</h4>
Steele, as you know, had UCL surgery in April and missed most of the year, making only four starts.
He’s supposed to start a throwing program this month. Having him back for Opening Day is probably a bit too optimistic, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back by early June. That would be a huge boost.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Javier Assad: B</h4>
Assad is who he is — a midrange inning-eater. His 3.65 ERA in eight games (seven starts) was within range of his three previous MLB seasons. If the Cubs can upgrade the top of the rotation — or get a healthy Steele back — Assad is a perfectly cromulent fifth starter or swingman.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Daniel Palencia: B</h4>
Palencia rose to the occasion when given the closer role in mid-May. From that game through Sept. 6, Palencia recorded 22 saves in 24 opportunities and posted a 2.50 ERA, with 44 strikeouts in 36 innings and a 6.1 percent walk rate. He allowed just two home runs in that 31-game span.
Then it all blew up Sept. 7 against the Nationals, when Palencia served up a pair of home runs in a disastrous five-run outing without recording an out. He left the game with a shoulder issue.
Palencia returned to make a pair of scoreless relief appearances the final week of the regular season and allowed three runs in six postseason outings covering 7.2 innings. More to the point, in those eight total games covering 9.1 total innings after his return, Palencia struck out only five of 34 batters faced. His velocity seemed down a tick or two after he came back, hinting he wasn’t 100 percent.
Hopefully a winter’s rest will help him get back to the guy who threw 101-102 consistently and he can resume the closer role.
A memorable moment for Palencia came June 26 in St. Louis, when he hit Willson Contreras and then <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-06/26/ec232276-47029c23-6b91a643-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">benches cleared after the final out [VIDEO]</a>.
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Brad Keller: A</h4>
Keller was a revelation. A failed starter who even the 121-loss White Sox didn’t want in 2024, the Cubs turned Keller into a leverage reliever who took over closing games when Palencia was injured.
Apart from two meltdowns (four runs <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202504220.shtml">April 22</a> to the Dodgers in a game the Cubs won anyway and five runs to the Cardinals <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202507050.shtml">July 5</a>), Keller gave up only nine other runs the entire season and at one point had 22 consecutive outings without allowing a run.
Keller, who turned 30 in July, was a bargain at $1.5 million. He’s a free agent and it will cost the Cubs to keep him. They should do it.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Caleb Thielbar: A-</h4>
Did everything he was asked and didn’t really have any awful outings.
Thing is, he’s 38. He’s a free agent and the Cubs got him off the scrap heap. In this case I suspect they are likely to thank him for 2025 and look on the scrap heap again for a similar guy.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Drew Pomeranz: A-</h4>
Ditto Pomeranz, a similar scrap-heap find, even a bit more scrappy as he had not pitched in MLB in four (!) years when the Cubs got him after he had been released by the Mariners.
Pomeranz is almost two years younger than Thielbar. If the Cubs wanted to try one more year with him I wouldn’t be against that.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Andrew Kittredge: A-</h4>
Acquired in trade from the Orioles, Kittredge did a fine job shoring up a bullpen that needed help for the last couple of months of the season.
He had one awful inning against the Reds Aug. 5 (four runs while recording only one out). Apart from that his Cubs ERA was 1.69 in his other 22 appearances.
Kittredge has a $9 million team option for 2026 that the Cubs could exercise; that’s what he made in 2025. Or they could pay a $1 million buyout and try to negotiate a different deal with the right-hander who turns 36 in March.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Taylor Rogers: D</h4>
Acquired by trade at the deadline, he’s a pending free agent who was pretty bad in 17 games for the Cubs (5.09 ERA, four home runs in 17.2 innings). He turns 35 in December and though the Cubs could always use another left-hander, I doubt he’ll be back.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Michael Soroka: Incomplete</h4>
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/04/31c3a6fe-95a0d85f-05b3bee2-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Soroka was injured in his first game with the Cubs [VIDEO].</a>
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
With his injury history I didn’t think he’d be back, but he threw in five more games for the Cubs during the regular season and then twice in the postseason.
He is only 28, though has been around forever (debuted with the Braves in 2018). He’s also a free agent. I don’t think the Cubs need to bring him back.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Aaron Civale: B</h4>
Civale threw well in five relief outings after the Cubs acquired him Aug. 31, then ate up a bunch of innings in the blowout Game 1 Division Series loss to the Brewers.
His career history shows a couple of decent years and several that weren’t. Another free agent, Civale turns 31 next June. There will be younger guys similar to this available on the open market. I don’t see the Cubs needing him in 2026.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Porter Hodge: C-</h4>
Apart from one horrific outing against the Diamondbacks in that crazy <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202504180.shtml">April 18</a> game that the Cubs won anyway, Hodge threw reasonably well early in the season, but also spent quite a bit of time on the IL with oblique and shoulder issues. Basically, a lost season for him. He’ll be 25 in February. If healthy I think he could be a key part of the 2026 bullpen. He’s a guy who could really make a difference next year if he recovers his 2024 form.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Jordan Wicks: Incomplete</h4>
Wicks was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick out of Kansas State in 2021 and his debut late in 2023 as a starter looked promising. Since then there’s been a jumble of injuries and bad pitching.
He just turned 26 in September. Seems to me there could still be a future for him with this team — perhaps as a Thielbar-type reliever?
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Luke Little: Incomplete</h4>
The 6-8 lefty is maddening. You can see he has talent, but he just walks too many guys — 28 total walks in 35.1 MLB innings and 154 batters faced. That’s an 18.1 percent walk rate, which, yikes. His minor league walk rate isn’t much better.
But yeah, talent, etc. If the Cubs can ever get him to throw strikes more consistently, he could be a useful reliever. He’s still just 25.
The following pitchers also appeared in at least one game for the Cubs this year: Ryan Brasier, Génesis Cabrera, Tom Cosgrove, Chris Flexen, Michael Fulmer, Gavin Hollowell, Brooks Kriske, Julian Merryweather, Eli Morgan, Nate Pearson, Ryan Pressly and Ethan Roberts.
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<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/16153773" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F16153773&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Duane Pesice</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Chicago Cubs news and notes: Tucker, Pomeranz, PCA]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/cub-tracks/199421/chicago-cubs-news-and-notes-tucker-pomeranz-pca" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199421</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T14:53:04-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-14T08:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Cub Tracks" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Kyle Tucker is determinedly noncomittal, probably so as not to compromise his bargaining position. I wouldn’t read too much into the below quote. “We’ll see what happens.” — Kyle Tucker. But the rest of the baseball universe will get carried away. Really all he’s saying is […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2240263798.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
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We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field.
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Easy Money - King Crimson | The Midnight Special" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t4hrwgMndEo?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
Kyle Tucker is determinedly noncomittal, probably so as not to compromise his bargaining position. I wouldn’t read too much into the below quote.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“We’ll see what happens.” — Kyle Tucker.
</blockquote>
But the rest of the baseball universe will get carried away. Really all he’s saying is one of our site memes — to wit:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“We await developments.”
</blockquote>
Face front, true believer. Tucker is talking directly to you. Me, I talk to the wind. 
