Alert the MP’s! Cubs utility man Tommy La Stella is AWOL!
Hmm developing Story Tonight Tommy La Stella is Missing "AWOL" pic.twitter.com/rcwQtYSwQ2
— JasonColclasure (@DrCubColclasure) August 3, 2016
Tommy was optioned to the Chicago Cubs Triple-A Iowa team when they activated Chris Coghlan this past Friday. Since then no one has seen or heard from TLS. Maybe his disappearing act has something to do with this?
#Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Tommy La Stella was very upset at being optioned to Iowa. It was a numbers thing, not based on performance.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) July 29, 2016
While no veteran, especially one that is producing, enjoys being demoted. Hell, you or I wouldn’t like to be demoted. But this didn’t stop Cubs twitter from conducting search parties.
It's 3AM, do you know where Tommy La Stella is?
— Duderonomy (@m_j_suriano) August 3, 2016
Yasiel Puig and Tommy La Stella are probably on a great buddy flick road trip right now
— Randall J. Sanders (@RandallJSanders) August 3, 2016
Willson Contreras caught Kyle Hendricks. He caught Jason Hammel. He caught Aroldis Chapman. Maybe he can catch Tommy La Stella.
— Evan Altman (@DEvanAltman) August 3, 2016
While yes, TLS missing is a tad worrisome, this isn’t exactly cause for too much worry… yet.
The La Stella freakout seems premature. Has 72 hours to report. Could just meet up with the team in Iowa. Not there tomorrow, then worry.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) August 3, 2016
Whew… see, he’s just playing by the rules here. As a veteran he is afforded 72 hours to report. Maybe the Cubs themselves told him to just meet up with the team once they return to Iowa? This makes complete sense, and even though he’s demoted (which is unjust) he ends up getting a short break midseason, which could very well pay dividends later in the year.
This still doesn’t answer the bigger question of, why LaStella?
Justin Grimm and Tommy La Stella at Iowa just feels weird. https://t.co/B09SL37qUx
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) July 30, 2016
This truly is a numbers game, which is dictated by player options. The Cubs were faced with a difficult decision, and if they sent a Matt Szczur or Chris Coghlan down, those guys are out of options and the Cubs would have lost either of them. TLS gave the team flexibility in not losing a player, especially so close to rosters being expanded.
So we should be all ok here. The Cubs weren’t telling Tommy that Cogs is better, he just gave the team flexibility. Why hasn’t La Stella reported yet? Speaking with the Cubs, he was afforded a little extra time to deal with some personal affairs before reporting.
