Bryan Smith
Chicago
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Prospecting since Patterson. @BaseballAmerica Cubs correspondent.
Articles by Bryan Smith
Cubs’ Kade Snell Returns Stronger After Wrist Injury
“I completely agreed, I was missing the pitches I should be smashing,” Snell said. After the adjustment, Snell hit a double and a loud out with a 109 mph exit velocity. “I’m like, ‘We’re back, full steam ahead,’ and I run out there and that’s when I broke my wrist. “It was gut-wrenching for just a second.” Rather than send Snell to the organization’s Arizona complex, the Cubs front office decided to have the 24-year-old Alabama product rehabilitate his wrist injury in South Bend.
Cubs’ Mason McGwire Finds Right Balance Of Control, Velocity
McGwire missed the 2025 season with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, which doctors decided did not need surgical intervention. He rested for two months and returned to the mound late in the season to pitch live batting practices and have a normal offseason. “It gave me an opportunity to step away and look at things that I was doing in the past,” McGwire said.
Cubs’ Jefferson Rojas Makes The Most Of Big League Camp Opportunity
“It really was motivation to go back home (to the Dominican Republic) and prepare for this year,” Rojas said through an interpreter. “I started hitting the gym every single day, regardless if it was rain or shine.” One of the key focuses for Rojas during the offseason was adjusting the posture in his batting stance to maximize his athleticism.
October Events in Tallahassee
Florida’s Capital City offers more than collegiate charm during the college football season. October in Tallahassee is packed with family-friendly festivals, live music, outdoor adventures, and spooky Halloween fun. Looking to plan the ultimate fall getaway to Tallahassee? Here are the must-attend events and experiences waiting for you throughout the month! Looking for more fall events in Tallahassee? Be sure to check out our fall events guide.
Meet Chip the Viral Armadillo at the Tallahassee Museum
Oh, hey there, internet! Chip the Armadillo here with help from my trusty translator, since all you hear is “eep eep” when I talk. Let me tell you— life’s been a whirl-dillo since my splash pad moves went viral. Twenty million views? Who knew a little guy in a shell could make such a splash on the world stage? With all this newfound fame, I figured it’s about time I shared who I am and offer some insider tips and recommendations on how to enjoy my new hometown.
Former US senator Joe Lieberman has died, aged 82. He made a mark as the first Jewish candidate picked by a major party to run on the presidential ticket as vice president
Joe Lieberman, who made history as the first Jewish vice presidential candidate for a major US party and lately returned to the spotlight as a leader of a push for a third candidate in the 2024 election, died Wednesday, US media reports said.
Aggressiveness Can Pay Off, Spending Creates a Buffer, Wild Facts, and Other Cubs Bullets
I need to get in one last mow before the winter really sets in, but the snow and cold this week really mucked things up, because the moisture is just persisting. I live an exciting life.
Braves Do It Again: Another Early Extension, This Time for Joe Jimenez
Hey, it’s the first transaction of the offseason! Even though it’s the kind that looks extremely familiar, and didn’t actually need “the offseason” to happen. I thought we’d already gotten the annual Atlanta Braves extension when they took reliever Pierce Johnson off the market last week, but I forgot that they love early offseason extensions so much that multiples were always possible.
IT BEGINS: THE MLB OFFSEASON IS HERE
Begin the percussive thumping of the drums. The time to construct a 2024 winner begins now. With the World Series over last night, the MLB offseason officially begins today. For the Chicago Cubs, who won just one fewer game than the team that won the NL pennant, this offseason is a critical one. This team CAN BE good – better than “competitive” – in 2024. But it will take a thoughtful, creative, aggressive offseason to get there.
World Series Highlights: Texas Rangers Win It All!
For the first time in their franchise history, going all the way back to 1961 (when they were the Washington Senators), the Texas Rangers are World Series champions. That has to feel good. Ah. I remember those feelings. A moment 52 seasons in the making.
Chicago Cubs Reportedly Bringing Back Old Friend John Mallee
You have to go back like 10+ hitting coaches and assistant hitting coaches to find him, but John Mallee was, once upon a time, the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs when they were quite successful. And unlike everyone who followed, Mallee actually lasted three full years, from 2014 to 2017. His departure was always a bit odd, especially given how the Cubs struggled to fill the position with any kind of consistency thereafter.