*means autoplay on, (<a href="https://7labs.io/tips-tricks/remove-browser-adware.html">directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome</a>). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="The questions looming over the Cubs as offseason begins" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gsRbVxHIqgo?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div><div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Pete Crow-Armstrong speaks with emotion after 2025 Cubs season ends in loss | Marquee Sports Network" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pq3XXx_YwvY?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div><div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="TUCKER OUT? SHŌTA IN? | Classless Brewers | Cubs Baseball Channel" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TwkSbVMXNe4?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Chelsea Jones (Washington Post* {$}): <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/10/12/how-did-the-brewers-beat-the-cubs/">The Brewers keep winning, even when baseball logic says they shouldn’t</a>. “Conventional wisdom — and recent history — suggests small-market teams shouldn’t have success in the postseason.”</li>
<li>Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/10/12/cubs-players-want-another-shot-at-a-deep-playoff-run-now-its-the-front-offices-job-to-get-them-back">Cubs players want another shot at deep playoff run; now it’s the front office’s job to get them back</a>. ‘‘That’s a harsh reality,’’ shortstop Dansby Swanson said.</li>
<li>Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/chicago-cubs-cade-horton-mlb-playoffs-nlds-game-5-milwaukee-brewers/">What Cade Horton learned on sideline during Cubs playoff run</a>. “Just the way it ended, I feel like it wasn’t supposed to end this way,” Horton said.</li>
<li>Christina De Nicola (MLB.com*): <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/drew-pomeranz-to-start-nlds-game-5-for-cubs">Pomeranz caps comeback year with nearly perfect postseason: ‘I surprised myself</a>‘. </li>
<li>Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/13/chicago-cubs-craig-counsell-kyle-tucker/">What we heard from Chicago Cubs after NLDS loss, including Kyle Tucker’s future and Drew Pomeranz’s journey</a>. “The stunned reality of a season ending takes time to sink in.“ <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6711125/2025/10/13/cubs-offseason-questions-kyle-tucker/">Sahadev Sharma has more</a> {$}.</li>
<li>Steve Megargee (AP*): <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-cubs-milwaukee-brewers-mlb-playoffs-b25a11584b0e4e2dd9d1b2d5245a32a7">Inability to get runners on base in Game 5 leads to Cubs’ exit from postseason</a>. “We just didn’t do much,” manager Craig Counsell said.</li>
<li>Kyle Williams (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/10/11/end-of-cubs-season-hits-center-fielder-pete-crow-armstrong-particularly-hard">End of Cubs’ season hits center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong particularly hard</a>. ‘‘The fact that this team made it this far,’’ Crow-Armstrong said of what he’ll remember most. ‘‘I think we collectively lived through a lot of [expletive].’’</li>
<li>ESPN*: <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46570358/kyle-tucker-unsure-cubs-return-free-agency-looms">Kyle Tucker unsure of Cubs return as free agency looms</a>. “I don’t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck, whether it’s playing next year or not with them. It’s a really fun group to be a part of.” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6711626/2025/10/13/cubs-kyle-tucker-free-agency/">Patrick Mooney reports</a> {$}. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-tucker-first-year-cubs-ends-nlds">Jordan Bastian* has more</a>.</li>
</ul>
Food for thought:
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Mushroom in the Wild Playing Keyboard" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NbP2DgDp890?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div><div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Pufferfish Builds Sand Sculpture for Mating" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1k0MMxhOVpA?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div><div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="John Coltrane - Giant Steps | Visualized on a Mathematical Space" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oRM5O7V6J2Q?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
Please be reminded that <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/cub-tracks">Cub Tracks</a> and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Bleed Cubbie Blue</a> do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. We will not wittingly publish A. I. – driven articles.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Cubs BCB After Dark: Grade the 2025 Cubs]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/bcb-after-dark/199445/cubs-bcb-after-dark-grade-the-2025-cubs" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199445</id>
<updated>2025-10-14T00:07:28-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-14T00:10:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="BCB After Dark" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It’s the first week of the offseason here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a couple of tables available. Bring your […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2240202853.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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</figure>
It’s the first week of the offseason here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a couple of tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
The Mariners went up 2 games to none in the American League Championship Series with a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/13/813044/final/box">10-3 rout of the Blue Jays.</a> Blake Snell threw a dominating start for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but the Dodgers weak bullpen almost blew it in the ninth. But “almost blow it” and “blown it” are not the same things and the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-brewers/2025/10/13/813036/final">Dodgers beat the Brewers 2-1.</a>
Last week, the Cubs were still in the National League Division Series and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/bcb-after-dark/198873/cubs-bcb-after-dark-matthew-boyd-aaron-civale-colin-rea-ben-brown">I asked who you thought should start Game 4.</a> Matthew Boyd started the game on four days rest and 41 percent of you said that is what you would have done as well. Another 35 percent of you would have started Aaron Civale and gone with a bullpen game after that.
Here’s the part where I play jazz and we talk movies. You’re free to skip that if you want. You probably won’t hurt my feelings.
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Tonight we have a performance from guitarist Julian Lage at the Blue Note Tokyo club this past August. Joining Lage is drummer Dave King and bassist Jorge Roeder. 
This is “Speak to Me.” It’s a bit mellow to help you wind down for the night.
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="JULIAN LAGE "Speak to Me" - MISSING VOICES - BLUE NOTE TOKYO Live 2024" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VThGdZ3Y09A?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
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I’ve been working on the upcoming BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic that we’re going to start very shortly. Maybe a week from today. This will be the biggest tournament we’ve have yet, featuring some of the 32 best science fiction movies from the 20th Century. 
I intentionally wrote “some of the best” for a couple of reasons. The first is that when I make up these lists, I don’t just go by my own tastes. My own tastes certainly plays a role, but I also use several online rankings as a guide. If a film that I don’t like much shows up in these lists, I will probably add it on the assumption that a lot of you might like it and I might be an idiot. And vice-versa. If there’s a film that I love that isn’t in the rankings, then maybe it’s not as good as I think it is.
It’s an impossible task to decide what is the “best” science fiction movie of the 20th Century and once I admitted that, things became a lot easier. We’re not trying to crown the “best” or “greatest” science fiction film over a 100-year span. We’re trying to decide which film is going to win our offseason tournament. Sure, there’s some overlap there, but our main purpose is to have some fun and learn about a lot of movies. 
So when deciding what films make the tournament, I had to decide what films would be the most “fun” to have in the tournament. And for a film to be fun, you have to be able to see it or have already seen it. Originally I had listed director Kathryn Bigelow’s 1995 film Strange Days as a film that should be in the “modern” bracket. It shows up very highly in several rankings of science fiction films.
But there was a problem. The first is that I’ve never seen it. If you know what my life was like in 1995, that wouldn’t be a surprise and in any case, the film was considered a box office flop at the time. But I was very much looking forward to watching it, so I added it into my preliminary list. I also thought it important to include a science fiction film from a major director like Bigelow. 
The problem is that Strange Days is currently unavailable for streaming in the United States, at least in any service I can find. You can’t even rent it. The only way you can currently legally watch it is to get your hands on the physical DVD or Blu-Ray. So I’m going to remove it from the tournament. I’m upset about this because this means the only film with a woman as director is The Matrix, but we only had one woman director in our noir tournament and zero in the Westerns.
Of course, Strange Days will probably show up on HBO Max in December now. 
I will mention that if you want to watch the films in the tournament and you don’t have/want the streaming service that they’re on—or you don’t want to play to rent them—be sure to check out your local library or the Kanopy streaming service that comes with your library card. Libraries often have a lot of old DVDs available for borrowing and since the most recent film in our tournament is 26 years old, they may have many of the films in the tournament available for free.
So here are the four brackets that I have at the moment:
“Modern” (1984 to 1999)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Matrix (1999)</li>
<li>Brazil (1985)</li>
<li>Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)</li>
<li>12 Monkeys (1995)</li>
<li>Back to the Future (1985)</li>
<li>Repo Man (1984)</li>
<li>Ghost in the Shell (1995)</li>
<li>Gattaca (1997)</li>
</ol>
Many of you expressed a preference to include Back the the Future, so I obliged. It’s a good movie. Not my favorite, but it’s good and very influential in popular culture.
Ghost in the Shell made it as the anime entry over Akira for the same reason that Strange Days didn’t make the tournament: accessibility. While Akira can be rented, Ghost in the Shell is available on several streaming services, including some that are free with ads. Akira is on the Crunchyroll streaming service and while my daughter has been asking for us to subscribe to that, I’m going to keep her disappointed.
