CHICAGO — Unloading his frustrations, Chicago Cubs pitcher Colten Brewer broke his left hand whereas punching a wall in Wrigley Discipline’s dwelling dugout. Brewer, a right-handed reliever, had simply been faraway from Saturday’s sport when he threw a tantrum that eclipsed the 391 pitches he’s thrown throughout this disappointing season.
Brewer was ready at his locker Sunday morning when reporters entered the clubhouse. The Cubs had already positioned him on the 60-day injured record and known as up hard-throwing reliever Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Iowa as his alternative. He spoke in a relaxed, quiet voice and expressed regret.
“Feelings get the very best of us at occasions,” Brewer mentioned. “Letting my household down, and associates, teammates, the individuals of Wrigleyville, it’s simply type of heartbreaking to me proper now.”
Lou Piniella, the previous supervisor with a typically volcanic mood, had a time period for the unusual and weird issues that historically occur round this workforce: Cubbie Occurrences. Craig Counsell, the present supervisor with a persistently stoic demeanor, tried to “have a bit empathy” for a pitcher desperately attempting to maintain his job.
Brewer was known as into the third inning of Saturday’s eventual 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels as soon as beginning pitcher Kyle Hendricks exited with decrease again tightness. Already down two runs, Brewer walked the primary batter he confronted after which dedicated a throwing error, which contributed to a three-run sequence for the Angels. Counsell pulled Brewer after two outs, and the outburst within the dugout started instantly.
“You harm the workforce by doing it,” Counsell mentioned. “It doesn’t replicate effectively on you. However you additionally put your self within the sneakers of that is an emotional sport. Competitors is emotional. And it occurs. It’s one thing that you just work exhausting to attempt to prepare your self to not let it occur to you. However I feel most of us have carried out one thing like that, (even when it) hasn’t resulted in that. (Myself) included.”
Brewer, 31, signed a minor-league cope with the Cubs final offseason. He briefly pitched for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres earlier in his profession. He additionally hung out in Japan and with the Boston Purple Sox. He has a 5.66 ERA in 16 appearances out of Chicago’s bullpen.
“The final couple weeks have been actually exhausting,” Brewer mentioned. “Luck’s not on my facet. It’s simply all the things all of sudden.”
Brewer is scheduled to see a hand specialist Tuesday and bear additional examinations. He’s not eligible to be activated from the injured record till Sept. 5 on the earliest. The last-place Cubs will preserve shifting.
“When these issues occur, you already know you screwed up,” Counsell mentioned. “That was the dialog. Then there’s penalties for the errors you make. It’s an unlucky mistake. He let feelings get the very best of him. It’s not who he’s, nevertheless it’s a mistake that he made.”
(Picture: Quinn Harris / Getty Photographs)