Bleed Cubbie Blue - Addison Russell’s suspension and its aftermathA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-12-03T10:30:00-06:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/179223752019-12-03T10:30:00-06:002019-12-03T10:30:00-06:00A few more thoughts about the non-tender of Addison Russell
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<p>... who is now a former Cub.</p> <p id="LYqOpR"><span>Addison Russell</span>’s time with the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> is over, and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/11/6/18065750/cubs-should-part-ways-with-addison-russell">as I have written here previously</a>, I thought the Cubs should have cut ties with him a year ago. BCB’s Sara Sanchez <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/12/3/20992890/addison-russell-non-tendered-cubs-thoughts">posted her thoughts here earlier this morning</a>, and without wanting to “pile on,” I had some things I wanted to say as well.</p>
<p id="WBCsJU">The thought that comes to my mind regarding Russell’s tenure with the team, and his baseball career to date, is: “It’s a shame.” First and foremost, <a href="https://lifewithmelis310373032.wordpress.com/2018/09/19/site-settings-you-no-longer-have-a-secret-you-have-a-story-wordpress-com/">the abuse alleged by Russell’s former wife Melisa Reidy</a> (<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/19/18149077/cubs-addison-russell-cut-ties">and also by a former girlfriend</a>) was shameful. No human being should do that to another human being. Ever. In so doing, Russell not only hurt people he professed to love, but cast a shadow on himself as a human being, not to mention as a baseball player. From the point at which he accepted his 40-game suspension for doing these things, not only his personal life but his baseball legacy was forever going to be tarnished.</p>
<p id="0E8fXs">I think it’s important before I continue to note Theo Epstein’s statement made after Russell was not tendered a 2020 contract by the Cubs, making him a free agent. Parts of it were posted in <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/12/2/20992694/chicago-cubs-news-addison-russell-not-offered-a-contract-for-2020">Josh’s news article about the non-tender</a>, and here is the complete statement:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Comments from Theo Epstein on the decision to non-tender Addison Russell: <a href="https://t.co/43Vca6VLLt">pic.twitter.com/43Vca6VLLt</a></p>— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) <a href="https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status/1201652500144803845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2019</a>
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<p id="43YylF">There is no question in my mind that there were valid baseball reasons for not continuing to have Russell on the team. He played poorly, much worse than in his best year (2016), and <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27241351/cubs-russell-says-missing-signs">this is just mind-boggling</a> for a veteran of over 2,000 MLB plate appearances:</p>
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<p id="MTKCen">“Also, not missing signs, as well,” Russell said. “Stay on top of those. Remind myself, I need to become more familiar with the signs, as well. So there’s no gap there. You know exactly what’s being put on so you can do your job more efficient.”</p>
<p id="M1Xqkk">Asked to be more specific, Russell replied, “At the plate and on the bases. Just being aware ... I haven’t played as much as I’ve liked to play, but it’s no excuse for not being in the moment. You have small mistakes like that, and it’s definitely something you can be better at. Especially from the mental side.”</p>
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<p id="HirL6c">Russell’s play had him sent to Triple-A Iowa. He was recalled, then was hit in the head by a pitch September 8 in Milwaukee and spent two weeks in the concussion protocol, not returning to action until the Cubs were more or less eliminated from the postseason.</p>
<p id="gHgXJJ">I’m going to take Theo Epstein at his word in the statement quoted above, that Russell has done the off-field work asked of him and become a better person. That’s undoubtedly a good thing. But Russell’s on-field play had become such that the Cubs — especially with Theo promising major changes from 2019 to 2020 — felt that it was best to cut ties at this point.</p>
<p id="VOZr8h">Addison Russell was acquired in a trade five and a half years ago from the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> to much hoopla. <a href="https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160828/sports/160828890/">In fact:</a></p>
<blockquote><p id="RsDjEv">When the Cubs acquired Addison Russell in a trade for <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> in 2014, the story goes that before Athletics general manager Billy Beane hung up the phone with Cubs president Theo Epstein, he told him, “you just got Barry Larkin.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="iLMAyJ">The implication was that Russell had the talent to become as great as Larkin, who now has a plaque in Cooperstown. That hasn’t been the case, obviously, and at this point it might never happen. Russell was the A’s No. 1 pick (11th overall) in 2012 — five selections after the Cubs chose <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> Russell did perform well on the baseball field for a time, but now it’s time for him to move on.</p>
