Chicago Cubs' Rondon willing to fill any bullpen role
Sitting in a cushy lounge chair and flanked by Javier Baez and Pedro Strop in the Chicago Cubs' clubhouse, Hector Rondon leaned back and took swigs from a bottled beverage. The three relaxed teammates engaged in a lively conversation in Spanish, sharing an occasional laugh.
"Todo esta bien."
Never mind that the Cubs had just lost 2-1 to the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Presumably, they already had taken manager Joe Maddon's edict and "lost hard" for 30 minutes. They were over it.
All is well.
That's especially important regarding Rondon, the perhaps underappreciated closer who hasn't been closing out games all that well in the last month.
"I try to get some people out, but sometimes they get lucky, too," an upbeat Rondon said Tuesday after allowing 3 hits, including backup catcher Rene Rivera's tiebreaking bloop single, in the ninth and suffering the loss. "They have a bat. It is how it is."
With the July 31 trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Cubs might not be done seeking bullpen help, even after Wednesday's trade that netted them lefty Mike Montgomery from the Seattle Mariners.
Rumors fly.
It is how it is.
Rondon's spirits are up, however. That's part of a closer's makeup, no?
Yesterday is yesterday. A new game awaits.
"I don't control those situations," Rondon said of the trade rumors. "If they bring in those guys, I don't care."
Those guys? New York Yankees lefties Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman are mentioned daily in rumors as potential Cubs targets.
The promotion from Class AAA Iowa of 41-year-old righy Joe Nathan, he of the 377 career saves, seems imminent. Montgomery is likely to be used as a situational reliever, as lefties are hitting just .164 against him this season.
All is cool with Rondon, who says if the Cubs acquire another reliever, he will accept any role, even if it means being a setup man.
Rondon notched saves in his first 11 chances this season. But then, starting with a game at Washington on June 14, the Venezuelan right-hander blew saves in four of his next six opportunities, before converting his last three chances. He's 16-for-20 in save situations on the season.
And while the 4 blown saves equals his total from last year when he saved 30 games despite briefly losing his closer duties, his numbers are good. He has struck out 44 batters and walked only four in 35 innings. He also boasts a 1.80 ERA and an 0.71 WHIP.
"I don't really care (about the rumors)," Rondon insisted. "I think we have a really good bullpen right now."
A closed case? The closer and the Cubs will know soon enough.
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus Friday; WGN Saturday; ABC 7 Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel (8-5) vs. Jimmy Nelson (6-7) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; John Lackey (7-6) vs. Zach Davies (6-4) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Jon Lester (10-4) vs. Junior Guerra (6-2) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs are 3-2 against the Brewers this season, 1-2 in Milwaukee. The Brewers are firmly in fourth place in the NL Central, and they may trade away one or more of their top veterans before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver deadline. Chris Carter entered Thursday night's game at Pittsburgh batting .226, but he led the Brewers with 22 homers and 54 RBI. Ryan Braun had a line of .316/.373/.512 with 13 homers and 44 RBI. Jonathan Villar was at .302/.386/.423 with 6 homers and 34 RBI. The Brewers are 23-22 at home. The Cubs went into their off-day Thursday second in the NL in runs scored, first in on-base percentage and second in ERA.
Next: White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Monday-Tuesday
- Bruce Miles