Another Managerial Interview for Cubs Bench Coach Andy Green
After interviewing with the Cleveland Guardians for their open managerial gig, Chicago Cubs bench coach Andy Green has now also interviewed for the open post with the New York Mets. https://t.co/wb1Incso0S The Mets have interviewed Andy Green for their managerial opening. — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 1, 2023 The Mets dismissed Buck Showalter at the end of the season, and new president of baseball operations David Stearns is making his first managerial hire with the club.
Shohei Ohtani, J.D. Martinez, Dodgers, Free Agent Projections
MLB Rumors — The Los Angeles Dodgers largely sat out last offseason with a clear eye on signing Shohei Ohtani this winter. And indeed, according to the LA Times, Ohtani will be the team’s “top priority,” and they feel “cautiously optimistic” about their chances of signing him. All of which is a good reminder: Despite the latest Shohei Ohtani rumors (Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Rangers, Cubs, etc.), the Dodgers still do make the most sense.
Cody Bellinger's Timeline Could Increase Odds to Re-Sign with the Cubs
In case you missed it yesterday, Brett wrote about the impending Cody Bellinger decision, following a really fascinating dive from Sahadev Sharma at The Athletic. In short, Sharma solicited the opinions of some anonymous scouts and hitting coaches to figure out what to make of Bellinger’s great results but less-inspiring batted ball metrics last season.
The Qualifying Offer, Draft Pick Compensation, and the Chicago Cubs
With the Texas Rangers just a win away from catapulting us into the offseason, I thought it a good time to remind folks about a part of MLB free agency that impacts all teams, and will certainly impact the Chicago Cubs: Qualifying Offers and Draft Pick Compensation. Most free agents are just that: totally unencumbered free agents. For that group, nothing that follows matters a lick. You can just sign them. That’s it.
Could Be No Hometown Discount for Counsell, Coaching Changes, TV Ratings, and Other Cubs Bullets
The offseason could begin as soon as tomorrow if the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks again tonight … The latest out of Milwaukee on Craig Counsell suggests that he will seriously consider other options besides the Brewers, especially if they aren’t willing to match whatever offer(s) he gets elsewhere. In other words, there may not be a hometown discount available to the Brewers, as Counsell reportedly wants to help move managerial salaries northward around baseball.
World Series Highlights: Rangers Explode Early, Now One Game Away
What do you do when you don’t have the guy who supplies most of your late-game heroics? Score so many runs early on that you don’t need late-game heroics at all. Now the Rangers are just a game away from a title … The Rangers took the Diamondbacks’ bullpen game and blew it up, scoring five runs in each of the second and third innings. Meanwhile, Andrew Heaney, who also could have been starting a bullpen game if it didn’t go well, wound up going five innings and allowing just one run.
Juan Soto Update: Yankees Circling? Could Padres Wait Until the Deadline? What Kind of Return? More
On October 26, Andy Martino reported that the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres had discussed a trade centered around Juan Soto. But not one day later, reports out of both New York (Jon Heyman) and San Diego (Kevin Acee) refuted those claims. They both conceded that talks had occurred back at the trade deadline, and that interest could be renewed this offseason, but stopped well short of confirming that there had been more recent talks.
When It's Time To Take That Next Big Step
As I have started to process the offseason that lies ahead for the Chicago Cubs organization, I realize more and more how important it is to document the precise spot this organization finds itself. I think I want to do this to turn my emotional page past the 2023 season, because I think brighter times are on the horizon. And I want to do it because this will be my final piece at Bleacher Nation.
When Your Gym Spotter Turns Out to Be a Scammer
UGH. HE HATED working out at this hour—6:30 p.m., machines hogged by time-wasting teenagers and dad-bodders trying to melt a few pounds off their beer paunches, the air a pungent aroma of funky feet and under-arm stank mingled with the cloying tang of C4 Icy Blue Razz, the caffeine-charged booster drink chugged between sets by bros trying to act swole but doing the exercises all janky. Whatever.
Third Base Thinking, Morel and Madrigal and Chapman, Merryweather, Alcántara and Prospecting, and Other Cubs Bullets
It was weird to see some Bears fans cheering Caleb Williams’ terrible game last night. Even if you are a hardcore Justin Fields guy and want him to be the long-term QB, you should STILL want Williams to look like a superstar – not because the Bears might take him, but because it makes their first round pick(s) all the more valuable.
