The Rundown Lite: PCA ‘Simplifying F-ing Everything,’ Schwarber Could Hit 500, Draft Pick Status Updates, Tucker to Tampa?

As common as it’s been since I started putting my thoughts into the world for public consumption, I still can’t understand people’s need to tear strangers down. Actually, I need to put a finer point on that idea because being one of those unnecessarily critical commenters is what got me here in the first place. What I’ve got a problem with is people who feel like it’s their place to insult me (or any of our writers, not to mention legions of other bloggers, media members, etc).

Is your life in such a place that anonymously ripping someone because their opinion of [insert Cubs topic here] differs from yours feels necessary? This most recent case stemmed from someone who was upset about me frequently talking about my family, since “no one gives a FLYING-F— [sic] about your personal life.” This incredibly condescending advice was provided by someone claiming to have four decades of experience “at the highest national levels in TV, print, and films,” which is clearly an exaggeration or an outright fabrication.

So why am I leading with this when some well-meaning folks will say it’s best not to feed the trolls? Well, it’s because I believe sunlight is the best disinfectant. And also because I believe that, rather than complaining, it’s best to keep your mouth shut and simply do it better yourself. After finding myself leaving harsh comments following Cubs articles written by someone on the Yahoo Contributor Network many years ago, I realized how foolish I looked and decided to stop being an asshole about it.

While I may still be an asshole, I’m no longer preying on strangers for sport online. What I’ve discovered along the way is that unapologetically being myself, whether that’s offering glimpses into my family life or my past, is what has built a following here. Same for the rest of our writers, one of whom should be returning to his Rundown post very soon. It’s the humanity we’re — most of us — really drawn to.

That’s what was so great about “Southpaw,” the new E60 documentary about iconic former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott. I only got to see the novelty of his career due to the media coverage of it, but the doc went into great detail about all the lives he impacted. Seeing the stories of the lives he impacted by simply taking the mound, let alone all the pictures, autographs, and letters he wrote, brought things home in a big way. Abbott was good as a pitcher, but he’ll leave a much greater legacy as a person whose small acts of kindness will resonate long after he’s gone.

Now I’ll tell you what I should have at the start, which is that those who don’t care to read all the “personal stuff” can always skip to a bold section and keep their undies from getting all bunched up.

PCA’s KISS Method

My dad — ope, there I go getting personal again — was my 6th-grade basketball coach, and I distinctly remember him writing KISS on the locker room chalkboard before one game. Keep it simple, stupid. We did, and we won. The same principle holds true for many aspects in our lives, even at the highest levels of athletic competition.

This GQ article was referenced either yesterday or Tuesday, but it’s worth bringing to light again because it’s really good stuff. Pete Crow-Armstrong is becoming more of a star by the day, largely because he’s got literal stage presence. Not everyone is able to handle the spotlight, but the son of actors who grew up in LA knows a little something about being in the public eye.

By all accounts, the preternatural kinesthetic awareness he has worked so hard to develop is matched by his emotional intelligence. He understands what he needs to do to be better and has the tools, both mentally and physically, to enact the necessary changes.

“I knew I could do what I’m doing this year,” he told GQ. “I didn’t think that the power numbers would be what they are so quickly. I am surprised about that, for sure. But I’ve also never seen myself play every single day. I’ve never kept the same leg kick, toe tap, anything for more than like two f—ing months. This year is the first year that I’ve had a repeatable move. Just simplifying f—ing everything.”

That’s pretty cool, but do you want to know what’s even cooler? This season didn’t come out of nowhere; it’s the culmination of the work he’s been putting in since he first started swinging a bat again as part of the Cubs organization. Sidelined by a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery early in his pro career, PCA started working on a swing that could do more damage.

“I know I have it in me,” Crow-Armstrong told The Athletic in February of 2022. “I can hit it out of any park. You’re never going to get the perfect swing, but it’s about trying to get as close to perfection as you can. Those little steps that help you get to the best swing you can get help you really clean it up, and I’ve made a lot of those moves.”

