Comments on: Is a Cubs “D-Peat” Imperative? http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/27/is-a-cubs-d-peat-imperative/ Just another Baseball Prospectus Local Sites site Sat, 16 Feb 2019 21:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: The CHI Sports Fan (@TheCHISportsFan) http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/27/is-a-cubs-d-peat-imperative/#comment-16393 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 23:07:56 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17209#comment-16393 I really question that Boston Globe stat. First – the training, preventive care and sports science from 5 years ago, much less 30 years ago is remarkably different. Grouping pitcher performance seems ridiculous.

Similarly, they TYPES of pitchers are different. Gunslingers like Chapman who rely (almost solely) on athleticism put totally different stresses on the body than a Hendricks or Maddux. I would bet that even starting pitchers fall into different subsets of their REAL “peak” performance age.

In the past 5 years – only Kershaw was actually under the age of 26. I wish I had the time to go and find the mean age of Cy Young winners in the past 5, 10, years and each of the decades previously. A 42 year old Clemens might beg to differ that he peaked at 26.

AGE when winning the CY
Scherzer – 32, 29
Porcello – 28
Arrieta – 29
Keuchel – 28
Kershaw – 23, 25, 26
Kluber – 28
Dikey – 38
Price – 27
Verlander – 28

]]> By: Larry Scott http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/27/is-a-cubs-d-peat-imperative/#comment-16387 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 16:06:58 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17209#comment-16387 It’s a really interesting question, for sure. In 2015, the defense wasn’t statistically elite, so I think luck and just the durability of the rotation is a bigger factor. But I’m sure it helps ease the stress knowing you can get away with more thanks to a stellar defense behind you.

]]> By: Bill Thomson http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/27/is-a-cubs-d-peat-imperative/#comment-16372 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:44:06 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17209#comment-16372 I also wonder if the Cubs’ sterling defense is having a positive effect on pitchers’ physical health. Assuming that making “high stress” pitches is correlated with injury (on which I have no relevant data), a great defense will limit the overall stress level. Also, a great defense will also lower pitch counts, thus removing the high pitch counts associated with pitching injuries.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Cub pitching staff has been remarkably injury-free over the past two years.

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