AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

The Rundown: Repugnant Bullpen Costs Cubs Another Win, Boyd Impressive in First Start, Yanks Blast 15 Dingers in Weekend Onslaught

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMarch 31, 2025

“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz…” – Alka-Seltzer commercial, 1976

If I started with an actual song based on yesterday’s bullpen implosion, I probably would have chosen “Same Old Song and Dance” by Aerosmith. You’re not alone if you watched Sunday’s game and felt like it was 2023 or 2024. This has to be some kind of curse. Eli Morgan gave up six earned runs in less than one inning to the Diamondbacks after allowing nine all last year with the Guardians. Nate Pearson and Caleb Thielbar weren’t much better. The three pitchers combined to give up 10 runs in three innings, which might encourage Matthew Boyd to voluntarily join the injury list. As Steve Stone might have said after yesterday’s disastrous 8th inning, “If you just joined us, you’re one of the lucky ones.”

If the goal is to win 90 or more games this season, Jed Hoyer is going to have to magically build a bullpen on the fly again. He might want to start by signing David Robertson. It’s not a good look for alleged bullpen whisperer Craig Counsell, either. He’s now 3-6 in March games since joining the Cubs and would be 2-7 were it not for some magic by Dansby Swanson on Saturday evening. The Diamondbacks annihilated Morgan, who gave up hits ranging from 102.7 to 107.5 mph in exit velocity. It was difficult to watch and stomach. Chicago’s relievers have given fans little hope for optimism through the first six games.

Boyd’s performance was the silver lining. The 34-year-old lefty tossed five innings of shutout baseball, getting five strikeouts in his 92-pitch effort. He’ll be an excellent fourth starter if he can stay healthy all season. Kyle Tucker had a big game too, launching his second home run of the season. He also has seven RBI, sharing the team lead with Miguel Amaya. That said, the bullpen is dog doo-doo right now, pardon my French, and things will remain ugly until Counsell and his coaches fix it. As I said, it’s the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend.

Cubs News & Notes

Odds & Sods

Today is my birthday and I have but three wishes: A full head of hair, a torpedo bat, and to be 22 years old and playing professional baseball. Can you make that happen?

Central Intelligence

How About That!

Several teams are scrambling to catch up to the Yankees after New York’s opening weekend offensive onslaught.

The last full-time pitcher to get a hit was Zack Greinke in Game 4 of the 2021 World Series.

Red Sox DH Rafael Devers is off to a historically bad start. The former third baseman seems unhappy without a defensive role and it’s affecting him at the plate. Devers has 12 strikeouts through four games.

Over the weekend, it was reported that the Red Sox and star prospect Kristian Campbell were “deep” into talks regarding a contract extension.

Royals infielder Jonathan India took a 99 MPH fastball to the jaw from Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. India dropped to a knee for a moment, stood up, screamed in pain, and was quickly escorted off the field by Kansas City’s training staff.

Sunday’s Three Stars

  1. Torpedo Bats: The Yankees are 3-0 and hit 15 home runs in their opening series against the Brewers. New York’s team OPS is 1.236, and Aaron Judge has four home runs already. He finished with 58 last season but didn’t hit his fourth tater until April 24. Judge is slashing .545/.643/2.461, which is as filthy as it gets, but doesn’t use the torpedo bat. “I think my record speaks for itself,” he said after blasting three bombs on Saturday.
  2. Jazz Chisholm Jr.: The Brewers pitched around Judge three times but were subsequently burned by Chisholm, who plated five runners with two home runs and one very loud single.
  3. Nick Pivetta – The 32-year-old soft-tosser blanked the Braves over seven innings in the Padres’ 5-0 win on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Extra Innings

Swanson should have earned the save for Saturday’s win.

They Said It

  • “We’ve got a great group of guys [in the bullpen]. We have so much talent. There’s a lot of experience. There’s not one ounce of worry when it comes to those guys.” – Boyd
  • “This is our group, and we certainly gotta be a little better than that and expect it, and we will. Today wasn’t a good day.” – Counsell

Monday Walk-Up Song

I’ve got 60 laps around the sun banked, starting lap 61 this morning. I’ll be at the Brewers-Royals game with a bunch of friends today, though I declined the 999 challenge. That’s nine hot dogs and nine beers in nine innings. I’d like to make it to 62, if you know what I mean.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMarch 31, 2025
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