<p id="upFGzL">It’s a shame that his own actions have likely prevented him from realizing that baseball talent, but I agree with Theo: I hope everything that’s brought Russell to this point will make him a better human being. Patrick Mooney has some further thoughts on how the Cubs handled this situation <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F1427678%2F2019%2F12%2F02%2Fthe-thinking-behind-the-cubs-decision-to-cut-ties-with-addison-russell%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F12%2F3%2F20992799%2Faddison-russell-more-non-tender-thoughts-cubs" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">in this article in The Athletic</a>.</p>
<p id="XmkSK3">He will likely catch on with another team, perhaps a team in a smaller media market like the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> or <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>, a place where he won’t be under the sort of scrutiny he was in Chicago. I wish him well going forward.</p>
<p id="AkUC0l">But what happened is all just a shame.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/12/3/20992799/addison-russell-more-non-tender-thoughts-cubsAl Yellon2019-12-03T08:30:00-06:002019-12-03T08:30:00-06:00Some final thoughts now that Addison Russell has been non-tendered
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<p>Many fans struggled to come to terms with Russell remaining on the team.</p> <p id="wq2jWs">I generally like to focus on numbers. Stats are how I fell in love with the game of baseball in the first place, and when I’m looking for inspiration for something to write about a quick perusal of Fangraphs or Baseball Reference usually does the trick. Numbers are also generally pretty straight forward. I mean, we can and do argue about whether certain sample sizes are lucky or sustainable, but they are numbers. A 136 wRC+ means something tangible as does a sub 2.00 FIP. </p>
<p id="RDPNxN">Today, I’m going to let everyone else write about numbers.</p>
<p id="SyUdaf"><span>Addison Russell</span> was non-tendered by the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a> Monday night and there are already <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28213854/cubs-offer-contract-infielder-addison-russell">a few</a> <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-non-tender-deadline-cubs-part-ways-with-addison-russell-blake-treinen-kevin-pillar-hit-free-agency/">dozen</a> <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/cubs-non-tender-addison-russell-danny-hultzen.html">pieces</a> about the numerical reasons for that decision. There are a lot of them: falling offensive performance and a rising contract primarily among them. I encourage fans to read those pieces and argue about those numbers, particularly since Theo Epstein’s statement makes it pretty clear that the Cubs decision to not tender Russell a contract <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28213854/cubs-offer-contract-infielder-addison-russell">came down to numbers</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="f2KxtU">We decided to non-tender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process,</p></blockquote>
<p id="aYYhyd">But only about a fifth of Epstein’s statement was about the crux of the decision. The other 80 percent focused on Russell’s obligations, character and the Cubs organizational stance towards domestic violence. So, rather than look at the numbers I want to take a few minutes to look at the decision to not tender Russell a contract from my perspective as a person, a writer and as a fan.</p>
<p id="NzIxV0">I’ve been <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/10/18537957/addison-russell-back-chicago-fans-feelings">pretty transparent about how I feel about Addison Russell’s spot on the Cubs</a> <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/27/18158334/addison-russell-suspension">roster for over a year now</a>, but in case you’re stumbling on my writing for the first time today I’ll be clear: I wish the Cubs had made this decision a year ago. However, Monday as I sat at my desk waiting to hear this news, watching the clock move slower and slower towards the deadline and <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlsMeow/status/1201603556823982080">reading the rumors</a> that Russell might be offered a contract on Twitter before the non-tender was finally announced, I couldn’t help but think about the emotional toll this process has taken on some fans. It wasn’t a huge leap of logic to wonder how much greater that toll has been on his teammates, his family, his exes, and his children.</p>
<p id="zhs39A">Addison Russell was suspended for 40 games for domestic violence and everything about that is fraught. For survivors of domestic violence, reading Melisa Reidy’s accounts of their relationship could be traumatic. For some fans of the game his actions cast a pall over every play he made on a baseball field. For over a year now commenters on this site have had to walk on eggshells hoping they wouldn’t spark a fight on every side of this issue.</p>
<p id="uh8fXM">Ironically, that’s part of why domestic violence is so damaging in the first place. It takes something that is supposed to be a refuge and turns it into a high wire act. Speaking only from my personal experience, that constant guessing game of what can be said to keep the peace or avoid rage is exhausting, hard to unlearn and downright debilitating.</p>
<p id="ABZc5x">At about 3:30 on Monday afternoon I walked to run an errand and tried to figure out why I felt terrible and my mood was so on edge before realizing that it was this story, again. This is the 15th story I’ve written about Russell’s suspension for abusing his ex-wife. The 15th time I’ve taken a tremendously personal part of myself and tried to protect it while I waited for news I’d need to process and react to as objectively as possible. The 15th time I’ve braced myself for the comments here, on Twitter and elsewhere. </p>