Gattaca is a personal favorite of mine, but it’s on shaky ground here. Films that could still replace it are Dark City (1998), Galaxy Quest (1999)—although Back to the Future seems to be filling the “comedy” role here, Contact (1997) and Brother from Another Planet (1984). I haven’t seen that last once since a VHS rental sometime in the mid-80s. Actually, come to think of it, it would have been a Betamax rental.
The “Star Wars Mania” bracket (1977 to 1983) is at the moment:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Blade Runner (1982)</li>
<li>Star Wars (1977)</li>
<li>Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)</li>
<li>Alien (1979)</li>
<li>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)</li>
<li>Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)</li>
<li>The Thing (1982)</li>
<li>Stalker (1979)</li>
</ol>
I haven’t seen Stalker, but it’s ranked very highly in several lists and it’s easily available for streaming. I’m looking forward to watching it. I think we can argue about the order of the other seven films, but I think those seven belong in some order. I am upset that Escape from New York (1981) didn’t make it. 
“New Hollywood” bracket (1962 to 1976)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)</li>
<li>Planet of the Apes (1968)</li>
<li>La Jetée (1962)</li>
<li>Solaris (1972)</li>
<li>Alphaville (1965)</li>
<li>Fantastic Planet (1973)</li>
<li>Seconds (1966)</li>
<li>The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)</li>
</ol>
It’s funny that I call this the “New Hollywood” bracket when only three of the eight films were made by Hollywood. Three films are French, one is English and one is Soviet.
I’m not sold on The Man Who Fell to Earth. I’m willing to listen to arguments for other candidates like Logan’s Run, Rollerball, THX 1138 and The Andromeda Strain. Many of you expressed that you didn’t think A Clockwork Orange was really science fiction and I was a bit fuzzy on that point too. So that’s why it’s not here. Some mentioned the same for Rollerball. I’ve seen Logan’s Run a couple of times and I think it’s silly. I haven’t seen THX 1138, nor have I seen The Andromeda Strain. Some of you put in a good word for The Andromeda Strain. Others thought it was boring.
The biggest thing going for The Man Who Fell to Earth over The Andromeda Strain and THX 1138 (other than I’ve already seen The Man Who Fell to Earth) is that the first film is available for free on Kanopy and the Roku Channel (with ads) and the other two have to be rented. 
I just watched Dark Star (1974) and it’s very different. But I think the film school-budget special effects would cause most of you to laugh at it—and not at the parts that were meant to be funny. 
“Classic” Bracket (1961 and earlier)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)</li>
<li>Metropolis (1927)</li>
<li>Godzilla (1954)</li>
<li>Forbidden Planet (1956)</li>
<li>A Trip to the Moon (1902)</li>
<li>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)</li>
<li>The Time Machine (1961)</li>
<li>????</li>
</ol>
I’m still trying to decide on the eighth film in this bracket. I originally had Things to Come (1936) in and some of you mentioned that you thought it was dull. I think the film is gorgeous and it fills a void between the silent era and the 1950s. It’s also, I must admit, a bit dull. H.G. Wells got to write the screenplay himself and he turned it into a political tract outlining his futurist philosophy. Not really something you want to follow in a movie.
So I’m looking at other films. The Incredible Shrinking Man, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, This Island Earth, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Destination: Moon, The War of the Worlds and The Blob. I could also do The Thing from Another World. I’ve only seen the last two of those, although I’m halfway through The Incredible Shrinking Man right now. 
So I’m open to any of those films or any others that you might suggest.
Please note that the Godzilla in our tournament is the much-superior Japanese-language original and not the English-language version that is now officially titled Godzilla, King of the Monsters. That version edits out a bunch of stuff that makes it clear that Godzilla is the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan by the US and edits in footage of Raymond Burr staring at the Japanese actors like Jimmy Stewart stared at him in Rear Window. Except even creepier.
So if you have some thoughts about these brackets, now is your last chance to offer your thoughts.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Welcome back to those of you who skip the music and movies.
The Cubs’ 2025 season is over and so tonight, I’m asking you to hand out a grade. On the postive side, they won 92 regular season games, which is more than I think most of us predicted. But most of us predicted that 92 wins would be good enough to win the NL Central, when it didn’t end up being even close to doing that. 
The Cubs also won their first playoff series since 2017, but they failed to advance to the NLCS when they lost Game 5 of the Division Series against the Brewers.
Certainly if you’re looking at positive individual performances, the emergence of Michael Busch as one of the top first basemen in the league has to be considered one positive. Cade Horton coming up from the minors in May and having a second-half that may carry him to the Rookie of the Year award is another huge positive. Putting together a solid bullpen with castoffs like Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz was something few of us foresaw. 
Negatives include the injury-marred second half of Kyle Tucker. That Justin Steele missed pretty much the entire season. Matt Shaw failed to hit much as a rookie. 
So what overall grade do you give the Cubs in 2025?
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<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/16152640" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F16152640&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
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Thank you for stopping by tonight. Let’s make this a regular thing in the offseason. Please get home safely. Don’t forget anything you may have checked. Clean up your table. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark. 
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[ALCS Game 2: Mariners at Blue Jays, NLCS Game 1: Dodgers at Brewers]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-game-threads/199347/alcs-game-2-mariners-blue-jays-nlcs-game-1-dodgers-brewers" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199347/al-championship-series-game-1-mariners-at-blue-jays-sunday-10-12-703-ct</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T13:13:11-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T16:30:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB game threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The ALCS heads to its second game in Toronto after the xxxxxx on Sunday. Meanwhile, the National League will begin its championship series in Milwaukee, as the Brewers, who had MLB’s best record this year, have home field over the Dodgers. Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 2 and NLCS Game […]]]></summary>
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<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2240526999.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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</figure>
The ALCS heads to its second game in Toronto after the xxxxxx on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the National League will begin its championship series in Milwaukee, as the Brewers, who had MLB’s best record this year, have home field over the Dodgers.
Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 2 and NLCS Game 1. Just one thread today for both games.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Mariners at Blue Jays, 4:03 CT</h3>
Mariners lead series 1-0
Logan Gilbert, RHP vs. Trey Yesavage, RHP
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/13/813044/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/TOR202510130.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis and John Smoltz with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Dodgers at Brewers, 7:08 CT</h3>
Blake Snell, LHP vs. TBD
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-brewers/2025/10/13/813036/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/MIL202510130.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: TBS, truTV and streaming on HBO Max. Announcers: Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Jeff Francoeur, with Lauren Shehadi reporting.
As you probably know, Anderson calls play-by-play on Brewers TV and has been their lead announcer since 2007, though with his national work, he only does about 50 Brewers games a year. He’s one of the most professional baseball announcers around and I think he’ll do his best to be neutral in this series.
Enjoy the afternoon and evening of baseball, discuss amongst yourselves.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Today in Cubs history: The Schwarboard home run]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-wrigley-field-mlb-history/199332/today-cubs-history-schwarboard-home-run-kyle-schwarber" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199332/today-in-cubs-history-the-schwarboard-home-run</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T16:02:39-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T15:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs/Wrigley Field/MLB history" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The 2025 Cubs might be eliminated from postseason play, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of their previous postseason successes. Here’s one you will almost certainly never forget. Game 4 of the Cubs’ division series against the Cardinals in 2015 was a back-and-forth affair. St. Louis scored a pair off Jason Hammel in […]]]></summary>
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<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="Kyle Schwarber watches his HR head toward the video board, Oct. 13, 2015 | | Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22923347/492505804.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=17.743362831858,4.0106163373636,82.256637168142,95.989383662636" />
<figcaption>
Kyle Schwarber watches his HR head toward the video board, Oct. 13, 2015 | | Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images </figcaption>
</figure>
The 2025 Cubs might be eliminated from postseason play, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of their previous postseason successes.