To quote the great John “Hannibal” Smith, I love it when a plan comes together.

Schwarber on pace for 500

I don’t care if we’re recycling the same two players from yesterday’s post, this is something I left out and wanted to revisit. Kyle Schwarber is in his age-32 season and enters the second half with 314 career homers, putting him 11th on the active list. If we assume he reaches 46 homers this season, he’ll enter next year needing 165 more to join the 500 club. That means less than six seasons of averaging 30 dingers per to reach the hallowed mark.

He’s averaged 35.4 homers in each of his eight full seasons and 43.67 over his previous three campaigns, so 500 looks very attainable. Several other active players could get there as well. Giancarlo Stanton is at 433 in his age-35 season, so he could get there if he’s just able to stay healthy long enough to do it. Same for Mike Trout, who’s at 395 just shy of his 34th birthday. Paul Goldschmidt (370) won’t, Manny Machado (359) has a shot, and Freddie Freeman (353) won’t get much beyond 400.

Nolan Arenado (351) isn’t going to get there, Aaron Judge (350) could make it in three years if he maintains anything close to his current production, and Bryce Harper (346) will get there because he’ll play until he’s 50. The only other active player in the top 15 who I could see making a run at 500 is Eugenio Suarez (307). It might be a longshot, but he is about to turn 34 and is just seven behind Schwarber.

Draft Pick Updates

Most of this info comes courtesy of X user Savermetrics, who follows Cubs draft signings better than anyone else I know. Their account is private, so I won’t be sharing specific links. See below for notes on some of the Cubs’ recent picks.

• Second-round pick Kane Kepley is expected to sign and report in a few days
• Fourth-round pick Kaleb Wing will report to rookie ball in Mesa next week
• Fifth-round pick Kade Snell is expected to sign and report to the minors “soon”
• Sixth-round pick Josiah Hartshorn, whose dad just followed me, is “ready to sign”
• Ninth-round pick Colton Book is expected to sign on Friday
• 14th-round pick Kaemyn Franklin is expected to sign soon as well
• 19th-round pick Caleb Barnett intends to keep his college commitment to Alabama

More to come.

Ed. note: Just after publishing, I saw a report that Hartshorn is “leaning very heavily toward pro ball” and will head to Arizona in the next couple days to take a physical and talk numbers.

Tucker as Potential Tampa Target

It would normally not be in the realm of possibility, but Ken Rosenthal wrote that the sale of the Rays to Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski could mean Tampa will try to bring Kyle Tucker home. The Plant High School graduate could be enticed to return to Florida if ownership is willing to pony up. The Rays are expected to be able to wipe Wander Franco‘s 11-year, $181 million contract off the books, though they’d still need to spend as much as three times that amount to land Tucker.

I don’t think this is particularly likely, but it’s certainly an interesting wrinkle that Tucker will want to pay attention to as his free agency nears.

Trailer Time

My aunt is currently in a long-term care facility on Oahu, where she has lived for nearly 40 years. A marine insurance professional for most of her career, she fell in love with Hawaii in her 30s and moved there as her 40th birthday gift to herself. We’ve been able to visit many times and have gotten to see much more than just the tourist sites during those trips.

She and my dad both have a deep love of history, so I’ve long been inundated by stories of frontiersmen and how our country was formed by the displacement of indigenous people. We collectively know a lot more about the plight of Native Americans, but Hawaii’s battle to avoid colonization remains largely hidden by its status as a vacation paradise.

That will change to at least a small extent with the release of Jason Momoa’s Chief of War series on Apple TV+ in August. It is based on true events in 18th-century Hawaii, with Momoa starring as a war chieftain named Ka’iana who seeks to unite the islands to save them from the threat of outsiders.

Spoiler alert: He doesn’t succeed.