<p id="dDl9OC">That’s also when I decided not to be objective on this subject in this piece, regardless of the outcome. Because this is not even remotely close to being about me. <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics/">The National Domestic Violence Hotline</a> reports that one in four women and one in seven men have been the victim of intimate partner violence. That means there are millions of Cubs fans who struggled to come to terms with this saga. Some probably walked away, most seem to have stuck it out. Some made donations to different charities, many tried to keep the peace.</p>
<p id="bvtgcv">I’ll speak only for myself when I say that I’ve rarely been as relieved as I was shortly after 5:47 p.m. Monday when I read <a href="https://twitter.com/GDubCub/status/1201649043891511297">Gordon Wittenmyer’s tweet</a> that Russell had been non-tendered. The knowledge that this story wouldn’t be yet another attempt to reconcile something I love with something painful was palpable. </p>
<p id="FwVe2j">Baseball was my refuge during one of the hardest times in my life. Despite my periodic assertions on Twitter, I am well aware that baseball, the people who play it and the people who run it are not perfect. But I wanted to take a moment and speak from the perspective of Cubs fans who can breathe a little easier today.</p>
<p id="D7rSCX">Al will have his own thoughts on the non-tender of Addison Russell coming up at 10:30 a.m. CT.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/12/3/20992890/addison-russell-non-tendered-cubs-thoughtsSara Sanchez2019-12-02T18:25:33-06:002019-12-02T18:25:33-06:00Addison Russell not offered a contract for 2020
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<p>A once-promising player saw his time with the Cubs come to an end today.</p> <p id="5n4iUN">Today was the deadline for teams to offer a contract for the 2020 season for players eligible for arbitration and the big news is that the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> declined to offer one to shortstop Addison Russell. Russell is now a free agent, able to sign with any other team.</p>
<p id="8DyI6t">Six other arbitration-eligible players were offered contracts: infielder <span>Javier Baez</span> and <span>Kris Bryant</span>, outfielders <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> and <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> and catcher <span>Willson Contreras</span>. In addition, right-handed pitcher <span>Jharel Cotton</span>, whom the Cubs acquired last week from the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>, agreed to a new deal for the 2020 season, avoiding arbitration.</p>
<p id="xFX0yU">Left-handed pitcher <span>Danny Hultzen</span>, who was not eligible for arbitration, was also not tendered a contract for 2020. He also becomes a free agent.</p>
<p id="8cMVKE">Russell’s career in Chicago started so promising, but struggles at the plate and a suspension for domestic violence over the past two years meant that he was no longer a part of the Cubs’ plans, present or future. </p>
<p id="6mZtTY">Russell came to Chicago from the A’s in the <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> deal in July of 2014. He was one of the top prospects in Oakland’s system and he immediately became one of the top prospects in the Cubs system. After that 2014 season, <em>Baseball America</em> ranked Russell as the third-best prospect in all of baseball and second-best in the Cubs’ system behind Kris Bryant. Russell was expected to be the Cubs starting shortstop for a generation.</p>
<p id="jl7EW0">Russell made his major league debut at the end of April in 2015 and quickly became the starting second baseman. He moved over the shortstop midway through his rookie year as he and <span>Starlin Castro</span> switched positions. Russell did not hit as much as the Cubs might have hoped, but he did show good power with 13 home runs.</p>
<p id="67chWI">Russell was the Cubs’ starting shortstop throughout the magical 2016 season. He had his best year, hitting .238/.321/.417 with 21 home runs. He also provided stellar defense at shortstop. Russell made his only All-Star Game that year and he started all 17 postseason games in the Cubs’ playoff run.</p>
<p id="Z55vqw">Russell struggled with injuries in the 2017 season and he played in just 110 games. His power and defense were still there, but his strikeouts were rising and his on-base percentage dropped to .304.</p>
<p id="him1F1">The 2018 season was a bad one at the plate even by Russell’s lower standards. But it came to an abrupt halt in September when Russell’s ex-wife accused him of years of physical and emotional violence against her in their marriage. </p>
<p id="ORgGSI">Russell missed the first 29 games of the 2019 season, finishing out his suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. It was a controversial decision by the front office to bring Russell back, but team president Theo Epstein said he wanted to give Russell a second chance. Russell did not get into any trouble off the field, but on the field he simply was not very good. He lost his starting shortstop spot to Javier Baez and even ended up getting sent down to the minors mid-season.</p>
<p id="y0P33v">Russell is still very good defensively, but the Cubs clearly did not think that a good-glove/no-hit infielder with a domestic violence suspension on his record was worth what the pay increase that he would get in arbitration.</p>
