Sahadev Sharma
@sahadevsharma.bsky.social
Cubs beat @TheAthletic; co-host of North Side Territory podcast; Dad to Sawyer & Penny; bourbon and beer; Illini hoops
I'm trying to remember the last time the Cubs had one of these "get a lead and then continue to tack on" games at Wrigley. It feels like it's been a decent while. They're important! Especially with the wind blowing out. Feels like the other team is never really out of it.
September 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I'm trying to remember the last time the Cubs had one of these "get a lead and then continue to tack on" games at Wrigley. It feels like it's been a decent while. They're important! Especially with the wind blowing out. Feels like the other team is never really out of it.
So much of baseball is about the smallest things. If the Nats have an average defensive left fielder or if James Wood just gets a *slightly* better jump, that's a one-run inning. Instead, the inning goes on, Dansby gets a shot with men on and slugs a three-run shot. Cubs up 5-0 after one.
September 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
So much of baseball is about the smallest things. If the Nats have an average defensive left fielder or if James Wood just gets a *slightly* better jump, that's a one-run inning. Instead, the inning goes on, Dansby gets a shot with men on and slugs a three-run shot. Cubs up 5-0 after one.
The Cubs knew Owen Caissie could dominate Triple-A this season without making any changes. But they had to get him prepared for the big leagues. A look at how Caissie embraced the organization's challenge to improve upon his few remaining flaws.
t.co/J3nEwvt2NZ
t.co/J3nEwvt2NZ
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6566404/2025/08/21/cubs-owen-caissie-improvement/
t.co
August 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The Cubs knew Owen Caissie could dominate Triple-A this season without making any changes. But they had to get him prepared for the big leagues. A look at how Caissie embraced the organization's challenge to improve upon his few remaining flaws.
t.co/J3nEwvt2NZ
t.co/J3nEwvt2NZ
Baseball isn't all luck, but you need some things to just go your way sometimes. William Contreras got a sinker in the heart of the zone at 91.3 mph. That's a pitch he may have pounded on a different day. Instead, it's a hard ground ball to Dansby Swanson who turns a huge 6-4-3 double play.
August 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Baseball isn't all luck, but you need some things to just go your way sometimes. William Contreras got a sinker in the heart of the zone at 91.3 mph. That's a pitch he may have pounded on a different day. Instead, it's a hard ground ball to Dansby Swanson who turns a huge 6-4-3 double play.
Each pitcher has now walked the bases loaded. Brewers got just one run on their chance. Cubs have no outs, bases juiced and top of the order up. Prime opportunity they have to jump on.
August 21, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Each pitcher has now walked the bases loaded. Brewers got just one run on their chance. Cubs have no outs, bases juiced and top of the order up. Prime opportunity they have to jump on.
Seiya gave one a ride in the first but it's a flyout tonight. Wind coming in pretty strong at 14 mph at first pitch. Cost Seiya a solo shot, but both he and Busch hit the ball hard against Misiorowksi.
August 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Seiya gave one a ride in the first but it's a flyout tonight. Wind coming in pretty strong at 14 mph at first pitch. Cost Seiya a solo shot, but both he and Busch hit the ball hard against Misiorowksi.
Max Scherzer just threw his 13th pitch of the 7th inning to end the frame. That is the highest pitch total for either pitcher in an inning today.
August 14, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Max Scherzer just threw his 13th pitch of the 7th inning to end the frame. That is the highest pitch total for either pitcher in an inning today.
The Cubs are allowed to hit line drives that touch the ground. It has happened. After six of the first seven batters hit the ball well only to find defenders, Dansby Swanson doubles with one out in the third.
August 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The Cubs are allowed to hit line drives that touch the ground. It has happened. After six of the first seven batters hit the ball well only to find defenders, Dansby Swanson doubles with one out in the third.
Davis Schneider steals extra bases from Owen Caissie. The rookie hit the first pitch he saw on a line and it seemed ticketed for the left-center gap. Schneider made a nice diving catch to steal a likely double. Cubs are once again hitting line drives, but getting little in return for their work.
August 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Davis Schneider steals extra bases from Owen Caissie. The rookie hit the first pitch he saw on a line and it seemed ticketed for the left-center gap. Schneider made a nice diving catch to steal a likely double. Cubs are once again hitting line drives, but getting little in return for their work.
A few stories from Toronto. First one on Miguel Amaya being carted off field, but apparently avoids a major injury with a left ankle sprain, will go on IL
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
Miguel Amaya carted off field with left ankle sprain, will go on IL
www.nytimes.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:03 AM
A few stories from Toronto. First one on Miguel Amaya being carted off field, but apparently avoids a major injury with a left ankle sprain, will go on IL
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
Counsell says x-rays came back negative for Amaya. Swollen badly, but right now appears to just be a sprain. Will require an IL stint.
August 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Counsell says x-rays came back negative for Amaya. Swollen badly, but right now appears to just be a sprain. Will require an IL stint.
