Jeffress rolling, but Ross doesn't see need to name a closer
Plenty of Cubs fans have asked this question: Jeremy Jeffress hasn't given up a single hit in six innings of work this season, so why not give him a tryout at closer?
Before Thursday's game in Kansas City, Cubs manager David Ross reacted at first like he was tried of being asked about it. But he eventually gave an explanation.
"There's pockets of the lineup where JJ may be facing the best hitters and maybe that's in the eighth," Ross said. "I think that was the instance last night, with the heart of the order coming up, JJ comes in in the eighth, we score some extra runs and somebody (Colin Rea) finishes the ninth.
"I trust JJ in any spot in the lineup. I trust (Rowan) Wick in any spot in the lineup. We also try to make it as easy as possible with the pitch characteristics they have and where the holes might be with the hitters they're facing. There's a lot more that goes into it than just naming someone on the back end when Craig (Kimbrel's) still sorting through some things."
Bote brings the glove:
Last year, David Bote had 16 errors in the infield. But he's made some impressive plays in the past week, both at second and third base.
On Wednesday, he turned a much-needed double play early in the game by charging the ball and gloving it while his foot barely touched the bag.
"We obviously know our pitching staff is 'ground ball city,'" Bote said Thursday. "They love to induce early contact and get ground balls. As an infielder, the more chances you have, the more you're on your feet, the more you're moving, anticipating. That confidence carries on."
Baez admits mistake:
After Wednesday's victory, manager David Ross said he didn't have a problem with Javy Baez misreading a pop fly that landed just fair for a base hit. Baez didn't run right away and ended up with a single instead of a double in the fourth inning. Baez owned up to his error, though.
"It was obviously my mistake," he said. "I thought the ball was foul. I kind of lost it, but the wind started bringing it back. Even the catcher was kind of surprised and he was like, 'I think it's going to be fair,' so I started running and I should have been on second on that play."
Around the horn:
Major league rosters had to drop from 30 to 28 players on Thursday, so the Cubs sent pitchers Rex Brothers and Justin Steele to South Bend. The original plan was for rosters to drop to 26 players on Aug. 20, but MLB decided to keep it at 28 for the rest of the season, since several teams will be loading up on doubleheaders. ... Jose Quintana threw a live bullpen session in South Bend on Thursday and he continues to recover from surgery to repair a sliced left thumb. "Everything looked clean," manager David Ross said. "He was throwing all four pitches today. All that's a positive. "