<p id="iY5VBc">In a statement, team president Theo Epstein said:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In a statement released by the Cubs, Theo Epstein says: "We decided to non-tender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process."</p>— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1201651505973137409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Theo: "Since we decided to tender Addison a contract last November, he has lived up to his promise to put in the important self-improvement work necessary off the field and has shown growth as a person, as a partner, as a parent and as a citizen."</p>— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1201651774173696002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Theo: "We hope and believe that Addison’s work and growth will continue, and we have offered our continued support of him and his family, including Melisa."</p>— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1201651863185174528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a>
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<p id="GrQvhF">With the release of Russell and Hultzen, the Cubs’ 40-man roster now stands at 36. </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/12/2/20992694/chicago-cubs-news-addison-russell-not-offered-a-contract-for-2020Josh Timmers2019-11-30T09:00:00-06:002019-11-30T09:00:00-06:00The Cubs should non-tender Addison Russell
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s time.</p> <p id="lJE9mW">Early in the 2018-19 offseason, I wrote an article headlined <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/11/6/18065750/cubs-should-part-ways-with-addison-russell">‘The Cubs should part ways with Addison Russell.’</a></p>
<p id="UsuWKS">I wrote another similar article headlined <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/19/18149077/cubs-addison-russell-cut-ties">‘The Cubs need to cut ties with Addison Russell’</a> a month later, after the Cubs had tendered him a 2019 contract, when there were new revelations in his domestic violence case.</p>
<p id="rMr6tA">The first link above contains this quote from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F631232%2F2018%2F11%2F04%2Fhow-the-cubs-are-assessing-the-messy-addison-russell-situation%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F11%2F30%2F20988306%2Fcubs-should-non-tender-addison-russell" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">an article in The Athletic</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="0CsXao">The Cubs understand that a conditional return would be controversial and unpopular and could backfire in a way that alienates fans and again embarrasses the franchise.</p></blockquote>
<p id="V8hiwf">That did, unfortunately, wind up happening when manager Joe Maddon handled questions about the situation poorly and Russell stammered his way through a news conference at spring training. It just wasn’t a good look and it was so unnecessary.</p>
<p id="4gu8wk">The Cubs kept Russell in the minor leagues until his suspension ended in early May. He hit reasonably well in his first 21 games after he returned to the majors, .288/.344/.508 (17-for-59) with four home runs. Then his hitting fell off the table and he went through a 5-for-39 slump. He was sent back to Iowa in mid-July after having made some bad defensive choices that might have cost the Cubs a couple of games.</p>
<p id="LJHTuP">He was hit in the head by a pitch in Milwaukee September 8 and missed almost three weeks on the concussion list, and overall his season was mediocre at best: .237/.308/.391 (51-for-215) with nine home runs and just 0.1 bWAR. After some very good defensive seasons early in his career, he had become a defensive liability.</p>
<p id="ofBvvs">What Theo Epstein did in keeping Russell on the club to try and help in his work to become a changed person after his DV situation, I completely understand. It was a noble gesture on Theo’s part. As it turned out, it was not a good baseball decision. He started just 55 games in the field in 2019 (39 at second base, 16 at shortstop) and several players on the roster were more useful, including <span>David Bote</span> and <span>Nico Hoerner</span>.</p>
<p id="DU24Cs">I believed it was time for the organization to cut ties and move on a year ago. They chose not to. They didn’t get the on-field play they had hoped for. We have heard little or nothing about any progress Russell has made off the field, either. At this point there’s no need to rehash what’s gone on in that area or any feelings about this entire matter. The bottom line: It’s time to move on.</p>
<p id="MVtYkz">Since the 2019 season ended, Cubs front office management has made major changes in the on-field coaching staff and behind-the-scenes management and scouting. They have hinted at major changes coming to the playing roster, too. One of those should be non-tendering <span>Addison Russell</span> before the deadline Monday. It would be better for Russell, too; presuming he’s doing what he needs to in order to rehab himself off the field, getting away from the glare of attention in Chicago would probably help him, too. I wish Russell well and hope he can become a better human being.</p>
<p id="ZRSPwk">Let’s hope the Cubs do the right thing before Monday’s non-tender deadline.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/11/30/20988306/cubs-should-non-tender-addison-russellAl Yellon2019-05-10T10:00:00-05:002019-05-10T10:00:00-05:00Addison Russell is back playing baseball in Chicago. Here’s how I feel about that.
