NEWSLETTER
The final day of the regular season is here (well, barring some added chaos). For the Chicago Cubs, that means the end of the 2021 line, from freezing cold open to COVID outbreak conclusion and every ugly, beautiful, exasperating, fun thing that came in between. More soon-ish on the season that was. Might take a minute to unpack. Until then, beat the dang Cardinals today.
• Ian Happ did the job last night in the 9th inning, with a massive blast to bring his season line up to an improbable .227/.323/.436 104 wRC+). The offseason debates about Happ’s future are going to be intolerable (I’ll be guilty of it, too), but for now, he’s definitely closed any questions about whether he’ll be tendered at all. He will be.
• Bonus lulz at the shortstop who was pointing up at a 451-foot home run:
What are you even pointing at? pic.twitter.com/x1djP1WaEg
— Funky Cold Luda (@lcm1986) October 3, 2021
• The Cubs are taking down some records this year (just need one more new player to get into a game today!):
Cubs tie the MLB record, set by the Mariners in 2019, for most players used in a season with 67 as Tyler Ladendorf pinch hits.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) October 3, 2021
Ladendorf is also the 42nd player to have made his #Cubs debut this year, easily a single-season franchise mark.
The previous high was 34 in 2013, and prior to 2013, the record number was 30 in 1902.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) October 3, 2021
• Willson Contreras left yesterday’s game early with a hip issue, and he presumably won’t play today. So his season ends with a .237/.340/.438 (109 wRC+). There will be a whole lot to discuss this early offseason about his future with the Cubs.
• When Rowan Wick looks good, he looks REALLY good:
Filthy @RowanWick pic.twitter.com/ohZTCdI6z3
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) October 3, 2021
• I have a hard time seeing Theo Epstein just simply taking the next president opportunity, but maybe Steve Cohen will make it so worth his while that he can’t say no:
Mets will soon contact Theo Epstein regarding their Baseball President job and plan to request permission to interview Billy Beane and David Stearns after their clubs are out (A’s are done Sunday, Brewers may be awhile). So Theo could be up 1st as Mets try for a proven star.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 3, 2021
• The Rockies decided to promote their interim GM (seemingly the only guy left after much of the front office was fired/walked earlier this year):
Bill Schmidt steps to the helm as GM. #Rockies pic.twitter.com/aMqrqyuUhD
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) October 2, 2021
• … and I’m not sure it’s going to go that well:
Bill Schmidt said he plans to pursue all avenues to get better this offseason, including trades and free agents. But, they aren't changing their philosophy.
"We're not the Dodgers. We're the Colorado Rockies. We scout, draft and develop."
— Danielle Allentuck (@d_allentuck) October 2, 2021
• The Dodgers. You know, famous for not drafting and developing well. Mmm hmm. I think you’re right that no one will confuse the Rockies for the Dodgers any time soon.
• It sure seems like the Padres are going to try to pin their disastrous season on the manager and coaching staff (well, after having already fired the pitching coach midseason). There was a report from Jon Heyman that manager Jayce Tingler was getting bounced, and then there was a denial … and then basically a confirmation:
"Per A.J. Preller, no decision has been made on Jayce (Tingler's) employment status at this time," a Padres spokesperson says. "Heyman’s report is completely premature. He will be managing our game today."
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) October 2, 2021
The Padres call report by @jonheyman that Jayce Tingler will be fired “premature.”
This is all typical firing season stuff.
As has been reported, this is AJ Preller’s call, and the expectation is Tingler and the coaching staff will be dismissed.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) October 2, 2021
• The Pirates called up one of their top prospects, Oneil Cruz, for a very late-season look. The 6’7″ shortstop (not a typo) is something else. We might be seeing his highlights for a while:
So Oneil Cruz can hit a ball 118.2 MPH. Cool cool cool cool.
In 2021 Only 7 hitters have made it to 118. Only 20 have done it since 2015. They are, mostly, DUDES. https://t.co/pJEFW100MO
Cruz did it in his first two hours in the big leagues. pic.twitter.com/Mqo3MyE6BN
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 3, 2021
• Ah, so that’s why his minor league BABIPs are crazy high. Hitting the ball that hard one time might not sound like much, but if you actually go look at that list, basically no one hits the ball over 118 mph. And of the guys who have done it, only six guys have done it more than once, and all of them have had some seriously studly seasons. And of those guys, only two – Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge – have done it more than three times (the other two who could approach Stanton and Judge-like rates are Pete Alonso and Vlad Guerrero Jr.). Since Cruz did it IMMEDIATELY in the big leagues, it’s a fair bet that it’s not a pure one-time fluke, which in turn suggests he is likely to do it many more times. Maybe he’ll be the first guy who can hit the ball that hard and doesn’t become a very good hitter, but …
• Fun fact: when you drop the search criteria to 117 mph, the additional names you get who’ve done it at least three times: Shohei Ohtani, Nelson Cruz, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, Joey Gallo, and Kyle Schwarber. Truly, it’s rare as heck to hit the ball that hard, even just a few times.
• Joc Pederson has been playing games while wearing a pearl necklace. He even homered with it on last night. He has a perfect explanation for why he’s doing it:
When someone asked Joc Pederson about the pearl necklace this week, he said there was no story behind it, that he’s just “a bad bitch.”
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 3, 2021
• I hate that today’s Bears game has such outsized importance (because decisions should be made regardless of this game):
I like the idea of discussing the how, why, when, and other aspects about the possibility of moving on from Matt Nagy as head coach, should the Bears decide to travel that path.
So, let's do that.https://t.co/fGmuKcDw4z
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) October 1, 2021
