Bleed Cubbie Blue Apr 14, 2021
Cubs roster moves: Jason Adam activated, Shelby Miller recalled, Adbert Alzolay and Brad Wieck optioned
Shelby Miller pitches during Spring Training | Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via The Cubs have made more changes in the pitching staff. In addition to the roster moves announced earlier Thursday, the Cubs made some changes to their pitching staff. Jason Adam, who had been placed on the COVID-19 list Monday, was activated. Remember that none of the players placed on the COVID-19 list were put there because of a positive test, it was out of an “abundance of caution.” Shelby Miller was also recalled from the alternate site. There was room for Miller because of the...
Cubbies Crib Apr 13, 2021
Cubs: Questioning the pitch calling in Monday’s sixth-inning dumpster fire
For five innings on Monday, Adbert Alzolay was cruising against the Milwaukee Brewers. The offense was expectedly awful, but the young Chicago Cubs right-hander looked like the real deal. He was mixing his fastball with his breaking stuff masterfully – until the wheels came off in the sixth inning when he started relying on his slider […] Cubs: Questioning the pitch calling in Monday’s sixth-inning dumpster fire - Cubbies Crib - Cubbies Crib - Chicago Cubs News and Fan Community
Bleed Cubbie Blue Apr 13, 2021
2021 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 10
Photo by Stacy Revere/ Cubs skid reaches three as rally is too little, too late I have by no means seen an exhaustive amount of Adbert Alzolay pitching. But for five innings Monday night, he looked the best that I’ve seen him look. He was pretty dominant. It was easy to see the pitcher he can be. Even when things went sideways in the sixth, there was a single through the shift and a lengthy at bat that ended in a walk. He certainly deserved better Monday night. But hopefully, Alzolay found some things he could learn and grow from in this game and he continues to get...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Apr 10, 2021
Cubs pitching has been outstanding so far in 2021
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/ If this continues, this will be a good year for the North Siders. While we are all aware of the Cubs’ current offensive struggles, I thought I’d take a few moments to celebrate the success of the Cubs’ pitching staff, which in an admittedly small sample size of seven games has been very, very good. Of the seven starts made, only two were clunkers or close: Kyle Hendricks’ Opening Day start, which can very likely be attributed to the extremely cold conditions at Wrigley Field a week ago Thursday, and Adbert Alzolay’s five-inning,...
Cubbies Crib Apr 7, 2021
Cubs: Adbert Alzolay’s first start full of ups and downs
Chicago Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay’s 2021 debut came Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. It featured both peaks and valleys. Alzolay was one of the late additions to the Cubs’ big league roster as camp wound down. There had been a bit of speculation as to whether he could start the season at the alternate […] Cubs: Adbert Alzolay’s first start full of ups and downs - Cubbies Crib - Cubbies Crib - Chicago Cubs News and Fan Community
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 29, 2021
One more look at the Cubs’ choices for the Opening Day roster
A thoughtful David Ross | Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports There are still a couple of unsettled positions. Sunday, the Cubs announced that three non-rostered players would be added to the 40-man roster: Rex Brothers, Eric Sogard and Matt Duffy. While the Opening Day 26-man roster has yet to be made official, those three will certainly be on it. That leaves a spot or two still undecided, so let’s look at who might wind up on the roster who isn’t already. Starting pitchers (5) Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies, Trevor Williams, Adbert Alzolay Relievers (9) Craig...
Cubbies Crib Mar 28, 2021
Cubs show they’re focused on the future with Adbert Alzolay decision
This weekend, the Chicago Cubs roster really took shape in dramatic ways. We’ll get into all that in the time leading up to Opening Day on Thursday. For now, let’s focus in on the starting rotation – and the team’s decision to name Adbert Alzolay the fifth starter heading into the regular season. Second-year skipper […] Cubs show they’re focused on the future with Adbert Alzolay decision - Cubbies Crib - Cubbies Crib - Chicago Cubs News and Fan Community
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 28, 2021
Cub Tracks has options
Photo by Carmen Mandato/ #Cubs and #MLB news for you Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES, we like to keep things brief on the principle that it makes us appear wise. Unless we feel a rant. But we don’t mind a little informing with the entertaining. And we are short but sweet, like Danny De Vito with a lollipop. Bear with us as we sample the zeitgeist and regurgitate the remnants. The big stories include Adbert Alzolay seemingly making the rotation and Nico Hoerner being sent down for “seasoning.” Well, at least for 36 days. Mike Olt would recognize this...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 27, 2021
Adbert Alzolay has made the Cubs Opening Day roster and will be in the rotation
Photo by Carmen Mandato/ And other Opening Day roster thoughts and news.` Adbert Alzolay has been on the cusp of becoming a major-league starting pitcher for some time, after being in the Cubs organization since 2013. He’s 26 years old and is kind of at the “now or never” time of his career. He threw very well against what was essentially the Dodgers’ Opening Day lineup Thursday evening. Perhaps that’s what made manager David Ross and the front office make this decision Saturday: Ross makes it official: "Adbert's on the team."His role is yet to be...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 26, 2021
Dodgers 5, Cubs 2: A tale of two pitchers, Adbert Alzolay and Dillon Maples
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports The Cubs have decisions to make, and not much time to make them. MESA, Arizona — So NOW what do the Cubs do with Adbert Alzolay? It was clear that Alzolay’s start was a deliberate choice by management to look at him against opposing hitters instead of in intrasquad play. Thursday should have been Trevor Williams’ turn in the rotation, but Williams took the intrasquad start and Alzolay not only was sent out to face an opponent, but the defending World Series champion Dodgers’ likely Opening Day lineup. Alzolay rose to the occasion....
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 25, 2021
Cubs vs. Dodgers at Mesa preview, Thursday 3/25, 8:05 CT
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports More Cubs night baseball for your viewing pleasure. Here are today’s particulars. Cubs lineup: Happ LF, Contreras C, Bryant 3B, Heyward RF, Baez SS, Marisnick CF, Bote 2B, Duffy 1B, Alzolay P Dodgers lineup: Betts RF, Seager SS, Turner 3B, Bellinger CF, Smith C, Muncy 1B, Pollock LF, Taylor 2B, May P Adbert Alzolay will start for the Cubs tonight. Other Cubs pitchers today: Dillon Maples, Ryan Tepera, Brad Wieck, James Norwood, Brendon Little, Juan Gamez and Manuel Rodriguez. Maples had been on Wednesday’s list but didn’t appear....
Bleed Cubbie Blue Mar 24, 2021
It looks like Adbert Alzolay will have a fourth option year
Adbert Alzolay pitches against the Royals on March 2 | Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports This, according to a source, means Alzolay can be sent to the minors in 2021. One of the big questions surrounding the Cubs pitching staff this spring is whether Adbert Alzolay, who had some promising outings late last September, would be out of options. A case regarding a fourth option year for some players, including Alzolay, has been before an arbitrator. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago, the arbitrator has ruled in favor of MLB in Alzolay’s case: The Cubs...