Miguel Amaya legs out an infield single, but hits the bag awkwardly and is down in foul territory just past first. Seems like he twisted his left ankle badly and is in major pain. Needs to be carried onto the cart. It was Amaya's first game back after missing significant time with an oblique issue
August 14, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Miguel Amaya legs out an infield single, but hits the bag awkwardly and is down in foul territory just past first. Seems like he twisted his left ankle badly and is in major pain. Needs to be carried onto the cart. It was Amaya's first game back after missing significant time with an oblique issue
It's gonna just go down as an out, but hard, in the air and 388 feet for Tucker is a good sign. Quite a bit of hard contact all around tonight with just two runs to show for it.
August 14, 2025 at 12:25 AM
It's gonna just go down as an out, but hard, in the air and 388 feet for Tucker is a good sign. Quite a bit of hard contact all around tonight with just two runs to show for it.
Cade Horton seems to get better every time out. So far tonight it's five innings of no-hit baseball with eight Ks and one walk. Getting whiffs on the sweeper and change. He's doing this against arguably the best offense in baseball.
August 14, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Cade Horton seems to get better every time out. So far tonight it's five innings of no-hit baseball with eight Ks and one walk. Getting whiffs on the sweeper and change. He's doing this against arguably the best offense in baseball.
Dansby Swanson should just stop hitting the ball hard. Hit it negative MPH. That's his only chance.
August 14, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Dansby Swanson should just stop hitting the ball hard. Hit it negative MPH. That's his only chance.
Michael Busch skies one that gets over the fence in right. I was sure that was going to fall just short. But somehow the Cubs actually have a 1-0 lead.
August 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Michael Busch skies one that gets over the fence in right. I was sure that was going to fall just short. But somehow the Cubs actually have a 1-0 lead.
PCA with a 101.3 mph liner for an out. Nico singles and then Dansby hits one 108.3 on a line. Again, for an out. The Cubs just need to keep hitting the ball like that and they'll eventually find gaps, but this is definitely one of those mind-numbing stretches.
August 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
PCA with a 101.3 mph liner for an out. Nico singles and then Dansby hits one 108.3 on a line. Again, for an out. The Cubs just need to keep hitting the ball like that and they'll eventually find gaps, but this is definitely one of those mind-numbing stretches.
This really is getting rough for the Cubs. They're not putting up bad at-bats. They're swinging at the right pitches. They're even hitting them hard at times. Seiya's hit two balls really well. Nothing to show for it.
August 13, 2025 at 12:38 AM
This really is getting rough for the Cubs. They're not putting up bad at-bats. They're swinging at the right pitches. They're even hitting them hard at times. Seiya's hit two balls really well. Nothing to show for it.
Really like that plate appearance from Matt Shaw. Attacked good pitches, but eventually worked a walk in a 10-pitch PA to turn it over to the top. Let's see if this offense can actually do something with it though.
August 12, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Really like that plate appearance from Matt Shaw. Attacked good pitches, but eventually worked a walk in a 10-pitch PA to turn it over to the top. Let's see if this offense can actually do something with it though.
Cubs moves for today:
⚾️ Javier Assad activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Miguel Amaya activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Nate Pearson optioned to Triple A
⚾️ Jon Berti DFA'd
Javier Assad is expected to start tonight
⚾️ Javier Assad activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Miguel Amaya activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Nate Pearson optioned to Triple A
⚾️ Jon Berti DFA'd
Javier Assad is expected to start tonight
August 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Cubs moves for today:
⚾️ Javier Assad activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Miguel Amaya activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Nate Pearson optioned to Triple A
⚾️ Jon Berti DFA'd
Javier Assad is expected to start tonight
⚾️ Javier Assad activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Miguel Amaya activated from 60-day IL
⚾️ Nate Pearson optioned to Triple A
⚾️ Jon Berti DFA'd
Javier Assad is expected to start tonight
First pitch is scheduled for 7pm here in St. Louis (weather permitting)
August 10, 2025 at 10:57 PM
First pitch is scheduled for 7pm here in St. Louis (weather permitting)
First pitch will be delayed here in St. Louis
August 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
First pitch will be delayed here in St. Louis
Hard line drives all over the place, grounders finding holes, aggressive on the basepaths. This looks more like the Cubs offense that fans have grown accustomed to this season. They have themselves a 6-0 lead and have chased Andrew Pallante here in the second with two outs.
August 9, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Hard line drives all over the place, grounders finding holes, aggressive on the basepaths. This looks more like the Cubs offense that fans have grown accustomed to this season. They have themselves a 6-0 lead and have chased Andrew Pallante here in the second with two outs.
The Cubs offense is struggling to come up with the big hit. A look at their issues and comparing it to last year's slump -- it's not nearly as bad, but the Brewers insane run is making everything seem worse. t.co/ek5r8xc5ED
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6543564/2025/08/09/cubs-shut-out-again/?source=emp_shared_article
t.co
August 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The Cubs offense is struggling to come up with the big hit. A look at their issues and comparing it to last year's slump -- it's not nearly as bad, but the Brewers insane run is making everything seem worse. t.co/ek5r8xc5ED
Going to do a mailbag episode of North Side Territory after tonight's game. Feel free to send questions here now, during the game or after! ⤵️
August 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Going to do a mailbag episode of North Side Territory after tonight's game. Feel free to send questions here now, during the game or after! ⤵️