Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2014 0:04:02 GMT -5
Long suffering Cub fans finally are feeling optimistic. After calling up 4 of their top rookies at the beginning of July, the Cubs suddenly look like a team that may be ready to return to their winning ways of the mid 40's. An 11-13 month with one game to play may not look like much, but the Cubs played much better in July than they have all year. Tom Flanigan, acquired in the Don Robertson trade made immediate impact on the rotation, going 4-2 in his first 6 starts, 5 of which were quality starts. His 2.9 K/BB ratio has been stellar. This year's first round draft pick Shigeo Nagashima shined with the bat, going .267/.320/.897 with six homers and six doubles and a whopping 21 rib's in only 90 AB's. He has struggled with the glove however, which was thought to be a strength, committing 7 errors already. Ruben Amaro has been spectacular with the glove, which was expected, and while he's hit well enough against lefties, he's struggled thus far with the righties, but the Cubs seem committed to letting him finish out the year at short to see what they have. Bob Shaw only made one appearance in July, but the Cubs announced today that they were going to put Shaw in to the starting rotation and move Curt Barclay back to the pen in an effort to limit his innings in this, his second season, but first full year in the rotation. Barclay struggled this year 7-12 record with a 5.18 ERA this year. The Cubs still view him as a top of rotation arm, so he'll no doubt get another look next year, but they also think Shaw may be able to pitch at the bottom of the rotation next year, so they'll get a look at him over the last couple of months of the season.
In minor league news, OF Billy Williams was promoted to AAA Portland, where he'll spend the last month of the minor league season after hitting .275/.366/.821 at AA with 15 homers. With Williams, 2B-Bill Mazeroski (.307/.375/.854 with 12 homers/9 sb's at AAA) and 1B/OF-Leon Wagner (.276/.362/.861 with 20 homers at AAA), the next wave of young bats are just around the corner and by next year the Cubs should have an entire roster made up of players who have either been drafted and came through the system or who have been acquired via trades. GM Matt Andersen recently declared that he feels like the rebuild is over and if July is any indication, he may be right. Could the Cubs actually contend in 59? Cub fans are optimistic.
In minor league news, OF Billy Williams was promoted to AAA Portland, where he'll spend the last month of the minor league season after hitting .275/.366/.821 at AA with 15 homers. With Williams, 2B-Bill Mazeroski (.307/.375/.854 with 12 homers/9 sb's at AAA) and 1B/OF-Leon Wagner (.276/.362/.861 with 20 homers at AAA), the next wave of young bats are just around the corner and by next year the Cubs should have an entire roster made up of players who have either been drafted and came through the system or who have been acquired via trades. GM Matt Andersen recently declared that he feels like the rebuild is over and if July is any indication, he may be right. Could the Cubs actually contend in 59? Cub fans are optimistic.
