AP Photo/Erin Hooley

The Rundown: Cubs Go for Gentleman’s Sweep Today, Shaw’s Resurgence Continues, Mariners Reliever Receives Death Threats

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 21, 2025

“Hurry up, hurry up. Ain’t you had enough of this stuff? Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, and filthy jokes.” – Can’t Hardly Wait by The Replacements

The Cubs eked out their third straight win with a thrilling 4-3 nail-biter that was in doubt until the game’s final pitch. Daniel Palencia entered the final frame with a two-run lead, let Milwaukee cut it in half, and then left the bases loaded while retiring William Contreras on a hard liner to Nico Hoerner. It was a fantastic learning experience for Palencia, who temporarily morphed into the second coming of Mitch Williams.

The win also moved the Cubs to within six games of the Brewers, who are still 28-8 since the All-Star break, but with half of those losses to Chicago. The Cubs also clinched the season series with Milwaukee, giving them the edge just in case the two teams tie for the division lead at the end of the season. Shōta Imanaga takes the bump against Quinn Priester this afternoon, and winning again would allow the Cubs to claim dominance over the Brewers, at least temporarily. Old-timers like myself call winning four of five a “gentleman’s sweep.”

Brewers manager Pat Murphy is probably familiar with that terminology, seeing that he and I are of similar ages. Murphy has suddenly become the darling of Chicago’s media with a schtick that is equal parts Don Zimmer, Yogi Berra, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, and Charlie Grimm. Frankly, I’m tired of his euphemisms, pocket pancakes, and dad jokes, and I couldn’t care less about his analysis of the Cubs or Kyle Tucker. Murphy and Craig Counsell are allegedly best friends, but even Counsell seems a bit worn out by his former bench coach.

Counsell has his own faults, and his seat is a little warmer these days, but he deserves a lot of credit for the major league development of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Cade Horton, and Matt Shaw. You can also include Palencia, who seemingly went from washed-out reliever to reliable closer overnight. I’d like to see Counsell get more from his veterans, especially Dansby Swanson. Most fans are averse to Counsell’s lack of emotion, but this team — Hoyer’s analytic wet dream — needs a steady hand at the helm.

That said, I’m glad to be done with the Brewers for the regular season. We’ll see how Milwaukee’s brand of baseball holds up in the postseason. I’d take the Cubs in five if the two teams meet in October, with Freddy Peralta getting the only victory for Murphy’s squad. A win by Imanaga today will establish just that precedent. I’ll also politely decline Murphy’s analysis no matter the outcome, though I do hope George Webb is handing out burgers for four straight losses. I didn’t get mine yesterday.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

Sometimes it’s the trades you don’t make that win the deadline.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo and his girlfriend have received death threats because of a couple of poor pitching performances. Yikes! Social media is a cesspool of lunatics.

Shohei Ohtani suffered his worst outing as a pitcher, was hit by a line drive, and eventually replaced by a pinch hitter.

Big broadcasting changes are on the horizon, so get your pencils and scorecards ready. Apple is dropping its Friday Night Baseball broadcasts, which will be picked up by NBC/Peacock, as will the Sunday night games ESPN is abandoning after this season. However, ESPN is buying MLB.tv, the league’s out-of-market streaming service, and the annual Home Run Derby will switch to Netflix beginning next season. Thank God for radio, am I right? But hold the phone for just a hot minute because nothing has been officially finalized.

ESPN asks if anybody can beat the Brewers, this week’s top team in its latest power rankings. Why yes, the Cubs can.

Infield Fly Rule

I love it when I get to include The Replacements in any of my columns. The Minneapolis quartet was a favorite of my mentor and friend, the late, great John Arguello, founder and editor of Cubs Den. I wouldn’t be here today if not for John’s guidance and the inspiration of Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. A heavenly toast of single-barrel Scotch to both men. Here, here.

Extra Innings

Shaw is batting .302 with nine home runs and 18 RBI since the All-Star break. The rookie had a 61 OPS+ at the break, but it’s 97 after last night’s win. He’ll sneak into the top three of the Rookie of the Year voting if he keeps mashing. He should win it on defense alone.

They Said It

  • “[Tucker] injured his hand in a slide. Initial X-rays were negative. Sat out a day — I think we had an off day — sat out a day, pinch hit, and the next day, he was kind of sore but good to go. He was sore for a little while with [that] but was able to play. We did some more imaging, and it showed a small fracture that was healing. And no, that’s it. Is it possible that … playing through it changed some things? Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s probably likely that at some point that happened. But he wanted to play.” – Counsell
  • “I know it did bother him for a while. I don’t know whether it still bothers him, whether it created some bad habits along the way — compensating or things like that. But there’s no question that when you look at [Kyle’s] numbers, it’s had an impact on him for sure. That’s the nature. Sometimes with these small injuries, they can do that.” – Hoyer
  • “Being here is just unreal. It’s awesome. I really just try to take it all in. It’s so beautiful here. And it feels like home.” – Conrad

Thursday Walk-Up Song

Nothing like just desserts when it comes to the Brewers.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterAugust 21, 2025
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