The recent results suggest Carl Edwards Jr. has regained the form that made the Cubs trust him with the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series as a rookie.
The businesslike demeanor might have suggested even more after he returned to the Cubs’ clubhouse Monday following a “very humbling” demotion to Class AAA Iowa a month ago.
“As he walked in the door, I just felt a different presence,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I just thought he’s ready to go. He seems very focused. And I’m really curious to watch this whole thing.”
Edwards, one of the Cubs top setup relievers through much of his 2½ big-league seasons, allowed just two walks and two runs in 8 1/3 innings for Iowa and retired the last 10 batters he faced.
During his early struggles leading to the demotion, Edwards endured racist social media messages, including one Major League Baseball is investigating. And during his monthlong stretch in the minors, he spent a week on the injured list after scraping his hands in a fall while carrying boxes on a stairwell.
“I took it as I hit bottom, and all I could do is go up,” said Edwards, who declined Monday to talk about the messages. “I did it good enough to get back up here with the guys.”
After experimenting all spring with a hesitation move in his delivery that was ruled illegal late in the spring after it morphed into a balk move, Edwards went back to his former delivery, and back to a more “aggressive,” strike-throwing mindset.
“Just basically getting my head back where I should be. That’s how I feel now,” said Edwards, who credited phone conversations with his original pitching coach – his dad – with playing “a huge role” in getting back “ to focus on the mitt.”
A bullpen that already produced a 2.11 ERA in its last 22 games through Sunday could get a boost from Edwards swing-and-miss stuff and regained focus if he’s throwing strikes.
The Cubs optioned rookie Dillon Maples back to Iowa with Edwards’ recall.
“Listen, this guy a couple years ago I wanted him on Bryce Harper in the seventh and eighth inning in a playoff game,” Maddon said, “wanted him badly in that situation. And he’s still that guy.”
Decision on Montgomery looms
Left-hander Mike Montgomery (lat) is “ready” to be activated from the IL after pitching six strong innings in his fourth minor-league start at Iowa on Friday.
“But we don’t have a next step to give you right now,” Maddon said of the bullpen’s swingman.
Montgomery poses a tough-call roster issue with the bullpen pitching well and only one struggling starter ($126 million Yu Darvish).
Must watch TV?
The Sunday Night Baseball broadcast drew a 1.2 national metered market rate, according to ESPN, which represented an increase of 20 percent from the same Cubs-Cards matchup a year ago.
Notes: Exactly three weeks after having surgery to remove the broken hook of the hamate bone at the base of his left hand, catcher Victor Caratini started a minor-league rehab assignment Monday night at Class A South Bend. …Infielder Daniel Descalso, sidelined since Saturday by a sore ankle, was available to pinch hit Monday, Maddon said.
