chicago_suntimes
BALTIMOREAlex Bregmanhad to chuckle.With Bregman starting to feel a lot more like himself at the plate, Orioles first basemanPete Alonsooffered a reminder this week that the recent warm-up is coming at the same time as the All-Star break.Perfect, Bregman recalled sarcastically responding.But a break is not a break, apparently, when youre the Cubs third baseman.Hell be obsessed with it the four days were not playing, I can assure you that, managerCraig Counsellsaid with a laugh Thursday.
Thats just who hes going to be.
Hell have his helmet on six hitters before hes ready to hit.
Thats just who he is.
Thats not going to change.
Hes going to be sending people videos during the break, thats just who he is.Thats what hes going to do.
Thats how he finds answers.The big-money free-agent addition has earned a reputation for being a hard worker behind the scenes, even as his production hasnt been where he has wanted it to be.Things are going better for Bregman of late, perhaps more so visibly than statistically.Hes 60 percent of the way to matching the number of extra-base hits he had in June just seven games into July.
But it was Bregman hitting the ball harder on an oh-fer day at the plate Wednesday that had Counsell raving, calling it maybe one of his best days.Getting back to the Bregman version of normalcy? That means continuing to work, even as the rest of the sport takes a midsummer break.Hes been a worker, always putting in the time, really putting a lot of time in on his craft, first basemanMichael Buschsaid.
Even when he was scuffling a little bit, as some would say, in my eyes he was still having really good at-bats, putting the ball in play, still getting on base.
And now youre seeing some of those balls maybe hit a little harder, more line drives.The focus on the craft every day has been pretty special.Petersons mixed bagLefty starterDavid Petersonbounced back from allowing 10 runs in a woeful second outing as a Cub to keep the Orioles to just a run in Thursdays 3-2 loss.Results were still mixed.
The ground-ball specialist walked four batters and allowed a homer in his third straight start since being acquired from the Mets.
But the Cubs saw positives, too, beyond the minimal damage on the scoreboard.It was, obviously, better than his last start, Counsell said.
Theres still some inconsistencies there, but I also thought he showed the really good version of himself, too.Its not going to happen overnight, but we took some steps today, hopefully.
Weve just got to work on getting more consistent.
Certainly a good outing, and he got the job done.Backstop batsCubs catchers have once again been some of baseballs best with the bat, waking up Thursday with the positions best on-base percentage in baseball.Mostly due to the work ofCarson KellyandMiguel Amaya(thoughMoises Ballesteroshas also played eight games at catcher this season), Cubs backstops were reaching base at an eye-popping .370 clip, with a .264 batting average only two points off the league lead.It was enough for a wRC-plus of 118, making the Cubs catching corps the second most productive in the sport, behind only the Twins.Our catchers, in general, have quietly, again, provided really good production, Counsell said.
Last year, it was a bunch of home runs.
This year, the best part has been their on-base [percentage].
Theyve just done a great job of getting on base.Latest on the CubsCubsSeiya Suzuki breaks free of mini slump, showing well-stocked Cubs lineup primed to chase championship goalsThe slugging right fielder homered for the second time in as many days and drove in both Cubs runs Thursday, showing a well-stocked lineup has multiple guys who can deliver against opposing pitchers.ByVinnie DuberreadCubsCurse of PCA? Ex-GM talks Pete Crow-Armstrong trade with Cubs that Mets would obviously like to have backSince the All-Star center fielder is getting mentioned in the same breath as Babe Ruth a lot these days, maybe the deal that sent him from the Mets to the Cubs is about to bring about baseballs next infamous curse.ByVinnie DuberreadCubsWhat time is Cubs' game with Orioles? Forecasted rain moves series finale to afternoon in BaltimoreFirst pitch was moved from 5:35 p.m.
Central to 12:35 p.m.
Central thanks to an ugly outlook for baseball Thursday night in Maryland.ByVinnie Duberread.