What you need to know: The Cubs seemed in control from start to finish, and it still felt . . . a little weird . . . considering how poorly the Cubs performed in the first half relative to expectations. Kyle Schwarber led the attack with two dingers and a triple that missed being a […]
Author: Dan Hodgman
Game 66 Recap: Cubs 9, Pirates 5
What you need to know: This game started weird, and stayed kinda weird, and ended weird. The Cubs pulled it out 9-5, thanks to a 6-run Cubs rally in the 9th, when they scored four runs in a span of 12 pitches tossed by two relievers who succeeded in recording zero outs while surrendering two […]
Game 56 Recap: Cubs 3, Marlins 1
What you need to know: Fans know the script the Cubs have followed this season all too well: fall behind early, watch their starter struggle, put lots of runners on base, wait for the two-out hit that never comes, fall short in the end, tell themselves not to worry. The Cubs managed to flip at […]
Game 35 Recap: Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
What you need to know: Eddie Butler made his debut for the Cubs today, and it was a good one. All Butler did was surrender two hits, strike out five, and walk three over six shutout innings, a welcome change from the Cubs’ incumbent starters of late. And yet, Butler’s performance was overshadowed a bit […]
Is Eddie Butler MLB-starter material?
Since we learned that Eddie Butler would get a spot start in tonight’s game in St. Louis, we’ve heard a lot about Butler being a full-time member of the Cubs’ starting rotation. A former top-100 prospect sporting a 94 mph fastball along with a changeup of social media fame, a curve, and a slider, he fits the mold. The […]
Game 25 Recap: Phillies 10(,000,000), Cubs 2
What you need to know: After an 80-minute rainout, the Cubs opted to start the game in the midst of a 15-minute torrential downpour. The first pitch couldn’t wait another 15 minutes, I guess. Perhaps the team wanted to ensure that their starters continue giving up first inning runs. And Brett Anderson played along, if damply and […]
Game 17 Recap: Cubs 12, Reds 8
What you need to know: With seven runs in the first two innings and 12 runs overall, the Cubs continued to beat the Reds pitching staff like a rented donkey. Jake Arrieta had a rough start but not in the way you would expect: he did not walk a single batter for the first time […]
Taking stock after (almost) 10% of the 2017 Season
The Cubs have played 15 games to date, a little less than 10% of their 162 game regular-season schedule, and a lot of fans are feeling . . . I don’t know . . . bewildered! What is going on? Notwithstanding their back-to-back, come-from-behind wins these past two evenings, something seems off. Why haven’t the World […]
Game 13 Recap: Brewers 6, Cubs 3
What you need to know: Paging Commissioner Manfred! The Cubs have a new idea for quickening the pace of play: Skip the 8th inning. Mike Montgomery fell victim to the hot-hot-hot Eric Thames-Ryan Braun duo (“Thraun”?) surrendering two runs in the 8th inning today. Thraun was more than the Cubs could handle, with 2 home runs, 2 […]
Do Defensive Shifts Work? If So, Are Bunts the Silver Bullet?
On opening night, Carlos Martinez had his way with the Cubs to the tune of 10 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. In the eighth inning, however, the Cubs stirred to life. They loaded the bases, knocked out Martinez, and had Bryzzo coming up with less than two outs. Both failed to deliver, and that was […]