Here’s one you will almost certainly never forget.
Game 4 of the Cubs’ division series against the Cardinals in 2015 was a back-and-forth affair. St. Louis scored a pair off Jason Hammel in the first inning, but the Cubs roared back to take the lead with a four-run second. Hammel drove in the first run with a single, then Javier Báez hit a three-run homer.
The Cardinals tied the game with a two-run sixth off Travis Wood, but Anthony Rizzo homered in the bottom of that inning to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead.
That’s where things stood when <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2015/10/14/mlbtv_slnchn_522718383_1800K.mp4">Kyle Schwarber led off the seventh, with dusk falling at Wrigley Field [VIDEO]</a>.
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
I was in my usual spot in the left field bleachers. I thought the ball had cleared the video board and hit Sheffield Avenue. So did almost everyone at Wrigley… except:
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter alignnone"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Back from the Cubs Game. We let the <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cubs</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/kschwarb12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kschwarb12</a> know that we found Schwarber's home run ball. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyTheW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyTheW</a> <a href="http://t.co/uqbhucWW1k">pic.twitter.com/uqbhucWW1k</a>— Tom Comings (@Comings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Comings/status/654129945778720768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
That’s a great photo taken from the right field upper deck, showing the ball had landed on the video board.
My favorite part of the TBS home run call comes right after Brian Anderson’s play-by-play call of “Schwarber sends one high and deep, way back, this ball is long gone!” Analyst Joe Simpson says “Mercy.” That’s followed by Dennis Eckersley saying, “What in the world?” Those two long-time baseball people couldn’t believe it. Neither could anyone else at Wrigley or watching on TV.
The Cubs put a plexiglass cover on the ball and left it in its position on top of the board:
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter alignnone"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">The Cubs have put glass over Kyle Schwarber's home run ball on the video board (H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyEcker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dannyecker</a>) <a href="http://t.co/c6UOn3Po0O">pic.twitter.com/c6UOn3Po0O</a>— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/654391024601681920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
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It was later <a href="https://www.mlb.com/cut4/cubs-move-kyle-schwarber-s-nlds-home-run-ball-c161844052">taken down for safekeeping</a>, but <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-home-run-ball-wrigley-20160411-story.html">placed back on the board in early 2016</a>:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
On Monday morning’s “Mully and Hanley” show on WSCR-AM 670, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said the ball is back to where it originally landed after it was taken down after the 2015 season.
Kenney said the ball was taken down in part to prevent anyone from getting the idea of climbing up the board and stealing it.
</blockquote>
As of the time of <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2019/6/22/18713040/kyle-schwarber-made-name-for-himself-after-epic-hr">this interview with Schwarber in June 2019</a>, the ball was still in place on top of the board:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“[I was told] it’s still up there. That’s cool. If it stays up there for the rest of the days of Wrigley Field, that would be awesome. … I went up there once. It was after they cased it. It was me [and] David Ross. We went up there and took pictures with it, and that’s kind of cool.”
</blockquote>
It’s unclear whether the ball is still up there, though from this photo I took on Sept. 30, it doesn’t appear so:
<img src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/20250930_121402.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Al Yellon" />
I share Kyle’s thoughts — that ball should stay there for “the rest of the days of Wrigley Field.” The Cubs, of course, won that game 6-4 and made the NLCS, the first of three straight championship series appearances.
If anyone has any info on whether the Schwarboard ball is still up there, or more recent photos, please share them with us.
The Schwarboard home run happened 10 years ago today, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015.

]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Mesa Solar Sox Update: Cubs in the Arizona Fall League]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-minor-leagues-prospects/199375/cubs-mesa-solar-sox-ed-howard-clint-mathis-koen" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199375</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T15:49:07-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T13:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs minor leagues and prospects" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[You’ll have to forgive us for not previewing the start of the Arizona Fall League last weekend. We were otherwise occupied with other, more important, Cubs events. But there is one week in the books of the Mesa Solar Sox and so we’re not too late to remind you which Cubs are competing in the […]]]></summary>
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<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="Cole Mathis" data-caption="Cole Mathis" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2239701910.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
Cole Mathis </figcaption>
</figure>
You’ll have to forgive us for not previewing the start of the Arizona Fall League last weekend. We were otherwise occupied with other, more important, Cubs events. But there is one week in the books of the Mesa Solar Sox and so we’re not too late to remind you which Cubs are competing in the AFL and keep you up to date with the latest happenings.
In case you don’t know, the Arizona Fall League is a postseason minor league that starts right after the major league regular season ends. It was intended as a kind of “finishing school” for prospects who are close to major-league ready, but it’s evolved quite a bit from its original intent. There are still a few top prospects here that are getting some work in, so that purpose hasn’t completely gone away. Today, however, there are many other reasons why teams send players to the AFL.
The most common reason to send players to Arizona is for minor leaguers who missed a lot of time in the regular season to get some work in and make up for lost time. Sometimes players go to the AFL because their team is evaluating whether to keep them around for next year or add them to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. Occasionally a team will try to showcase a prospect for a potential trade. And with position players more than pitchers, sometimes a team thinks a player just needs more work.
The problem with the AFL lately is that teams are becoming increasingly hesitant to send top pitching prospects as they don’t want to put any more innings on those already stressed arms. So that means there are a lot of second- and third-tier pitching prospects on the rosters. Combine that with the thin, warm air of Arizona and games tend to be very high scoring. That has in turn led teams to be less eager to send top hitting prospects (although there are still a few here this year like Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle and Texas’ Sebatian Walcott) because teams think there is limited utility to sending top hitters to such a strong offensive environment.
The AFL used to be for players in Double-A and above, with a few exceptions. They changed that rule a few years ago and now there’s only one player the Cubs sent to Mesa this year who has ever played for Knoxville. 
There are six AFL teams and their rosters are each made up of player from five different organizations. Every year, Cubs prospects compete for the Mesa Solar Sox, who play their home games at Sloan Park, the Spring Training home of the Cubs in Mesa. The Athletics, who also train in Mesa, also are on the Solar Sox every year as well. The other three teams that make up the Solar Sox rotate and this year, the Solar Sox also have players from the Yankees, Athletics and Marlins on the roster. Many players say that their favorite part of the AFL is getting to know players and coaches from other organizations.
The Cubs don’t have any top prospects on the Solar Sox this year, but they have a few second-tier prospects and some guys who are “interesting,” if you know what I mean by that. Generally, when I call a prospect “interesting” it means I’m not ready to put them among the top 25, 30 or even 40 prospects in the Cubs organization, but I’ve got my eye on them and they’ve got something that could develop into a promising player later on. That’s not official scout talk. That’s just me.
The Solar Sox went 1 and 3 in their first week. Here’s the results of the first week’s games. The visiting team is listed first. 
Tuesday, October 7: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/saguaros-vs-solar-sox/2025/10/07/825607/final/box">Surprise Saguaros 9, Solar Sox 6</a>.
Wednesday, October 8: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/javelinas-vs-solar-sox/2025/10/08/825606/final/box">Peoria Javelinas 8, Solar Sox 6</a> in ten innings.
Thursday, October 9: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/solar-sox-vs-rafters/2025/10/09/825637/final/box">Solar Sox 10, Salt River Rafters 9.</a>
Friday, October 10: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/solar-sox-vs-scorpions/2025/10/10/825620/final/box">Solar Sox 2, Scottsdale Scorpions 10.</a>
Saturday and Sunday’s games were washed out by a Tropical Storm Priscilla.
Here’s how the individual Cubs did this past week in the AFL:
Catcher Owen Ayers: Ayers was a 19th-round draft pick in 2024 out of Marshall University. He’s spent the past two seasons with the Pelicans in Low-A. His 2025 season was cut short when he suffered an injury in late-July. 