Jason Heyward's $184M is Finally Coming off the Books After a Great Season in L.A.
After surprising the outside baseball world with 97 wins and a trip to the 2015 NLCS, the Chicago Cubs signed free agent outfielder Jason Heyward to a franchise-record-setting 8-year, $184 million contract on December 8, 2015. It was quite a moment. At the time, Jeff Passan reported that Heyward turned down not one, not two, but THREE offers higher than the Cubs deal, including two proposed pacts worth north of $200M.
Playoff Format, Top Catchers, Poaching Coaches, Shoulder Surgeries, and Other Cubs Bullets
Colorado blew a 29-0 lead last night?! WHAT?! Baseball equivalent is, what, 10-0? More? Less? That’s just crazy … With all the grousing about the playoff format – mostly because some top seeds lost – I have two thoughts: (1) If you think the “right” version of the playoffs means that the higher seed wins every single series, then what the hell is the point of the lower seeds even making the playoffs in the first place? and (2) Nothing is going to change any time soon, because expansion is coming.
Brewers Starter Brandon Woodruff Had Shoulder Surgery, Could Miss All of 2024
Major news for the Milwaukee Brewers, and, by extension, the entire NL Central: Brandon Woodruff had to have shoulder surgery of enough significance that he’s expected to miss as much as the entire 2024 season. We knew the shoulder was injured, but it was not necessarily clear that it was going to be THIS bad: Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder today. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season, per the club.
The Coming Changes on the Cubs Coaching Staff Are More Philosophical Than Performance-Based
Earlier this week, we learned that Chicago Cubs bullpen coach Chris Young and catching/strategy coach Craig Driver would not be returning on David Ross’s staff in 2024. The Cubs will have to now work to fill those positions. At the time, my guess was that the separation was less about any specific beefs with the two coaches, even as the bullpen performance was at times disappointing and the in-game strategy didn’t always work.
Cubs Prospect Notes: Triantos Going Off, Positional Talk, Alcántara Dinger, AFL, End-of-Season Honors, More
A bunch of Cubs prospect stuff to get into today, and make sure you didn’t miss Bryan’s end-of-season All-System Team … I wouldn’t say we’ve been “fooled” by Arizona Fall League performances before – prospect-obsessed Cubs fans usually do a pretty good job of understanding the context in which the league takes place – but I do always want to be cautious about extrapolating anything.
Players and Coaches at St. Louis Cardinals' Dominican Republic Complex Robbed at Gunpoint
An incredibly scary situation took place at the St. Louis Cardinals’ training facility in the Dominican Republic today, when armed men robbed players and coaches at the site. Cardinals President John Mozeliak said that no one was hurt physically in the incident, but obviously they were shaken up: John Mozeliak on a break-in at the Cards’ Dominican Republic complex, where armed thieves stole money and valuables: “This was scary on many fronts. Our players and staff were shaken up but not harmed.
Castellanos Setting Records, Thinking on What Might Have Been, Arcia's Tough Time, and Other Cubs Bullets
As I mentioned, I’ve been trying to watch some horror movies this month, and that has included a couple that I should’ve watched a long time ago: ‘Get Out’ and ‘Us.’ Dang they are good, especially ‘Get Out.’ Jordan Peele is a genius. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend.
MLB Playoffs Highlights: Phillies Bounce the Braves
And that’s curtains for another top team in the regular season, with the Atlanta Braves now also bounced in their first series of the postseason. Time for some MLB Playoffs highlights … Trea Turner homered and Nick Castellanos homered twice, as Phillies pitching worked out of the few jams they got into. The vaunted Braves offense just didn’t have it in this series against the Phillies, so they go home after just four postseason games in a season they won 104 regular season games.
JULIAN PHILLIPS JUST HAD A MUST-SEE POSTER DUNK!
For the second straight game, rookie Julian Phillips rattled the rim. The No. 35 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft found himself with the ball in his hands during a crucial possession in the 4th quarter. With the Chicago Bulls trying to hold onto a 107-103 lead, Phillips took the Terry Taylor handoff and broke toward the rim. Before we knew it, the forward was throwing down a ferocious poster over center Jay Huff.
