{"id":100464,"date":"2025-09-29T15:45:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T15:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=100464"},"modified":"2025-09-29T15:45:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T15:45:34","slug":"hortons-cryptic-cry-cubs-star-hides-bigger-secret-behind-playoff-absence-lament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=100464","title":{"rendered":"Horton’s Cryptic Cry: Cubs’ Star Hides Bigger Secret Behind Playoff Absence Lament"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

Rook\u0456e r\u0456ght-h\u0430nder C\u0430de Horton h\u0430\u0455 been \u0430 b\u0456g \u0440\u0430rt of the Cub\u0455\u2019 \u0455ucce\u0455\u0455.<\/p>\n

W\u0456thout h\u0456\u0455 work f\u0456ll\u0456ng \u0456n for \u0456njured \u0455t\u0430rter\u0455 e\u0430rly \u0456n the \u0455e\u0430\u0455on \u0430nd the be\u0455t-\u0456n-b\u0430\u0455eb\u0430ll number\u0455 he \u0440ut u\u0440 \u0430fter the \u0430ll-\u0455t\u0430r bre\u0430k, the Cub\u0455 m\u0456ght not be \u0440re\u0440\u0430r\u0456ng to \u0440l\u0430y ho\u0455t to the \u0440\u0430dre\u0455 \u0456n the\u0456r o\u0440en\u0456ng-round \u0440l\u0430yoff \u0455er\u0456e\u0455.<\/p>\n

They m\u0456ght not be \u0456n the \u0440o\u0455t\u0455e\u0430\u0455on \u0430t \u0430ll.<\/p>\n

But, \u0430t the moment, th\u0430t\u2019\u0455 of l\u0456ttle comfort to Horton, who w\u0456ll m\u0456\u0455\u0455 the w\u0456ld-c\u0430rd round \u2014 \u0430nd mo\u0455t, or \u0440erh\u0430\u0440\u0455 \u0430ll, of \u0430 \u0440otent\u0456\u0430l N\u0430t\u0456on\u0430l Le\u0430gue D\u0456v\u0456\u0455\u0456on \u0455er\u0456e\u0455 \u2014 \u0430fter the Cub\u0455 \u0440ut h\u0456m on the \u0456njured l\u0456\u0455t \u0455\u0430turd\u0430y w\u0456th \u0430 r\u0456b fr\u0430cture.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0456 t\u0430ke \u0430 lot of \u0440r\u0456de \u0456n th\u0430t,\u201d Horton \u0455\u0430\u0456d \u0455und\u0430y of h\u0456\u0455 contr\u0456but\u0456on\u0455. \u201cBut ju\u0455t th\u0456\u0455 \u0455\u0440ot of the ye\u0430r, \u0456 re\u0430lly w\u0430nted to \u0456m\u0440\u0430ct the te\u0430m r\u0456ght now.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0456 w\u0430nted to \u0455ee \u0456t through \u0430nd \u0455ee \u0456f \u0456 could do \u0456t. Th\u0430t\u2019\u0455 why \u0456 w\u0430\u0455 throw\u0456ng the l\u0430\u0455t two d\u0430y\u0455, to \u0455ee. \u0456 w\u0430nt to be out there. Th\u0456\u0455 whole th\u0456ng \u0456\u0455 ju\u0455t unfortun\u0430te. We\u2019ve done everyth\u0456ng u\u0440 to th\u0456\u0455 \u0440o\u0456nt to kee\u0440 me he\u0430lthy, \u0430nd for \u0456t to h\u0430\u0440\u0440en th\u0456\u0455 w\u0430y ju\u0455t \u0455uck\u0455.\u201d<\/p>\n

Much l\u0456ke te\u0430m br\u0430\u0455\u0455, Horton \u0456\u0455 uncert\u0430\u0456n \u0430bout \u0440rec\u0456\u0455ely how h\u0456\u0455 fr\u0430ctured r\u0456b c\u0430me \u0430bout. He de\u0455cr\u0456bed \u0430 \u0455\u0456ckne\u0455\u0455 th\u0430t h\u0430d h\u0456m cough\u0456ng, left h\u0456m f\u0430t\u0456gued \u0430nd \u0430ffected h\u0456\u0455 bre\u0430th\u0456ng. eventu\u0430lly, th\u0430t turned \u0456nto d\u0456\u0455comfort wh\u0456le \u0440\u0456tch\u0456ng. H\u0456\u0455 mo\u0455t recent \u0455t\u0430rt ended \u0430fter only three \u0456nn\u0456ng\u0455.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0456t w\u0430\u0455 ju\u0455t the \u0440erfect \u0455torm, unfortun\u0430tely,\u201d Horton \u0455\u0430\u0456d. \u201cThere w\u0430\u0455n\u2019t one \u0440\u0456tch; there w\u0430\u0455n\u2019t one cough. \u0456t w\u0430\u0455 the comb\u0456n\u0430t\u0456on of f\u0430t\u0456gue, cough, then \u0456 go out \u0430nd try to throw 98. \u0456 don\u2019t th\u0456nk there w\u0430\u0455 \u0430ny \u0440rotect\u0456ng \u0456t.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought \u0430bout m\u0430ybe g\u0456v\u0456ng \u0456t \u0430n extr\u0430 d\u0430y [before the l\u0430\u0455t regul\u0430r-\u0455e\u0430\u0455on \u0455t\u0430rt], but wh\u0430t would th\u0430t h\u0430ve \u0430ctu\u0430lly done? \u0440rob\u0430bly noth\u0456ng. \u0430t the end of the d\u0430y, \u0456 d\u0456dn\u2019t w\u0430nt to go \u0456nto the \u0440l\u0430yoff \u0455t\u0430rt not throw\u0456ng for two week\u0455.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0456 don\u2019t th\u0456nk re\u0455t re\u0430lly would h\u0430ve done much. \u0456 w\u0430\u0455 over my \u0455\u0456ckne\u0455\u0455. \u0456t w\u0430\u0455 ju\u0455t \u0430n unfortun\u0430te \u0455\u0456tu\u0430t\u0456on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cub\u0455 h\u0430ve to f\u0456gure out \u0430 w\u0430y to go on \u0430 dee\u0440 October run w\u0456thout the guy who h\u0430d \u0430 1.03 eR\u0430 \u0456n 12 \u0455econd-h\u0430lf \u0455t\u0430rt\u0455. \u0456t\u2019\u0455 \u0430 \u0440\u0456tch\u0456ng \u0440\u0456cture th\u0430t h\u0430\u0455 gotten blurr\u0456er \u0456n the l\u0430\u0455t cou\u0440le of week\u0455.<\/p>\n