Ayers caught Tuesday, Thursday and Friday’s games for Mesa and has been one of the team’s more productive hitters so far. He went 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run in the opener on Tuesday. He followed that up by going 3 for 5 with two doubles on Thursday and 0 for 3 with a walk on Friday. 
Overall, Ayers is hitting .455 with a .538 on-base percentage and a .909 slugging. He has four RBI and three runs scored.
Shortstop Ed Howard: Most of you know that Howard was a first-round draft pick in 2020 out of high school in Chicago. Most of you also know that he’s been a very big disappointment since entering professional baseball. Howard missed most of this past season with an injury and this stint in the AFL may be his last chance to stick with the organization.
So far, he’s not making a big impression. Howard went 0 for 4 on Tuesday and 0 for 2 with two walks on Thursday. He played the whole game at shortstop in both games.
Corner infielder Cole Mathis: Mathis was the Cubs’ second-round pick in 2024 out of the College of Charleston, but he didn’t make his professional debut until this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He started the 2025 season in Myrtle Beach as a DH-only, but he was shut back down in mid-May. 
Mathis started Tuesday’s game at first base and moved over to third later in the game. It’s the first time he’s played in the field as a professional. He played the entire game on Friday at first base.
On Tuesday, Mathis was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had two RBI. On Thursday, Mathis was 1 for 3 with a walk. So he’s 4 for 6 with two walks after two games. That’s pretty good.
Right-hander Thomas Mangus: Mangus was a 18th-round pick out of Navarro College in Texas in 2024. He pitched in Mesa and Myrtle Beach this past year. I don’t know if it’s because of the rain, but he hasn’t made his AFL debut yet.
Right-hander Luis Martinez-Gomez: Martinez-Gomez was a 10th-round pick in 2023 out of Temple College in Texas. He was a very effective reliever for both Myrtle Beach and South Bend this past season.
Martinez-Gomez got into Tuesday’s opener in the seventh inning. He struck out two, walked one and allowed no hits and no runs.
Right-hander Koen Moreno: Moreno was the Cubs’ fifth-round pick out of high school in North Carolina in 2020. He’s been injured most of the time since then and he threw just 12 innings for South Bend this year.
Moreno started Wednesday’s game against Peoria and he pitched very well, going four innings and allowing no runs and just two hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Right-hander Mat Peters: Peters was a 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. He missed all of the 2024 season after testing positive for a banned substance. He struggled in both Mesa and Myrtle Beach in his return this year. He did, however, throw a fastball 100.5 miles per hour this past season. 
Peters got into Wednesday’s game in the seventh inning with two on, two out and Mesa leading Peoria 5-2. Peters gave up a single to the first batter he faced which allowed an inherited runner to score to make it 503. He got a fly out to center field to then end the inning. Peters was credited with a hold.
Right-hander JP Wheat: Wheat was the Cubs’ 16th-round pick in 2022 with coming off Tommy John surgery. Wheat is one of the most maddening pitchers in the Cubs organization because he regularly hits 100 on the radar gun. What he doesn’t hit very often is the strike zone.
Wheat pitched the fifth inning on Friday and did OK. He issued a one-out walk but otherwise retired the other three batters he faced, striking out one of them. But then he came out for the sixth inning and the first four batters he faced all reached—single, walk, walk, single. Wheat left the game after that and all four runners would come around to score eventually. So Wheat got the loss after throwing one inning and giving up four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out just one. Wheat threw 32 pitches and only 13 of them were strikes.

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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[2025 Cubs final season grades: Position players]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-analysis/199357/2025-cubs-final-season-grades-position-players" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199357</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T10:52:15-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T10:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs commentary and analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I thought quite a bit about how to approach this. The Cubs played eight postseason games as well as their 162-game regular season schedule. I didn’t want to ignore those games in assigning these grades, but even as important as postseason games are, they shouldn’t overwhelm the six-month body of work for each player. I’m […]]]></summary>
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I thought quite a bit about how to approach this. The Cubs played eight postseason games as well as their 162-game regular season schedule. I didn’t want to ignore those games in assigning these grades, but even as important as postseason games are, they shouldn’t overwhelm the six-month body of work for each player.
I’m going to split this into two articles, with position players today and pitchers tomorrow.
As always, these are my personal opinions and as such, likely to be highly subective. YMMV, etc.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Carson Kelly: A</h4>
Kelly was one of the top free-agent signings by any team for the 2025 season. He had the best year of his career, setting career highs in runs, home runs, total bases, OPS+ and bWAR (3.6).
Kelly is under contract for $5 million for 2026, a real bargain. This was an outstanding signing by Jed Hoyer.
Here is Kelly’s cycle, the first for a Cub since 1993, against the A’s March 31:
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="FIRST CYCLE OF 2025: Carson Kelly hits first Cubs cycle since 1993!" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xfPdHP6Ui1U?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-03/31/09605b7e-c9115652-6cff39d8-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here are Kelly’s postgame remarks after the cycle game [VIDEO].</a>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Michael Busch: A</h4>
No matter what Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris do for the Dodgers — if they ever do anything! — the deal that sent those two to L.A. for Busch is already a big win for the Cubs. Busch has turned himself into a good defender at first base and his 34 home runs were the third-most ever for a Cubs left-handed hitter (only Kyle Schwarber and Billy Williams ever had more).
Busch put up a 4.5 bWAR season and I don’t see any reason he couldn’t continue this for a few more years. He’s under team control for four more seasons and is still pre-arb in 2026.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/04/64e7bcb2-5bcc9a77-6377a916-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s his three-homer game against the Cardinals July 4 [VIDEO].</a>
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Those three were part of a franchise-record eight home runs that afternoon. Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong (two), Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson also went deep.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Nico Hoerner: A+</h4>
He hit, nearly winning the batting title. He played the field well and likely will win his second Gold Glove. His 6.1 bWAR ranked tied for fourth in the NL with Matt Olson.
Plus, he’s a fan favorite loved for his hustling play all over the field. Here’s one example of his smart play, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/27/ebda1d37-9dad51b0-f438dc2b-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">a double play turned on a popup against the White Sox July 27 [VIDEO]</a>.
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Dansby Swanson: B+</h4>
I will never understand the angst Cubs fans feel toward Swanson. I suppose it’s the contract, but Swanson is an entirely consistent player. You know he’s going to put up between 4 and 5 WAR every year, OPS about .730, hit 20-25 home runs and play outstanding defense at shortstop. He’s a thoughtful guy who’s a team leader. What’s not to like?
Yes, he strikes out a lot and can go into horrific slumps. But in the end, the Cubs made a good call with this signing.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Matt Shaw: C</h4>
It was a tale of three seasons for Shaw:
Opening Day to the All-Star break: 63 games, .198/.276/.280, just two home runs and 45 strikeouts. This included a month at Triple-A Iowa.
Post-All-Star break through Aug. 26: 35 games, .299/.343/.680, six doubles, two triples, nine home runs, only 20 strikeouts
It looked like Shaw had turned the corner and then: Aug. 27 to season’s end: 28 games, .213/.290/.348, two home runs, 29 strikeouts.
Just when it looked like Shaw had figured things out, he went into a month-long slump that continued in the postseason, where he was 2-for-17 with seven K’s (though also five walks).
Shaw, just 23, still has some learning to do. The talent is there, though.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Ian Happ: B</h4>
Another player many Cubs fans love to complain about, and I don’t get it. Maybe it’s the low BA, maybe it’s his slumps that seem to last forever.