The 2023 BN Cubs All-System Team
I’m overdue for a full-scale system recap from 2023, and I want to do by creating an All-Star team for the best performances at each position. The rules here are simple: only minor league performance is recognized, and the best performance at each position gets acknowledged. Prospect status only comes into play as a tiebreaker. Let’s dive in … Catcher: Moises Ballesteros Numbers: A/A+/AA, .285/.374/.449, 12.8 BB%, 15.8 K%, 131 wRC+.
Four Games Left, Out of a Spot, Bullpen, Acuña the Star, and Other Cubs Bullets
I don’t want to think about last night’s loss more than I have to, but with so few games left in the season, the gravity of each game is so significant. It’s impossible not to linger on it. Again. All morning. Probably all day. I just hope I can be peaceable to everyone around me, but the Cubs ain’t making it easy … The Cubs are trying to keep the right attitude and the right focus, even after the last two losses, and with four games left to play.
This Month Has Featured As Much Late Pain As We've Seen from the Cubs in Half a Century
Sometimes a factoid is so esoteric, so in the weeds, that you never could have pulled it on your own, and you can barely even believe it. Real nerd stuff. Real WILD stuff. … and sometimes, a factoid already lives inside your bones, long before anybody put words to it: The Cubs have now lost 5 games this month after holding a lead in the 8th inning or later.
Enhanced Box Score: Braves 6, Cubs 5 - September 27, 2023
Three times the Cubs had a late lead in this one, and three times the Braves tied it up. Bottom of the 8th, bottom of the 9th, and bottom of the 10th. And then the Braves walked it off in the bottom of the 10th. I’d like to feel more numb than I do. Some of it’s just that the Braves are incredible. Really, it is. But some of it feels more like despair. Unseasoned, infecting despair. Good on the Cubs for continuing to score tonight, I guess. Still missed a lot of opportunities to tack on (again).
After Getting the Weirdest Run of the Year, Mike Tauchman and Ian Happ Go Deep
I definitely won’t be celebrating anything tonight until the final out is recorded. For now, the Cubs have a modest lead. The first run of the game came on an obligatory Ozzie Albies homer. But the second was far less expected: This was ruled a passed ball. The Cubs scored on the play. https://t.co/bVTw9Pkl23 pic.twitter.com/lvFsafx8Pb — Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 27, 2023 The play was not close. It was obviously a foul ball.
Cubs Lineup vs Braves
Cubs Lineup — If at first you don’t succeed, start Jameson Taillon … against the best offense in baseball … on the road … with the season more-or-less on the line. Buckle up! Mike Tauchman, DH Nico Hoerner, 2B Ian Happ, LF Cody Bellinger, CF Seiya Suzuki, RF Dansby Swanson, SS Jeimer Candelario, 1B Yan Gomes, C Miles Mastrobuoni, 3B Jeimer Candelario is finally back from the injured list (better late than never) and is immediately back in the Cubs lineup.
Cubs Injury Updates: Alzolay and Candelario
We’ve been waiting and hoping that the Cubs would soon get back a couple players to help impact these final five (or fewer) games. Adbert Alzolay is coming back from a forearm strain, and Jeimer Candelario is coming back from a back issue. Each got in some work today, and it just seems like they’re close: Cubs injury updates: -Adbert Alzolay threw live BP, about 20 pitches, it went well. -Jeimer Candelario was among the guys who hit off of him.
Brant Brown Was More Than One Dropped Fly Ball
Given the timing and nature of Seiya Suzuki’s dropped fly ball last night, I certainly understand why everyone said the same thing as soon as it happened. I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t popped into my head, too. Brant Brown.
Justin Steele's Performance, the Loss, and the Significant Impact on the Cubs' Playoff Dreams
Last night, Justin Steele came just two outs short of a quality start, which would have been his first since September 9 against the Diamondbacks. Instead, after cruising through 5.0 innings against the best offense in MLB — especially against left-handed pitching (131 wRC+) — Steele ran into trouble in the sixth.
