June 16 2021

NEW YORK -- Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward is off to one of the worst starts of his career. Entering Wednesday’s action, Heyward had a slash line of .166/.250/.298.

If the Cubs want to remain in first place in the National League Central, they will need more production from Heyward.

Asked how he was feeling at the plate, Heyward said, “When you hit stresses like this, obviously, it’s not easy because you want to show up, compete and help the team win. I will definitely say missing time with a hamstring injury didn’t help, but that’s a part of the game. One day at a time. Keep trying to make adjustments, trying to get back to doing what I can.”

Cubs manager David Ross believes Heyward needs to get his timing down. In fact, the skipper has seen glimpses of Heyward being in rhythm and seeing the ball well. Once Heyward starts hitting, Ross believes the Cubs will be a much better team.

“He’s had a couple of spurts where he has hit for some power. I think it’s just a timing thing for him,” Ross said. “He just came off [the injured list] maybe a week or so ago. So he is still getting back into the flow. We played a couple of games, given him a day off. We're just trying to get him back into his rhythm. When he is in his rhythm, he is one of our better at-bats."

This guy kills rallies and scoring opportunities better than any ball player I've ever seen.
Fuck this guy. Switching to the Sox game.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I remember when the Cubs went 11-4 without him in the lineup a couple months ago.

75% chance a ground ball to right side of infield during each at bat. Would be best we DFA and eat the salary...or if we are lucky combine him in a trade for a bag of balls.

Heyward got a lot of cheap hits when he raised up from .160 to . 210. He beat out dribblers, or they eeked through the infield. He can't catch a break now even when he hits it hard. If he gets a little hot now data tells Ross to sit him. I've never seen such a mechanically bad swing at this level. He's making 129k a game. I'm sure he doesn't care past the rah rah act.

Jason Heyward talking about Anthony Rizzo.
Collecting his 129k a game has been a "grind".

"My MF Brother...The Business is the Business, but you brought the fun to the business and the grind...You're one of the best to ever do it, trust your sh**...You deserve yours."

22 RBI.
22. Think about that.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Says the mother fucker who's contract is so god damn awful that it made Jed steer clear of signing anyone else to a long term deal.

Grounding out to 2nd base is not a grind. You are paying this asshole regardless. Send him out the door with his money and move on. At least he was benched for Ortega the last 2 games.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I know it is a pipe dream but I wish MLB would go the Cap/floor, max contract length route.

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What are the rules of designating a veteran for assignment that has a boadload of money still owed? If he goes unclaimed can't they outright him to AAA? He would then have to accept the assignment to keep his contract?

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I'm pretty sure he can refuse and still get his money.

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At I think 5 years of service time a player can refuse and keep their money.

At 3 years a player can refuse in certain situations but the contract then gets voided.

Before 3 years a player can't refuse the first time they get outrighted.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Yup. If the Cubs were to DFA Heyward (or Jake), they have ten days to work out a trade. After that, they get their money and become a free agent. Another team can then sign them for the league minimum.

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Of course Heyward is in the catbird seat. But this rebuild puts buddy Ross in a good no pressure spot. With breaking up the team Ross is sitting pretty for an extension. The less they spend the less he'll be under the spotlight. I just don't see him benching Heyward for too long after all his showering of praise towards him earlier.
Fun following Heyward and Jake's piling up horrendous numbers is all about that's left before we see if this rebuild shows signs of life.

I have a feeling they are going to steal the spotlight today by DFA'ing him. His comments praising Rizzo's leadership and personality for getting him through "the grind" should be the stamp on his envelope. What an asshole. Who wouldn't love a clubhouse leader who was the last in and first out that demanded nothing of himself or his teammates. The stories just keep coming about how much of a country club rizzo was running.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Cubs need those bad numbers now.

Don't be a fucking vajayjay now Jed. Stop putting this dead ass on the DL and get rid of him.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Close. 10 day disabled list.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

They have up to 23 million reasons not to DFA him.

That said, I don't think he takes the field again after this season. They will keep him on the roster until the CBA is eventually finalized, then DFA him.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Heyward in a rebuild is an odd mix. Can't help young guys with hitting. Certainly could base running, fielding. Now is a plus to have out there hitting to help tank. Talk from Ross and the Score praising him has really died off. He and Happ are chasing epically bad individual numbers. I'm sure Sutcliffe will sneak in some praise good for laughs. It'll be weak dribblers to 1st and 2nd when he makes his return. Contreras has to be laughing IL "finger inflammation" with the tipped foul beating he takes, and walks it off grimacing.

I mean, its not like they cant pay a guy league minimum to give you the production Heyward is giving you right now. I doubt they cut their loses this year and I'm fairly sure he is on team next year too just because people aren't willing to just eat the money but it is well past time. 22 million that could of gone to productive players. Christ.

Best baserunner I've ever seen. Also an amazing teammate.

Gives great speeches.

Worth every cent.

That was one of the most nauseating columns I've ever read. Talk about ignoring the elephant in the room.

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All I've read impies JHK is a major contributor to this 31 milllion dollar sports complex project. But the project has many layers, contributors, and non profits, state grants working together. What his financial contribution is is vague. The 10-acre campus will be anchored by a 120,000-square-foot indoor sports facility that will include the largest turf field on the West Side and host sports programs with ties to the Chicago Fire soccer team and the Chicago Cubs’ Jason Heyward.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-s ... uxbndlbing

The Score still pushing the JHK "great guy" narrative through its puppet hosts.

A terrific guy. Obviously a clubhouse leader. Does amazing things off the field. An absolute pro's pro.
-Matt Spiegel

B & R brought up with Happ JHK's physique. No one is bringing up ped's with this guy. He was a better player thinner. He aged early as a young man, and his hitting collapse seem to coincide with the muscle he's put on.

yesterday, levine said the same about heyward during heyward's first AB...the whole leader in the clubhouse thing.

This guy almost made it up to .200 late last week, but a return to his shitty hitting over the weekend here brought him back to around .195 now.
He can't hit, he's lost a step in the field, and his arm ain't what it was but we still owe him 44 mildo so that's nice. At the rate he's going they're paying him around 340k a hit. That's bodacious.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

One of the absolute worst signings in Chicago sports history. Just a miss of epic proportions.