But you know exactly what you’re going to get: about a .780 OPS, 20-25 home runs, a .340 OBP, tons of walks and solid defense in left field. He’s probably going to win his fourth Gold Glove.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-04/05/8dd1d677-df7ff078-f8dacc0c-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s a terrific diving catch he made against the Padres in April [VIDEO].</a>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Pete Crow-Armstrong: B-</h4>
I graded PCA an A+ at the All-Star break, and you know, he was exactly that. Great defense, a bat that looked like it could produce a 40-40 season, voted an All-Star starter.
It all went south after the break, when he hit just .216/.262/.372 with six home runs and 62 strikeouts in 63 games. Then he vanished in the postseason, going 5-for-27 with 12 strikeouts.
Of course, we can’t rave enough about his defense, where he makes impossible play after impossible play. I could fill up the rest of this page with PCA’s defense; <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/07/e7ca1a44-48ca52fb-96b67f98-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s a minute’s worth of some great plays from this year [VIDEO]</a>.
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Clearly, PCA needs to work on cutting down the strikeouts and perhaps stop swinging for the fences every time at bat and using his speed more. He is just 23. He had a 6.0 bWAR season, which is really good! He’s the likely Gold Glove winner in center field. And I think he’ll get even better.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Seiya Suzuki: A</h4>
Suzuki wasn’t real happy when “demoted” to full-time DH when the Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker. But he went to work making himself into a better hitter, and though he didn’t make the All-Star team (largely due to some guy named Ohtani also being a DH), his numbers were certainly good enough for that.
And then when Tucker was injured, Suzuki wound up playing quite a bit of right field anyway, 32 starts there (and all eight in the postseason), as well as 15 games in left field. 
Overall he posted only 2.6 bWAR because the metrics say he’s not a very good outfielder, but by the eye test he did all right. He set career highs in home runs, RBI and walks. Like PCA, he slumped badly in the second half, going from a first half where he had an OPS of .867 with 25 home runs in 92 games to just .688 with seven long balls in 59 games after the break.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Kyle Tucker: B</h4>
Tucker got off to a great start and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-06/01/3508f5c4-61135f8c-382b176b-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">then suffered a finger injury sliding on June 1 [VIDEO]</a>.
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It was revealed much later that this injury bothered Tucker for much of the season, though he continued to hit well for a month after it (.311/.404/.578 in 25 games in June). Then beginning July 1, Tucker went into a terrible slump where he batted just .189/.325/.235 (25-for-132) with one home run over the next 38 games, culminating with him being booed for <a href="https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/NXkyTlBfWGw0TUFRPT1fQUFSVVZnSUNWQUlBRDFNQkFBQUhWd0ZlQUZrQlVRY0FCbHdIVVZjREFGWUFWVkFG.mp4">appearing to not run out this ground ball Aug. 17 [VIDEO]</a>.
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He went 0-for-3 that day and 0-for-4 the next, with boos continuing, and then Craig Counsell sat him for three games. When Tucker returned, he went on a tremendous hot streak, batting .364/.462/.727 (16-for-44) over the next 12 games with four home runs.
Then he suffered the calf injury which forced him to miss most of September, and when he returned the bat really wasn’t there. He went 1-for-11 in the final regular season series against the Cardinals and had a decent postseason, batting .259/.375/.370 in 27 at-bats with a home run.
I’ll have more to say about Tucker in subsequent articles.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Justin Turner: D</h4>
Somehow, he managed to last the entire season on the roster. I still don’t get this signing, though Cubs players raved about his clubhouse presence and how he mentored some of the younger players on the team. There’s value in that, but Turner produced negative bWAR (-0.1) and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-04/06/15b51ded-0873bb53-7f16f4a0-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this play likely cost the Cubs a game against the Padres in April [VIDEO]</a>.
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Just to be fair, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/03/ed96db21-b22c38f3-ac083a80-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s Turner’s pinch-hit walkoff homer against the Orioles in August [VIDEO]</a>.
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That was Turner’s third, and as it turned out, last home run of the year. If this is it for Turner — and I suspect it is — that’s a pretty cool memory for a final big-league homer.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Reese McGuire: B</h4>
McGuire was a savior when the Cubs badly needed one after Miguel Amaya’s oblique injury in May. McGuire had asked for and received his release from the Cubs in mid-May, found no takers and re-signed a few days later. It was only a couple of days after that when Amaya suffered the injury and McGuire was added to the roster.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-05/25/6d5be8f5-30b1f62a-0deb0523-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">He hit two home runs in his first game as a Cub [VIDEO].</a>
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McGuire played well backing up Kelly, hitting nine home runs in only 44 games, but with Amaya due back in 2026, the team will likely thank McGuire for his help and let him go.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Miguel Amaya: Incomplete</h4>
It’s amazing that Amaya played in just 28 games this year — seemed like he was around more than that.
He missed three months after the oblique injury describe above, then was injured again in the very first game he played after returning, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/13/023dbc3a-30617c52-9be3f6c8-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">suffering an ankle sprain on this play in Toronto [VIDEO]</a>.
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It’s really a shame, he worked so hard to come back from the oblique and couldn’t even finish one game. Amaya also tried to come back for the postseason but ran out of time.
He should be 100 percent for 2026 and I would expect he and Kelly to make an excellent catching tandem.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Willi Castro: F</h4>
Castro had a decent first half for the Twins, batting .245/.335/.407 with 10 home runs in 86 games, and the trade acquiring him for a couple of minor leaguers was generally well-received.
Then Castro hit pretty much like the guy he replaced, Vidal Bruján. Without looking it up, which one of these slash lines is Bruján’s with the Cubs and which is Castro’s?
.222/.234/.289 .170/.245/.240
I take it back — Castro was worse than Bruján. The second slash line is Castro’s as a Cub. He’s a free agent and won’t be back.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Moisés Ballesteros: B+</h4>
The man can hit, no question about it. In three different stints with the Cubs he batted .298/.394/.474 (17-for-57) with two doubles, a triple (!), two home runs, 11 RBI and nine walks.
But he doesn’t really have a position, he hasn’t been a good defensive catcher in the minor leagues and the question is: Can the Cubs carry a guy who’s probably only a DH at 21 years old, or should they trade him?
Just for fun, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-09/13/c6c5702e-99a8a168-14a84d87-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s Ballesteros’ home run hit right to Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers Sept. 13 [VIDEO]</a>.
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Owen Caissie: Incomplete</h4>
Caissie might have made the postseason roster instead of Ballesteros had he not suffered a concussion <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-09/13/e4deae19-a05c388d-8624fa88-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">on this play [VIDEO]</a>.
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Caissie has talent, no doubt, and could very well become an outstanding major league hitter. He’ll likely get every chance to make the 2026 Opening Day roster.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Jon Berti: F</h4>
This was a reasonable signing that turned out to be, well, pretty bad. Berti had a three-hit game against the Dodgers in Tokyo, then had just 18 more hits in 94 at-bats after that.
I’m including him here because the Cubs used him to pitch the ninth inning July 4 when they were leading the Cardinals 11-1. He wound up allowing a couple of hits, three walks and two runs, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/04/ad44a5b0-f34c86b6-4b71d1ba-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">but also made this stellar defensive play [VIDEO]</a>.
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No one picked up Berti after the Cubs released him, but we can always remember that play.
Nicky Lopez, Carlos Santana, Gage Workman and Kevin Alcántara also played for the Cubs this year.
Overall, the Cubs had several players have outstanding offensive seasons, and as you can see from the highlights I’ve posted here, created some indelible memories for all of us.
Tomorrow: Grades for Cubs pitchers.