More on the Tennessee Smokies' Dominant Run To A Southern League Title
Brett has already touched on the Tennessee Smokies winning the Southern League championship last night, but listen. We need to wrap our hands around good vibes today, so excuse me for a little more conversation about the specific game and the players that excelled. Being excited about the farm system is definitely permitted today. The championship-clinching win was the Smokies’ eighth consecutive win, and since July 1, the team went 42-24, leaving little doubt as to the league’s most talented team.
Cubs Making It a Ballgame! Morel Homers, and Happ Hits a Grand Slam!
The Cubs just put up five runs in the 5th in a hurry thanks to a couple home runs, one solo and one grand.
The 2023 Qualifying Offer Will Reportedly Be North of $20 Million
At season’s end, assuming there is no extension in place (there won’t be), the Chicago Cubs are going to make free agent Cody Bellinger a Qualifying Offer. The offer, a one-year deal, affords the team access to draft pick compensation if and when it is rejected and the free agent signs elsewhere. This year’s Qualifying Offer will reportedly be worth north of $20 million for the first time: https://t.co/oi9LX6AhjC The qualifying offer is going to be approximately $20.5M.
Brewers Reliever J.C. Mejia Suspended After Positive PED Test
We haven’t seen too many suspensions this year for performance-enhancing drugs, which is hopefully a reflection of an increasingly clean game. It still happens, though, and the latest comes from within the NL Central. Brewers pitcher J.C. Mejia has been popped for the second time: The Brewers released this statement from GM Matt Arnold about J.C. Mejía’s latest suspension and say no club officials will comment further.
Did Blake Snell End Justin Steele's Cy Young Bid Last Night?
There was a moment — even if brief — when Cubs left-hander Justin Steele looked like the front-runner for the 2023 NL Cy Young Award. He had been battling Blake Snell (and a few others, albeit to a lesser extent) all season, but had started to catch up in innings pitched and was even (momentarily) the league’s leader in ERA. But that ship may have sailed over the past five days. I hope not. But each of Steele and Snell went in very different directions in his last start.
Cubs Lineup vs Pirates
Cubs Lineup — The Chicago Cubs won the opener against the Pirates in convincing fashion last night, including a massive Alexander Canario grand slam that earned him another…ope! Nope. He’s on the bench.
Jed Hoyer Speaks: Tough Stretch, Balancing Rest, Lucky Breaks, Japan Trip, Stroman, More
Like his team, the Chicago Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations just got back from a lengthy road trip. But unlike the team, Hoyer was much further away: he was in Japan for five days scouting professional baseball talent. Hoyer spoke up on his return, before last night’s game, and you can read his comments here, here, here, and here, among other places. And you can watch him speak here at Marquee.
Pete Alonso Seeking Massive 10-Year Extension with Mets
Regardless of how the rest of this season shakes out, the coming winter figures to be of enormous importance to the Chicago Cubs. With a solid core in place, a top-5 farm system bubbling onto the big league roster, and an early demonstration of competitiveness, Cubs President Jed Hoyer is likely to be aggressive in supplementing this team; that includes both free agency and trade.
Unfortunately We Might Not See Nick Madrigal Again This Season
Although the bat still hasn’t been what he showed in flashes with the Chicago White Sox, Nick Madrigal has nevertheless been a significant contributor for the Chicago Cubs this year. Madrigal, 26, has emerged as a surprisingly excellent defensive third baseman, and even when the Cubs had Jeimer Candelario and Patrick Wisdom available as options, Madrigal had become the “starting” third baseman. The glove, believe it or not, had been that good.
Fun with Alexander Canario's Big Night and Historic Starting Debut
If you’d told me last November that Alexander Canario would have a game the following September that featured a double and a grand slam, I would have hoped that it was because Canario was finally getting the rust shaken off at Triple-A Iowa, and was setting things up for a good bounce-back year in 2024. If you’d insisted, no, this game happened in MLB, I wouldn’t have believed it. You, of course, would have assured me that it was real, and I would’ve said, ok, but how.
Tennessee Smokies Win Game One And You'll Like Who Starred: Horton, Caissie, and Alcántara
The Tennessee Smokies, now one of the most top-prospect-laden teams in the history of the Cubs franchise (I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that, but your mileage may vary), won Game 1 of their best-of-3 opening round playoff series last night with a 3-1 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts. The star of the game was Cade Horton, putting the newest stamp on his drop-dead-perfect debut season in the Cubs organization.
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