What I’m Reading

• Over at CI, Todd penned a piece discussing a boatload of names to keep an eye on as the Cubs enter a strange time. Plenty of dudes will get ample opportunity to showcase their skills in Chicago in 2022 and 2023.

• I transitioned a piece I wrote here at OOTV into something at CI. It’s not something I do very often, but it is a fun piece about the exciting guys in the system and might bring some joy to people that aren’t really enjoying the Major League squad right about now.

What I’m Watching

• Kevin Alcantara hit another bomb. He’s letting them fly down in the ACL since joining the Cubs. And let me tell ya, the swing is a pretty, pretty sight.

• Not all 95 mph fastballs are created equal. This just explodes out of Justin Steele’s hand and past the batter.

• The South Bend Cubs threw a no-hitter last week. It was the FIFTH no-no in the organization this year. Wild stuff.

• I got a little hot when talking about the Cubs and their (lack of) spending. They are a big market team, they should be spending money that way.

• Alexander Canario has been certifiably insane since the moment he stepped foot in South Bend.

What I’m Tweeting

• Scott Effross is a fan favorite thanks to his transition to side-arming (is that a term?), his ties to playing with Kyle Schwarber at IU, and his role-adjacent on The Compound. But what’s been lost in the shuffle is how damn good he’s been this year.

• Another guy who has been sneaky good is Yonathan Perlaza. His season numbers are creeping up into some of the best in the system and if you pull together a grouping of completely random criteria in different categories, you get this:

What’s Catching My Eye

• Michael Hermosillo finally got the call up to Chicago on Tuesday. He was the system’s best hitter this season.

• The Cubs system is taking over Marquee! The TV station announced 12 more minor league games coming to their network throughout the rest of the season, with each affiliate getting at least a little love. You LOVE to see it.