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[MLB News Outside The Confines: The Mariners advance after a 15-inning epic]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-news/199372/mlb-news-outside-the-confines-mariners-tigers-blue-jays" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199372</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T07:54:24-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T08:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB news" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Good morning.]]></summary>
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Good morning.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series with a thrilling 3-2 win in 15 innings over the Tigers. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/tigers-mariners-alds-game-5-wild-facts-and-figures">Here are 15 stats from that instant classic.</a> </li>
<li>Gabe Lacques has <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/gabe-lacques/2025/10/11/mariners-tigers-stats-numbers-alds-game-5/86641961007/">eight stats from Friday night’s epic Mariners win.</a></li>
<li>Tyler Kepner gets a reaction from the Mariners and notes <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6708441/2025/10/11/seattle-mariners-new-generation-alcs/">that this is a new generation of heroes for Seattle</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Matt Snyder argues that the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/its-not-just-cal-raleigh-mariners-underrated-offense-is-thriving-in-one-of-baseballs-toughest-ballparks/">Mariners offense is much more than just Cal Raleigh.</a></li>
<li>Daniel Kramer reports that <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/edgar-martinez-dan-wilson-compare-1995-mariners-with-2025-team">players on the ‘95 Mariners see a lot of similarities</a> to this year’s team. For their sake I would hope not too many similarities. That team lost the ALCS to Cleveland in six games.</li>
<li>On the other side, the Tigers organization wasn’t too happy about the loss. Tigers broadcaster <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/radio/tigers-announcer-caught-on-hot-mic-f-this-game-recap.html">Dan Dickerson let loose an accidental over-the-air profanity</a> after the epic loss. </li>
<li>R.J. Anderson wonders <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/what-is-tarik-skubals-future-with-tigers-free-agency-clock-already-ticking-after-detroits-playoff-exit/">what is next for Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal after Detroit’s exit.</a> </li>
<li>As far as the Mariners’ opponents in the ALCS, Keegan Matheson reports that the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/what-it-means-for-blue-jays-to-represent-canada">Blue Jays feel the love and the pressure of being “Canada’s Team.”</a></li>
<li>Brent Maguire has the five factors that explain Toronto first baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-s-hot-start-to-2025-postseason">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hot streak in the playoffs.</a></li>
<li>Eno Sarris breaks down <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6694854/2025/10/10/blue-jays-trey-yesavage-splitter/">Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage’s brutal splitter</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Sam Dykstra looks at <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/trey-yesavage-minor-league-journey">Yesavage’s meteoric rise.</a> </li>
<li>In what’s been an ugly trend in sports lately, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/bluejays/2025/10/12/trey-yesavage-blue-jays-alcs-yankees/86663371007/">Yesavage decried attacks and threats against his family after a dominating performance</a> against the Yankees. </li>
<li>Dan Szymborski <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/alcs-preview-mariners-and-blue-jays-get-a-shot-to-write-new-history/">has an ALCS preview.</a> </li>
<li>Tyler Kepner notes that the ALCS is a matchup of the two 1977 expansion teams. He shares <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709337/2025/10/12/blue-jays-mariners-alcs-1977-expansion/">his ten favorite baseball cards from these two teams in 1977.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Bob Nightengale explains why the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/10/12/brewers-beat-cubs-nlds-game-5-meaning-celebration/86657251007/">Brewers victory in the National League Division Series was so important</a> to the franchise. Bleh. </li>
<li>Anthony DiComo notes that two rookie pitchers who started the season as starters—<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-jacob-misiorowski-thriving-as-rookie-relievers">Roki Sasaki and Jacob Misiorowski—are thriving as relievers in the postseason.</a></li>
<li>Jack Harris writes that <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/roki-sasakis-transformation-injured-starter-100000425.html">Sasaki transforming into a closer has saved the Dodgers’ season.</a> </li>
<li>Harris also explains <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/why-dodgers-pushing-shohei-ohtanis-011744878.html">why Shohei Ohtani won’t start in either of the first two games</a> of the NL Championship Series. </li>
<li>ESPN dot com writers <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46556337/mlb-playoffs-2025-alcs-nlcs-expert-predictions-dodgers-brewers-mariners-blue-jays">predict the two League Championship Series. </a></li>
<li>Sarah Langs has three ways these <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-alcs-nlcs-are-historic-matchups">two Championship Series are historically rare</a>.</li>
<li>Grant Brisbee has a preview of the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6708211/2025/10/12/mlb-league-championship-series-previews/">four teams in the Championship Series and who has momentum</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Stephen J. Nesbitt has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709071/2025/10/12/nlcs-alcs-lessons-mlb-postseason/">one lesson that teams can learn from the four teams still playing</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>R.J. Anderson has <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/alcs-nlcs-x-factors-one-element-that-could-swing-mariners-vs-blue-jays-and-dodgers-vs-brewers-series/">one X-factor for each series.</a> </li>
<li>Jorge Castillo looks at <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46543667/mlb-2025-playoffs-new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-world-series-legacy-captain">what the Yankees have to do to build a World Series Champion while superstar Aaron Judge is still productive</a>. </li>
<li>Jack Baer reports that Yankees outfielder <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/cody-bellinger-to-opt-out-of-contract-adding-another-item-to-yankees-offseason-checklist-232228391.html">Cody Bellinger will opt out of his contract.</a> </li>
<li>The Phillies made sure to that reliever Orion Kerkering didn’t have to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6705755/2025/10/10/phillies-orion-kerkering-error-nlds-game-5-loss/">experience his pain alone after his heartbreaking error that ended Philadelphia’s season</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>David Schoenfield wonders <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46555121/mlb-2025-playoffs-phillies-nlds-exit-elimination-harper-schwarber-contention-winning">how long this particular core group of Phillies players can remain contenders</a>. </li>
<li>Anthony Dabbundo writes <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2025/10/10/mlb/phillies-pitcher-error-orion-kerkering-final-play-dodger-game-end">that these Phillies aren’t over.</a> </li>
<li>Anthony DiComo has <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-top-offseason-priorities-ahead-of-2026">five questions for the Mets this winter.</a></li>
<li>Mets first baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-alonso-seeks-multi-year-deal-in-free-agency">Pete Alonso reportedly wants a seven-year deal</a> in his upcoming free agency. </li>
<li>Mark Bowman has <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-top-offseason-priorities-for-2026">five questions for the Braves this offseason.</a></li>
<li>Albert Pujols has reportedly <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46555875/pujols-meets-angels-managerial-opening">met with the Angels about their vacant managerial job</a>. </li>
<li>Sam Blum and Katie Woo report that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6707683/2025/10/10/albert-pujols-angels-manager-discussion/">the job is Pujols’ if he decides to take it.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Bob Nightengale looks at Pujols’ qualifications and notes that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/angels/2025/10/10/albert-pujols-angels-manager-interview-rumors/86461199007/">he would be the greatest player to ever manage in the big leagues.</a> Even if you don’t count player-managers, he’s wrong—Walter Johnson managed and even if you mean since integration, Frank Robinson was about as good a player as Pujols. But his point still stands. Certainly no one who has managed has hit more home runs than Pujols.</li>
<li>And finally, Chad Jennings and Stephen J. Nesbitt rank the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709080/2025/10/11/mlb-playoffs-2025-dodgers-brewers-blue-jays-mariners/">ballpark atmosphere of the four remaining playoff teams.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
</ul>

]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Duane Pesice</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Baseball history unpacked, October 13]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-wrigley-field-mlb-history/199322/baseball-history-unpacked-october-13" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199322</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T13:20:55-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T07:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs/Wrigley Field/MLB history" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lots of firsts, several final games. Today in World Series history. Happy Birthday to HoFer Rube Waddell* and others, including the immortal Pickles Dillhoefer! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-91006916.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Lots of firsts, several final games. Today in World Series history. Happy Birthday to HoFer Rube Waddell* and others, including the immortal Pickles Dillhoefer!
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Bleed Cubbie Blue</a> is pleased to present a light-hearted, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/history/timeline01.jsp">Here’s a handy Cubs timeline</a>, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — <a href="https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/tommy-connolly/">Tom Connolly</a>, HoF Umpire.
