Alex Bregman is running out of runway—a slow start has become a burden he’s taken into July.
But the way the Cubs’ 6-4 win over the Cardinals unfolded Sunday afternoon—Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off the first with a single, stealing second, and scoring on a Bregman double—is just the way the Cubs drew it up when they signed the third baseman to be a lineup anchor.
The great players make their money down the stretch, and into the postseason. That’s how Bregman has rolled for much of his career, and he expects this season to be no different.
“Yeah, it feels good, obviously, to get us on the board there and drive him in,’’ Bregman said. “I feel like this last homestead has actually been really good, a lot better mechanically than it has been.
“I’m swinging from behind the baseball better. I think it started with the (Jacob) Misiorowski game in Milwaukee. I’ve been working on some things, trying to get my swing behind the ball, and I feel like I’m in a better spot than I was earlier in the year….Now that I’m behind the ball, I feel a lot better, and I feel excited for the next three months.
“…The last eight or nine games feel a lot better, and normally when I get it going, it keeps going for a long time.’’
The 10-year service club
Bregman reached 10 years’ big-league service time on Saturday, a significant benchmark for a player. He is the second of five Cubs who will reach that threshold this season. Jameson Taillon (May 25) was the first, on May 25. Matthew Boyd (July 17), Dansby Swanson (July 27) and Michael Conforto (July 31) will follow. “Means a lot,’’ Bregman said.
PCA takes a licking, still ticking
Crow-Armstrong was hit in the left forearm by a 93.8 m.p.h. sinker from Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore in the second inning. Not only did he stay in the game, he stole second base, his second stolen base in two innings.
Saturday, Crow-Armstrong was hit in the left foot by an 87 m.p.h. sweeper from Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy, which momentarily hobbled him. He fouled a pitch off that same foot Sunday.
“I’m giving him the day off tomorrow.’’ said manager Craig Counsell, who did no such thing—the team has a scheduled day off before opening a series in Baltimore Tuesday.
Taillon sharp
Jameson Taillon, who has been out almost a month (June 8) with a left hamstring strain, pitched 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start for Class A South Bend, allowing a run on four hits while striking out two. He threw 45 pitches, 35 for strikes.
Talent scout
Former Met David Peterson was in one spring training with Pete Crow-Armstrong when PCA was still in the Mets’ system, having been traded to New York in the Javier Baez deal. Even in that short time, Peterson said, Crow-Armstrong made an impression.
“I saw enough right away that I knew he was going to be a special kid,’’ Peterson said. “The defense was always there. Just a lot of times, as guys continue to move up (jn the system), does the skill at the plate continue.
“He’s just a natural, so yeah, it’s fun to watch. I always thought he was one of the best guys in our system. I didn’t think it was a great trade at the time, and we’re seeing it now. The kid’s got five tools. So much fun to watch every day.’’
Taillon sharp
Jameson Taillon, who has been out almost a month (June 8) with a left hamstring strain, pitched 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start for Class A South Bend, allowing a run on four hits while striking out two. He threw 45 pitches, 35 for strikes.
Subhed Talent scout
Former Met David Peterson was in one spring training with Pete Crow-Armstrong when PCA was still in the Mets’ system, having been traded to New York in the Javier Baez deal. Even in that short time, Peterson said, Crow-Armstrong made an impression.
“I saw enough right away that I knew he was going to be a special kid,’’ Peterson said. “The defense was always there. Just a lot of times, as guys continue to move up (jn the system), does the skill at the plate continue.
“He’s just a natural, so yeah, it’s fun to watch. I always thought he was one of the best guys in our system. I didn’t think it was a great trade at the time, and we’re seeing it now. The kid’s got five tools. So much fun to watch every day.’’