Bearcats in the Big Leagues: Trash Talk and Healing

Josh Harrison

Humor isn't always something that we track here at BITBL. However, this week, we must take the time to note the superb trash talking skills of one Josh Harrison, who pretty much ended the Cubs season on Sunday. After a 2-1 win for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Harrison skipped off the field singing "No Cubs No." Throw out the fact that the Cubs won two of three against the Pirates in the series, are currently the best team in baseball (27-10) and on pace to score eleventy billion runs. Harrison let them know that they are still, in fact, the Cubs. Pretty brutal move. (As an aside, Cubs/Pirates might be the rivalry to watch in the NL Central if the Cardinals continue at a mediocre pace).

On the more serious side, Harrison has continued his solid season of improving the bottom of the Pittsburgh lineup. Once the leadoff table setter, he has found new life in the seventh hole. He is hitting .303 in that spot this season, with 109 of his 136 at-bats coming seventh in the order. In total, his slash line (.309/.338/.424) is still rock solid and he will likely top his stolen bases total of last season since he has six thefts already compared to 10 all of last season. In the last week, he went 6-for-19 with a home run and four RBI.

Tony Campana

Never underestimate the power of BITBL. On the very day that the pilot episode ran, Campana returned to the field following nearly a month on the disabled list. In his first game back he went 1-for-3 with a run scored against the Indianapolis Indians. Throughout the rest of the week, Campana remained a solid force in the lineup of the Syracuse Chiefs, starting in three games and getting at-bats in five. Campana, like Harrison, is making his living at the bottom of the lineup, but he is hitting a respectable .275 overall and his on-base skills are looking good (.356 OBP). Over the last 10 games he is batting .357.

Connor Walsh

Walsh recovered from a rough outing to record two scoreless innings of relief against the Potomac Nationals. Walsh struck out four batters in the appearance, giving him 20 in 19 1/3 total innings this season. Walsh's WHIP (0.98) and ERA (2.79) are both sitting right in that ELITE area for a reliever. All he has to do is keep it going throughout the season and hopefully at the Double-A and Triple-A levels once he gets the call.

Ian Happ

Happ is probably not too happy with Harrison, as he is currently hoping to make the club for the Cubs. But that is neither here nor there or relevant. The month of May has not been super kind to Happ. He is batting just .218 during the month and .253 over the last 30 days overall. One weak point that has hampered him during this stretch and the season as a whole is left-handed pitching. The switch-hitting infielder is batting just .235 against southpaws. Additionally, he has not homered since April 27.

A bright spot, however, is his play in the last few games, as he went 4-for-13 with two doubles in the last three games of a four-game set with the Fresno Grizzlies. He has now hit safely in seven of his last nine contests and lifted his averaged to .274 after it fell below the .270 line.