Bonus Rundown: Record Amount of Postponed Games, Starting Pitching Woes, Bryant’s Fast Start
Hey, the Cubs will play a baseball game today, their second one in the last five days! Many of you in Chicago might be waking up to a fresh blanket of snow, though, and the game time temperature for Thursday’s contest against the St. Louis Cardinals is a “warm” 46 degrees.
It’s not just the Cubs that this weather has slowed down to start the season. Wednesday’s postponed game marked the 25th of the season for Major League Baseball, tying the record for most postponements through as many games in the season. At least Bryzzo are finding a way to stay warm:
This picture from @Cubs Instagram story is EVERYTHING pic.twitter.com/Lv1fCqwqOr
— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) April 19, 2018
Cubs News and Notes
Those sneaky Cubs front office executives, always findings a way to get around the system when it comes to the international free agent rules. Though Theoycloid has a $300,000 cap for signing international players, they still were able to sign several quality top prospects from Mexico over the cap because of Mexican League rules. The front office inked two amateurs to $1.2 million deals: RHP Florencio Serrano and SS Luis Verdugo. A complete breakdown of the 2017-18 international free agent class for the Cubs can be read here.
The Cubs’ starting pitching staff is still looking to get going this year. The starting crew has combined for the 3rd worst FIP (4.90) and 2nd worst ERA (5.31) in MLB.
Kris Bryant, the unequivocal best third baseman in the league, leads National League players at the position in WAR (1.0).
News Around the League
Joe Mauer started a baseball game as a 34-year-old and ended the game as a 35-year-old.
Jose Fernandez’s widow was asked to come clean out the locker of her late husband, Jose. The Miami Marlins are just doing a terrific job this season on all fronts.
Lastly, Maritza Fernandez says that last month, she got a call from Marlins brass telling her to come clear out Jose’s locker in the clubhouse which she says had been preserved with his items inside, says she was told it would never be cleaned out. (More) https://t.co/QbCSwrLjcD
— Liane Morejon (@LianeMorejonTV) April 18, 2018
Freddie Freeman’s wrist was hit by a pitch on Wednesday, the same wrist that was beaned last season and caused the first baseman to miss 41 games.
Rich Hill was placed on the disabled list with finger inflammation, which is giving me bad flashbacks from Kyle Hendricks’ injury last season.
Nolan Arenado is back from suspension after charging the mound against the San Diego Padres and flailing on a few punches. Bryant wouldn’t have missed.
Wednesday’s Stars
Boston Red Sox young star Rafael Devers launched his first career grand slam.
Yoenis Cespedes also hit a grand slam, which was part of a crazy nine-run 8th inning for the New York Mets.
What do Roger Clemens and young Minnesota Twins pitching sensation Jose Berrios have in common?
Jose Berrios is the first pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1991 to throw 7+ shutout innings three times in their team's first 13 games of a season.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 19, 2018
Ryan LaMarre of the Twins hit a walk-off knock against the Cleveland Indians in the 16th inning of their game in Puerto Rico. The atmosphere at that ballpark was electric. If you’ve never watched a game in Puerto Rico or have not tuned into the World Baseball Classic over the years, do yourself a favor and dwell in the baseball passion that many of these countries exhibit.