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<figcaption>Addisson Russell takes questions before Wednesday’s game | Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>This was my perspective as he returned to Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.</p> <p id="d4qZQL">I have never booed the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>.</p>
<p id="voXY1j">Booing anyone has never seemed all that productive to me, and frankly, it’s always made me think of my mom. One of the first sporting events I ever attended was a Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns game as a small child and my mom was appalled by the booing. In fact, she took it upon herself to be a Suns fan for the game, because she thought it was abhorrently rude that people would boo them when they came from so far away to play a game.</p>
<p id="Xquqnz">I did not cheer for the Suns during that game because I can’t pretend to be nearly as amazing as my mom, but the lesson stuck. I have never booed any player or play on the Cubs. I actually find it kind of cringeworthy when boos echo from Wrigley Field for the home team and I am definitely that person that will shoot the boo birds a fierce look, even if it’s the worst inning, or string of innings, ever pitched. After all, baseball is a funny game, the greatest player in the world can make multiple errors on any given day, the greatest pitchers can be reduced to batting practice.</p>
<p id="iSuUxD">I’ll cut to the chase here, because I’m not trying to be coy with this post. You all know where I stand with <span>Addison Russell</span>. I’ve written thousands of words on this issue and haven’t minced any of them. I briefly considered making this post another compilation of the news cycle and reactions. I listened thoughtfully to <a href="https://670thescore.radio.com/media/audio-channel/cubs-theo-epstein-addison-russell-joe-maddon">Theo Epstein’s interview on 670 the Score</a> and thought <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F969163%2F2019%2F05%2F08%2Faddison-russell-returns-to-wrigley-field-but-is-he-a-changed-man%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F5%2F10%2F18537957%2Faddison-russell-back-chicago-fans-feelings" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">this piece</a> from Jon Greenberg at the Athletic was particularly on point. </p>
<p id="gNkG9j">But honestly, you can read all of that on your own. As I started writing, I kept returning to Wednesday night and why I didn’t boo at Addison Russell’s return to Wrigley Field. I could have, I suppose. I wouldn’t have been alone. In fact, I probably would have been in the majority. From where I sat in the left field grandstand, <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/670-the-score/playlists/podcast/embed?style=artwork&share=1&selectedClip=844de098-4135-44c4-9702-aa4800e53393">the boos were much more prominent than the cheers</a> every time Russell came to bat in his 2019 Cubs debut after <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/10/3/17934152/addison-russell-40-game-suspension-mlb-cubs">serving a 40-game suspension for domestic violence</a>.</p>
<p id="abuxNn">I’d like to pause here for a moment, to remember why it took six weeks for Russell to rejoin the Cubs. Honestly, I think remembering that is more important than anything Russell could possibly do for the Cubs in 2019.</p>
<p id="VmBsg0">Addison Russell was suspended from playing for the Chicago Cubs for 40 games last season after his ex-wife Melisa Reidy <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/9/21/17885870/addison-russell-domestic-violence-allegations-cubs">detailed the abuse she suffered</a> during their marriage. Between September and January she wrote, and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/9/28/17914590/melisa-reidy-exclusive-interview-espn-jesse-rogers">gave interviews</a>, that added a number of details to what was initially a very sketchy social media comment in 2017. She described a marriage that was punctuated with violence, including her husband tackling her to a concrete sidewalk and choking her in front of their son.</p>
<p id="ggUYgn">After her interview with <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/19/18148988/cubs-addison-russell-news">Expanded Roster</a> a number of Cubs fans, including many on this site, doubted that Addison Russell would ever play for the Cubs again. However, it became clear over the offseason that the front office <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/1/11/18179064/cubs-deal-addison-russell-avoid-arbitration">wasn’t going to cut and run with Russell</a>. For better or worse, they were going to attempt a rapprochement. </p>
<p id="H53XJn">I have a lot of doubts about this strategy.</p>
<p id="shGBkK">And so, on Wednesday, I didn’t boo, but I also didn’t cheer. I was still, silent and watching.</p>
<p id="8ewYuo">It actually reminded me of a lot of moments in my life where I’ve tried to make things better by being still. Silent. Watching. Moments where I thought if I could just keep myself motionless, everything would be okay.</p>
<p id="4zv6VN">I was wrong about those moments, because they were never about my movements or reactions or motions. It never mattered how still I was, those moments were about someone else’s demons and those moments were under someone else’s control. </p>
