Gee, the mood switched quick! The big league club is floundering. Dreamy Kris gets kicked out. ADDISON IS BUST!!!! AA is promoted, but is (probably) heading back. Other players have one eye on the door. Rooftop issues linger. Ugh. At least we can look at iridescent clouds and dream.
Can we go back to winning games now?
From Comcast SportsNet
- James Russell knows he could be next out the door.
- After trading Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, the Cubs will get a good look at their next wave of pitching.
- The Rundown compares Anthony Rizzo and Justin Morneau, who are candidates for the All-Star Game.
- Yankees' GM Brian Cashman loves the haul the Cubs got from the Oakland Athletics.
- Former Cub Mark Prior has been elected to the USC Hall of Fame.
- Could Addison Russellarrive at Wrigley next season? Sure.
- Jeff Samardzija is thinking big. He wants a shot at the All-Star Game, a World Series ring, and a megadeal.
- Kyle Hendricks will make his big league debut later today. He's hoping to make a lasting impression.
- The recently promoted Arismendy Alcantara has been underappreciated.
From Cubs Den
- Arismendy Alcantara is joining the Cubs for two days (at least?).
- More trade rumors are popping up, including news that the trade with the A's was almost even bigger.
- Jason McLeod not only turned down an opportunity to interview with the San Diego Padres for their general-manager job, but he's signed on to stay two more years in Chicago.
From Cubs.com
- The Cubs have growing confidence in Chris Coghlan as a lead-off man.
- Dallas Beeler's impressive first start has earned him another shot.
- Kris Bryant made the very unofficial first half All-Prospect team.
- The players in the Cubs' clubhouse are moving on after last weekend's blockbuster shake-up.
- Most of the focus was on Addison Russell, but Billy McKinney has also joined the Cubs' outfield mix on the farm.
From ESPNChicago.com
- Arismendy Alcantara is living the dream by being called up to the big leagues.
- And the Cubs are looking forward to watching Alcantara "do it all."
- The very dreamy Kris Bryant was ejected from his first minor league game on Tuesday night. Ooh... a bad boy!
- Overall, Bryant is trying to stay humble. He's also unsatisfied with what he's accomplished so far.
- Meanwhile, Jason McLeod says it's not time to move Bryant to the outfield.
- (Video) A's GM Billy Beane visited the "GM's Office" to talk about how the Shark trade went down.
- Javy Baez is surging and he's attributing that to making adjustments.
- Manny Ramirez just wants to be one of the guys.
- (Video) Kyle Hendricks is ready to make his big league debut. His promotion hazing was having to be interviewed by Jesse Rogers, I assume.
From the Chicago Tribune
- (Video) Tsuyoshi Wada talked about his solid major league debut.
- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is urging the Cubs and rooftop owners to avoid court action.
- Travis Wood is living and learning.
- Starlin Castro is happy for one last reunion with Derek Jeter at this year's All-Star Game.
- Justin Ruggiano is crediting his coaches for his recent surge.
- (Video) Alcantara talked about his promotion.
From the Chicago Sun-Times
- Jake Arrieta is eager to keep plugging away.
- The Cubs admit they are feeling a little down after "The Trade." But they aren't pinning the recent skid on their feelings.
From the Daily Herald
- It's time again for the Cubs to look at new starting pitchers.
Miscellaneous
- Only sort of Cub-related, but Jeff Samardzija talked to FanGraphs about pitch counts, injuries, and the old days.
Today's food for thought
- Hey! A baseball thing! Tampa Bay Rays' outfielder Kevin Kiermaierhit a line drive so hard it went through the glove of Kansas City Royals' first baseman Eric Hosmer. The worst part for Kiermaier? He was still retired on the play.
- Here are some cool iridescent clouds over Thamserku.