Today in baseball history:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>1870 – An estimated 20,000 fans pack <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dexter_Park_(Chicago)">Dexter Park</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chicago,_IL">Chicago, IL</a> to watch the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chicago_White_Stockings">Chicago White Stockings</a> defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cincinnati_Red_Stockings">Cincinnati Red Stockings</a>, 16-13. Chicago finishes the season with a record of 65-8, making them the unofficial national champions. (2)</li>
<li>1903 – In Game 8, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_Pilgrims">Boston Pilgrims</a> win the first modern-day <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_World_Series">World Series</a>. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Dineen">Bill Dineen</a> pitches a 3-0 <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Complete_game">complete game</a> against <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_Pirates">Pittsburgh</a>, as <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Deacon_Phillippe">Deacon Phillippe</a> hurls his fifth complete game of the Series, but takes the loss. Boston wins the best-of-nine series, five games to three. (1,2)</li>
<li>1914 – The <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_Braves">Boston Braves</a> complete a remarkable sweep of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_Athletics">Philadelphia Athletics</a>, the first in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_World_Series">World Series</a> history. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dick_Rudolph">Dick Rudolph</a> pitches a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Complete_game">complete game</a> 3-1 victory for the Braves, who were 15 games out of first place in early July. (1,2)</li>
<li>1921 – In the first “<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Subway_Series">Subway Series</a>” ever, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_Giants">New York Giants</a> defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_Yankees">New York Yankees</a>, 1-0, to take the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_World_Series">World Series</a>, five games to three. The only run of the game scores on a 1st-inning <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Error">error</a> by Yankees shortstop <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Roger_Peckinpaugh">Roger Peckinpaugh</a>. (2)</li>
<li>1960 – <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Mazeroski">Bill Mazeroski</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_Pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> hits one of the most dramatic <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Home_run">home runs</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_World_Series">World Series</a> history. Maz’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ralph_Terry">Ralph Terry</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_Yankees">New York Yankees</a> gives Pittsburgh a stunning 10 – 9 win in Game 7. (2)</li>
<li>1970 – In the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_World_Series">World Series</a>, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_Orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a> win their third straight over the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_Reds">Cincinnati Reds</a>, 9-3, with winning pitcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dave_McNally">Dave McNally</a> slugging a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Grand_slam">grand slam</a>. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Frank_Robinson">Frank Robinson</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Don_Buford">Don Buford</a> also hit home runs and third baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brooks_Robinson">Brooks Robinson</a> continues his excellence on defense as he makes two spectacular grabs in the field. (2)</li>
<li>1971 – The <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_Orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_Pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> play the first <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Night_game">night game</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_World_Series">World Series</a> history. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Roberto_Clemente">Roberto Clemente</a> bats three hits and rookie catcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Milt_May">Milt May</a> delivers a game-winning <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pinch-hitter">pinch-hit</a> in Pittsburgh’s 4-3 comeback victory. (2)</li>
<li>1993 – <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tommy_Greene">Tommy Greene</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a> outpitches <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Greg_Maddux">Greg Maddux</a> and the Phillies beat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_Braves">Atlanta Braves</a>, 6-3, to win the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_NLCS">NLCS</a> in six games. (2)</li>
<li>2015 – For the first time in their history, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_Cubs">Cubs</a> clinch a postseason series in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Wrigley_Field">Wrigley Field</a> when they defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_Cardinals">Cardinals</a>, 6-4, in Game 4 of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_NLDS1">NLDS</a>. The Cardinals take an early lead on a two-run homer by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Stephen_Piscotty">Stephen Piscotty</a> in the first, but the Cubs reply with a four-run 2nd, highlighted by a three-run shot by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Javier_Baez">Javier Baez</a>. After the Cardinals tie the score in the sixth, solo homers by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Anthony_Rizzo">Anthony Rizzo</a> in the sixth and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kyle_Schwarber">Kyle Schwarber</a> in the seventh, both off <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kevin_Siegrist">Kevin Siegrist</a>, send Chicago to the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_NLCS">NLCS</a>. (2)</li>
</ul>
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Cubs vs Cardinals 2015 NLDS Game 4" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sXnDqWRKiI8?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
Cubs Birthdays: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wadderu01.shtml">Rube Waddell</a> HOF*, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dillhpi01.shtml">Pickles Dillhoefer</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silvech01.shtml">Charlie Silvera</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frazige01.shtml">George Frazier</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/capelmi01.shtml">Mike Capel</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hickebr01.shtml">Bryan Hickerson</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/milleda02.shtml">Damian Miller</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/steenke01.shtml">Kennie Steenstra</a>. Also notable: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/matheed01.shtml">Eddie Mathews</a> HOF, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoffmtr01.shtml">Trevor Hoffman</a> HOF.
Today in History:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>54 – Agrippina the Younger murders her husband, Roman Emperor Claudius, with poison to secure the line of succession for her son Nero. </li>
<li>1269 – The new gothic style Westminster Abbey is consecrated by Henry III after the bones of Edward the Confessor are transferred to it. Construction began in 1220.</li>
<li>1448 – First assembly of Catalan dioceses to choose their syndics (representative) to plead abolition of serfdom to King Alfonso IV – first official recognition of serfs organizing to defend their rights.</li>
<li>1773 – The Whirlpool Galaxy discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier.</li>
<li>1914 – American inventor Garrett Morgan patents his safety hood device, which is later refined into the gas mask.</li>
<li>1976 – A Bolivian Boeing 707 cargo jet crashes in Santa Cruz, Bolivia killing 100 (97, mostly children, killed on the ground).</li>
</ul>
Common sources:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>(1) — <a href="http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/">Today in Baseball History</a>.</li>
<li>(2) — <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/birthdays.cgi">Baseball Reference</a>.</li>
<li>(3) — <a href="https://sabr.org/">Society for American Baseball Research</a>.</li>
<li>(4) — <a href="https://baseballhall.org/">Baseball Hall of Fame</a>.</li>
<li>(5) — <a href="http://www.thisdayinchicagocubshistory.com/">This Day in Chicago Cubs history</a>.</li>
<li>(6) — <a href="https://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</li>
<li>(7) — <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/">The British Museum</a></li>
<li>(8) <a href="https://www.onthisday.com/">For world history</a>.</li>
</ul>
*pictured.
Things are as near to the truth as we can get them. Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, so that we can help update the records and have documentation.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[ALCS Game 1: Mariners at Blue Jays, Sunday 10/12, 7:03 CT]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-game-threads/199276/alcs-game-1-mariners-blue-jays-sunday" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199276/al-division-series-game-5-tigers-at-mariners-friday-10-10-708-ct</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T14:06:16-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-12T19:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB game threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[So here we go. The American League’s representative in the World Series will either be a team that hasn’t been there in 32 years (Blue Jays) or a team that’s never been there (Mariners). In fact, the Mariners have been to the ALCS just three times (1995, 2000, 2001) and never even had a decisive […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2238860760.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,34.58148747158,100,65.41851252842" />
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So here we go.
The American League’s representative in the World Series will either be a team that hasn’t been there in 32 years (Blue Jays) or a team that’s never been there (Mariners). In fact, the Mariners have been to the ALCS just three times (1995, 2000, 2001) and never even had a decisive seventh game in any of those series.
Personally, I think the Blue Jays are a far better team than the Mariners, and especially with home field, they should win this series and get back to the Fall Classic.
But the postseason is very random, as you know, and… well, that’s why they play the games.
Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 1.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Mariners at Blue Jays</h3>
Bryce Miller, RHP vs. Kevin Gausman, RHP
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/12/813040/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/TOR202510120.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis and John Smoltz with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting.
Enjoy the evening, discuss amongst yourselves.
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<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/16145362" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F16145362&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
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