<p id="276h1P">It was strange to sit silent in a crowd as the eighth batter was announced. And while I will admit it was easier to hear the crowd boo Russell than it would have been to hear the crowd cheer for him, neither was particularly gratifying. </p>
<p id="w39o2J">It was strangest to take a seat in the bottom of the tenth when it was late and the Cubs needed a run and know that I would take no joy in Russell being the hero of that game.</p>
<p id="Jmtofg">I imagine there are a lot of Cubs fans who felt similarly, to his credit, Theo Epstein appears to be <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F969163%2F2019%2F05%2F08%2Faddison-russell-returns-to-wrigley-field-but-is-he-a-changed-man%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F5%2F10%2F18537957%2Faddison-russell-back-chicago-fans-feelings" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">keenly aware of this</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Xwxk8O">“I hope Addison continues to grow,” Epstein said. “That’s what this is all about. He doesn’t deserve to be met with an unconditional warm welcome and open arms. I think he will receive the appropriate response. That’s something he needs to take responsibility for and to process, handle the right way and to grow from. He knows it’s a long road back to earn people’s trust, whether it’s in the organization or more importantly, to the people in his life on a daily basis.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="0JBenq">I’m not going to pretend to know how this story ends. I’ll also be the first to admit that it would be best for everyone, but especially Russell’s family and loved ones, if he is fully rehabilitated. I have a lot of reasons to doubt that will happen, but honestly that is a post for another day.</p>
<p id="M8jHrO">For now, Addison Russell is going to play for the Chicago Cubs. Some people will be cheering for him, some people will be booing him, some people will be silent and some people may just leave and find some team other than the Cubs to love. At least for now I will not be booing Addison Russell when he takes the field for the Cubs, however, I’m still a long way from being able to cheer for him with a clear conscience. </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/10/18537957/addison-russell-back-chicago-fans-feelingsSara Sanchez2019-05-08T15:20:00-05:002019-05-08T15:20:00-05:00Cubs roster moves: Addison Russell recalled, Mike Montgomery activated, Pedro Strop to the IL
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs infielder, his suspension over, is back.</p> <p id="8y77CN"><span>Addison Russell</span> was suspended last September for 40 games under terms of the Joint MLB/MLBPA Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/releases/releases.jsp?content=082115">a policy negotiated between players and management in 2015</a>.</p>
<p id="W9pqR2">As per the terms of that agreement and his suspension, he had a seven-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and after the suspension and rehab assignment ended, he was optioned to Iowa and played five more games. All told, in Russell’s 12 Triple-A games he hit .222/.357/.467 (10-for-45) with two doubles and three home runs.</p>
<p id="lZGuLJ">Today, he will rejoin the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cubs moves...<br><br>Zobrist given leave of absence for personal reasons (restricted list). Russell recalled from AAA Iowa. Zobrist timeline not clear (undetermined length of time).</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1126216637965897734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pedro Strop on 10-day IL with left hamstring strain. Mike Montgomery activated from IL.</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1126216818836819974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2019</a>
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<p id="7HBvFB"><span>Ben Zobrist</span> was scratched from Tuesday night’s starting lineup for what were termed “personal reasons” and at this time it's still not clear what those are. With Zobrist on the restricted list, a 40-man spot is open. </p>
<p id="iXTrPw">The return of Russell to active status with the big-league Cubs will be difficult for some fans. I understand that. Theo Epstein has long said that Russell would not be able to return until the team was sure that he was following the program set up for him for his off-the-field life. We can only hope that he is doing that and becoming a better person. I wish him well. It’s still possible that the Cubs will trade him somewhere. <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/19/18149077/cubs-addison-russell-cut-ties">As I’ve written before</a>, I think that would be best for all concerned.</p>
<p id="kmOjz6">I’d think when Zobrist returns, <span>Mark Zagunis</span> will be optioned to Iowa, and then the team will have to make a choice about Ian Happ. Victor Caratini is also on rehab assignment, and obviously when he returns <span>Taylor Davis</span> will head back to Iowa.</p>
<p id="WJMZuN"><span>Mike Montgomery</span> has also been on rehab assignment, and his return gives the Cubs another lefty out of the pen. The injury to <span>Pedro Strop</span> might explain his poor performance the other night. The Cubs will have to mix and match at closer while Pedro is out.</p>
