The Cubs are coming off a game in which they scored more runs than they had in the previous three combined, and they did it with the help of their rookies. Well, mainly one rookie. Alexander Canario came up big with an RBI double and a grand slam, making him the first player ever to hit a granny and collect five RBI in his first start. Imagine if he’d had a chance to do that at some point over the previous three weeks.
I kid there, at least to an extent, because I think the plan was to essentially shut the slugger down for a while and then let him finish strong at Iowa.