Chicago Sun-Times

Garza shines in return, but bullpen scuffs up save in loss

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:17:02 -0500

PITTSBURGH — The race is on. Matt Garza’s powerful return to the mound after 10 months sidelined with injuries signaled the restart of his run-up to the trade deadline that was halted abruptly by an elbow injury last July, with many of the same scouts who followed him then returning for another look Tuesday. Either that, or it jump-started the Cubs’ surge into contention that will make their front office rethink its plans to sell off productive players. Uh, scratch that last one if a 5-4 loss Tuesday to the Pittsburgh Pirates was any indication. Not even five scoreless innings …

Cubs still seeking answers for the third base question

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:31:10 -0500

PITTSBURGH — Cody Ransom played third base on Tuesday. Luis Valbuena will be starting there by the end of the Pirates series. But who’s the third baseman of the future? The best answer to that might come from Abbott and Costello, and they’re both dead: “I don’t know.” The long-term uncertainty of that position hasn’t stopped Ian Stewart from telling mlb.com that team president Theo Epstein told him disappointing prospect Josh Vitters is the Cubs’ third baseman of the future — and the reason the $2 million Stewart is on the bench at Class AAA Iowa. The realities are that …

Kevin Gregg solidifies closer role, likes makeup of Cubs

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:53:14 -0500

The Cubs are starting games off with a surprisingly strong rotation that figures to get even better with right-hander Matt Garza’s return Tuesday. And they are finishing games off better since the unexpected return of Kevin Gregg. After shuffling the closer role among Carlos Marmol, Kyuji Fujikawa and a committee of others, manager Dale Sveum seems to have found his go-to man. ‘‘[Gregg] has been perfect [in six save opportunities],’’ Sveum said. ‘‘He’s a guy who’s been in that situation many times in his career, and he knows how to get those last three outs.’’ Gregg’s first time in a …

Garza makes long-awaited return Tuesday against Pirates

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:53:14 -0500

The Cubs acquired Matt Garza two seasons ago in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to be an ace, and his credentials backed up that hope. At the time of his acquisition, Garza was 26. He had a 52-44 record, had thrown a no-hitter in 2010 and had been named the most valuable player of the 2008 American League Championship Series. The stakes won’t be quite as high when Garza makes his season debut Tuesday against the host Pittsburgh Pirates, but he figures to be stoked. ‘‘There will be a different energy in a major-league game,’’ Sveum said of …

Lack of clutch hitting scuttles quality start in Cubs’ 4-3 loss

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:11:30 -0500

The Cubs’ pitching continues to be strong, with left-hander Travis Wood earning his ninth consecutive quality start Sunday at Wrigley Field. The last Cubs pitcher with such a streak was Mordecai Brown, who had 11 in a row in 1908. But the Cubs’ hitting with runners in scoring position continues to struggle. That cost Wood in a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets, in which the Cubs went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. ‘‘We had opportunities to break it open,’’ manager Dale Sveum said. ‘‘We got guys to third base. Our biggest goal going forward is getting those …

Buoyed by starting pitching, Cubs still looking to be more well-rounded

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:42:44 -0500

The San Francisco Giants have won two of the last three World Series on the strength of dominating pitching. Starting pitching is the best component for the Cubs, who still must improve defensively and hit more productively. “There’s no question that’s where it all starts,’’ manager Dale Sveum said. “You can use the Giants as an example and how deep their starters go in the game. There are so many different matchups you can do [at the end of games] when you get through those first seven innings, so many ways you can shorten the game. “And when your bullpen …

Scott Feldman keeps rolling as Cubs thump Mets

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:41:08 -0500

How improbable is it for a team with a sub-.500 record to have one of the best starting rotations in baseball, with the possibility it can get better soon? That’s the question for the Cubs (18-24), whose starting staff has a 3.47 ERA, a major league-best .226 opposing batting average and 26 quality starts, tied for third in the National League. Imagine if Matt Garza returns to form quickly when he’s activated from the disabled list this week. ‘‘Potentially, if these guys keep throwing the ball the way they have the first six weeks, and with Garza coming back, once …

Matt Garza set to return Tuesday vs. Pirates

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:41:19 -0500

Cubs pitcher Matt Garza admitted there was trepidation when he took the mound for Class AA Tennessee last month for his first start since last July. “The only time I was nervous was when I made my first rehab in Tennessee,” Garza said. “The first couple pitches I was a little worried, but then it was fine. Ever since then, there’s been no doubt in my mind.” There is no doubt anymore for the Cubs, who will return Garza to the rotation Tuesday in Pittsburgh for his first major-league action since July 28. He missed the rest of last season …

Cubs shut down by Mets ace Matt Harvey

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:11:37 -0500

Edwin Jackson is a long-term investment for the Cubs, who signed the veteran right-hander to a four-year, $54 million contract in the offseason. The return on that investment is coming slowly, despite another loss Friday to the New York Mets and their shining ace, Matt Harvey. ‘‘He threw a great ballgame,’’ manager Dale Sveum said of Jackson, who fell to 1-6 with the 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field. ‘‘He threw strikes and did a good job. That’s pretty much two well-pitched games in a row.’’ Jackson won the last one, an 8-2 decision against the Washington Nationals and ace Stephen …

Matt Garza’s return could be announced Saturday

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:11:51 -0500

Matt Garza is ready to return to the rotation, and a decision regarding when could come Saturday. After another quality outing Thursday with Class AAA Iowa, Garza wants to return to the Cubs, and manager Dale Sveum said Friday the right-hander has done everything the team has asked in his rehab. ‘‘He was really good [Thursday night], very efficient with 75 pitches in six innings, six strikeouts, his slider was better,’’ Sveum said. ‘‘Everything went according to plan, and he stepped up. I like that. ‘‘We could send him out again [on rehab], but he did what he was supposed …

Anthony Rizzo is comfortable as Cubs’ ‘face’

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:18:44 -0500

Raising his batting average nearly 70 points in three weeks and cutting his strikeout rate to essentially nothing? That’s the easy part of this face-of-the-franchise gig Anthony Rizzo got with his big contract this week. The face time, community time, leadership responsibility? “I think it’s awesome,” said the power-hitting first baseman. “That’s what I want to be. “Like I told the coaches, I want to be the guy up in the big situation, where everyone in this clubhouse, everyone in the stadium wants me up. And all the things that come along with playing here — also giving back and …