<p id="KTWLX7">Incidentally, usually players optioned to Triple-A, as Russell was last Friday, must stay there for a minimum of 10 days. That, however, doesn’t apply when the player is recalled to replace someone put on the IL, as is the case today.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/8/18537221/cubs-roster-move-addison-russell-mike-montgomery-pedro-strop-ben-zobristAl Yellon2019-05-02T14:30:19-05:002019-05-02T14:30:19-05:00Cubs roster move: Addison Russell optioned to Iowa, Brandon Morrow to 60-day IL
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s official.</p> <p id="E7ucBz">The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> announced Thursday that <span>Addison Russell</span> had been reinstated from the restricted list, having served his 40-game suspension, and that they had optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.</p>
<p id="i6aUa1">To make room on the 40-man roster, <span>Brandon Morrow</span> was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Morrow was placed on the IL during spring training retroactive to March 25, so the first day he’d be eligible to return would be May 24.</p>
<p id="BAq5qj">Earlier, Theo Epstein had stated that this move was being made <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26642957/cubs-option-russell-triple-ban-over">for baseball reasons</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="VswpVH">“There have been some real promising signs with his play. Six games just isn’t enough to get fully up to speed to come up to the big league club,” Epstein said Tuesday.</p></blockquote>
<p id="V7kDrK">In addition, Theo said Russell had been making “progress” in his off-the-field rehab as well.</p>
<p id="cUJ6Rr">I’m writing this article primarily to make a record of the official roster move, as well as to reiterate my opinion that I think in the long run, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/19/18149077/cubs-addison-russell-cut-ties">it would be best for Russell to move on to another team</a>, both for the player and the ballclub. Of course, Russell has minimal trade value at this point, so the stint at Iowa might be one that the team wants to have in order to increase that value. It was stated Tuesday by Theo that Russell would be there for “weeks,” not “days,” and there’s really no clear indication what that means.</p>
<p id="Hfph7i">I will say that sometime soon, it would be good to get a true backup shortstop on the 25-man roster. <span>Javier Baez</span> has played all but two innings of all 28 games the Cubs have played this year, and that’s worked out because of all the off days the Cubs have had so far.</p>
<p id="8kGUg8">But now the team enters a period where they will play 26 games in the next 27 days. That’s a grind for any ballplayer. Right now <span>David Bote</span> is the Cubs’ backup shortstop, and he doesn’t have much experience at the position — 41 games at various levels in the Cubs minors, and three MLB games over the last two years, only one as a starter.</p>
<p id="oVKfmT">I am also writing this article to call attention to the allegation made via Twitter over the weekend that the Cubs had somehow threatened retaliation against media members who wrote articles critical of Russell. Earlier, <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-addison-russell-theo-epstein-20190502-story.html">Theo Epstein had told beat writers who were in Seattle</a>:</p>
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<p id="iFScdR">“However you guys want to cover the story,” Epstein said. “If you want to write critical articles about Addison or the club’s handling, you’re more than welcome to. We believe in the freedom of the press. This is certainly an issue where we expect there to be strong opinions and people have the right to have those opinions and express them however they want.</p>
<p id="nyGOKW">“We support that. We would never try to stifle freedom of the press or that type of free expression. I saw that story out there. I’m not calling it into question other than to say the threat of reprisal to a media member about any topic, but especially one of this nature, is not acceptable. I’d be really surprised if that happened at the Cubs, and if it did I’d want to know who it was because they wouldn’t work for the Cubs much longer. That’s a fireable offense to try to threaten a media member because of unfavorable coverage, especially on a topic of this nature.”</p>
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<p id="T9OxZA">And Thursday, Cubs VP of communications Julian Green addressed this issue on 670 The Score:</p>
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<p id="70aaI9">The Cubs continued to shoot down the story Thursday when vice president of communications Julian Green went on the team’s flagship station, WSCR-AM 670, to deny what he called “explosive allegations” that were not “corroborated.”</p>
<p id="Lqwryn">“I have raised this with the editors-in-chiefs at the papers in this town because it’s not the first time this has happened,” Green said on the “Mully & Haugh Show.” “But it’s the first time something egregious like this happened.”</p>
<p id="Gnr53Z">Green did not provide any examples of media members from either Chicago newspaper claiming retribution for something they had written about the team or the organization.</p>