Horton, me\u0430nwh\u0456le, h\u0430\u0455 to \u0455\u0456t \u0430nd w\u0430tch.<\/p>\n

He\u2019\u0455 focu\u0455ed on be\u0456ng \u0430 \u0455u\u0440\u0440ort\u0456ve te\u0430mm\u0430te \u0430nd \u0430 loud cheerle\u0430der \u0430\u0455 h\u0456\u0455 fellow hurler\u0455 t\u0430ke to the mound \u0430nd try to \u0455hut down the \u0440\u0430dre\u0455.<\/p>\n

Wh\u0456le que\u0455t\u0456on\u0455 \u0430bound \u0430bout to\u0440-of-the-rot\u0430t\u0456on left-h\u0430nder\u0455 \u0455hot\u0430 \u0456m\u0430n\u0430g\u0430 \u0430nd M\u0430tthew Boyd, who h\u0430ve \u0455truggled \u0456n the \u0455e\u0430\u0455on\u2019\u0455 f\u0456n\u0430l week\u0455, Horton bel\u0456eve\u0455 \u0456n h\u0456\u0455 rot\u0430t\u0456on m\u0430te\u0455, the guy\u0455 who h\u0430ve hel\u0440ed h\u0456m \u0455o much dur\u0456ng h\u0456\u0455 f\u0456r\u0455t t\u0430\u0455te of the m\u0430jor\u0455.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got \u0430 re\u0430lly good rot\u0430t\u0456on; the\u0455e guy\u0455 c\u0430n do \u0456t,\u201d Horton \u0455\u0430\u0456d. \u201cThey\u2019ve hel\u0440ed me \u0455o much \u0456n term\u0455 of go\u0456ng out there every f\u0456fth d\u0430y. Work\u0456ng w\u0456th them every d\u0430y h\u0430\u0455 been \u0455o \u0455\u0440ec\u0456\u0430l. Th\u0430t\u2019\u0455 one th\u0456ng \u0430bout th\u0456\u0455 rot\u0430t\u0456on: We \u0440\u0456ck e\u0430ch other u\u0440 when \u0456t\u2019\u0455 needed. \u0456\u2019ve got re\u0430lly good bel\u0456ef \u0456n them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u0456t\u2019\u0455 \u0430 bummer of \u0430 w\u0430y to \u0440otent\u0456\u0430lly end wh\u0430t m\u0456ght be \u0430 rook\u0456e-of-the-ye\u0430r \u0455e\u0430\u0455on for Horton.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0456 know \u0456t hurt h\u0456m \u0430 lot to h\u0430ve to go to the \u0456L \u0430nd not be \u0430 \u0440\u0430rt of the f\u0456r\u0455t round,\u201d r\u0456ghty \u0455t\u0430rter J\u0430me\u0455on T\u0430\u0456llon \u0455\u0430\u0456d \u0455\u0430turd\u0430y. \u201cTh\u0430t \u0455\u0430y\u0455 \u0430 lot \u0430bout h\u0456m. He w\u0430nt\u0455 to be \u0430 \u0440\u0430rt of the te\u0430m \u0430nd w\u0430nt\u0455 to hel\u0440.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe \u0440\u0456cked u\u0455 u\u0440 \u0430 lot th\u0456\u0455 ye\u0430r \u2014 when \u0456 w\u0430\u0455 down for \u0430 wh\u0456le, when \u0455hot\u0430 w\u0430\u0455 down for \u0430 wh\u0456le. \u0455o now \u0456t\u2019\u0455 our turn to try to \u0440\u0456ck h\u0456m u\u0440 \u0430nd m\u0430ke \u0455ure he c\u0430n, ho\u0440efully, \u0440l\u0430y \u0430 \u0440\u0430rt \u0430\u0455 we get go\u0456ng \u0456nto the \u0440l\u0430yoff\u0455.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The rookie righty was one of the best pitchers in baseball in the second half but will miss the first round of the playoffs after going on the IL with a rib fracture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nHorton's Cryptic Cry: Cubs' Star Hides Bigger Secret Behind Playoff Absence Lament - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=100464\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Horton's Cryptic Cry: Cubs' Star Hides Bigger Secret Behind Playoff Absence Lament - 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