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<p id="BQHr2q">From my point of view, I have written numerous stories on this topic, as has Sara Sanchez, on this site. You can read all the Russell suspension-related stories <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/27/18158334/addison-russell-suspension">in this StoryStream</a>. The Cubs have always treated me fairly and have never once said anything about what Sara or I have written about Russell. I hope that Green’s statement is the end of this issue.</p>
<p id="9xNtYi">Regarding Russell’s future, we’ll just have to see what happens going forward.</p>
<p id="9PilbI">Lastly, I know many here have strong opinions on this topic. I ask only that you keep your commentary civil.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/2/18527223/cubs-roster-move-addison-russell-iowa-brandon-morrow-60-dayAl Yellon2019-04-30T20:15:00-05:002019-04-30T20:15:00-05:00Addison Russell will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday
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<figcaption>Addison Russell slides into third in 2018 | Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Theo Epstein told media before Tuesday’s game against the Mariners.</p> <p id="T8NiAV">Last week <span>Addison Russell</span> joined the Iowa Cubs for a rehab assignment that was viewed by many as <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cubs-ss-russell-joining-triple-a-iowa-to-prepare-for-return-508996901.html">a precursor to him returning</a> to the Chicago Cubs lineup at the conclusion of his 40-game suspension for domestic violence. Russell has been serving a suspension since last September when his ex-wife Melisa Reidy <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/9/21/17885870/addison-russell-domestic-violence-allegations-cubs">published a blog</a> expanding on allegations that had originally <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2017/6/8/15762094/mlb-domestic-abuse-allegations-addison-russell">surfaced on social media in 2017</a>. Over the offseason disturbing details of those allegations were revealed in a number of interviews with <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F566948%2F2018%2F10%2F03%2Fmelisa-reidy-details-her-experience-with-mlbs-investigative-process-and-why-she-wanted-her-voice-to-be-heard%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F4%2F30%2F18524764%2Faddison-russell-will-be-optioned-iowa-thursday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Athletic</a>, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/9/28/17914590/melisa-reidy-exclusive-interview-espn-jesse-rogers">ESPN</a> and Expanded Roster.</p>
<p id="IAGBac">Many had speculated that Russell would make his debut on Friday, May 3 at Wrigley Field for the Cubs first game of 2019 against their rivals the NL Central leading <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>, although as <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/26/18518090/addison-russell-return-may-3">Al noted earlier this week</a> it was not a foregone conclusion. Before Tuesday’s series opener against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, made it official and told reporters that Russell would be optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Theo Epstein just shared that Addison Russell has been told he’ll be optioned on Thursday. No timeline, but he’s expected to be in Iowa for a few more weeks.</p>— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) <a href="https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status/1123377714323283969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="ME1kfd">ESPN’s Jesse Rogers noted that the Cubs decision to option Russell to Iowa was “a baseball decision” but clarified that obviously Russell has to “continue his progress off the field” to join the major league squad:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Theo said this is a baseball decision but obviously Addison has to continue his progress off the field RT <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNChiCubs</a>: Cubs to option Addison Russell to Triple-A come Friday, per Theo.</p>— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/1123377070501818368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a>
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<p id="twH60Y">Russell has played six games for the Iowa Cubs and is slashing <a href="http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t451&player_id=608365#/career/R/hitting/2019/ALL">.250/.423/.500 against Triple-A pitching</a>. He has five strikeouts and five walks in 20 plate appearances for the I-Cubs. He has also been taking reps at second base and has <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.desmoinesregister.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fiowa-cubs%2F2019%2F04%2F26%2Faddison-russell-chicago-cubs-iowa-cubs-minor-league-baseball-major-league-baseball%2F3581029002%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2019%2F4%2F30%2F18524764%2Faddison-russell-will-be-optioned-iowa-thursday" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">indicated a willingness to change positions</a> to get back to the 25-man roster in Chicago. </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/30/18524764/addison-russell-will-be-optioned-iowa-thursdaySara Sanchez