What You Need to Know: David Freese recommenced his career-long effort to irritate Cub fans, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. This included the game-tying single in the Pirates’ sixth after the Cubs had just taken a 2-1 lead in the previous inning. Francisco Cervelli followed with a two run double and the […]
Author: Ken Schultz
Theo, Fortune Magazine, and Good Fortune
Like many of you, my offseason is not complete until I pick up my number one source for sophisticated baseball analysis and accurate season predictions: Fortune Magazine. So it was with no small amount of enthusiasm that I received this year’s Fortune Baseball Preview and saw Theo Epstein’s face gracing the cover. I quickly sped […]
Ben Zobrist’s Aging Curve
This past month, the Cubs have discovered that one of the nice things about returning most of the core from a 103 win World Series champion is that there isn’t a lot of Spring Training drama. With most of the roster decisions already decided by mid-February, it’s up to the beat writers to create their […]
Joe Maddon’s Trust in His Young Core
Like many of you, I read Bernie Miklasz’s recent takedown of Mike Matheny from a few weeks ago principally for the schadenfreude. (A German word meaning “a new emotion as of November 2, 2016.”) As I did so, I noticed that one criticism in particular sounded awfully familiar: “Matheny, as always, remains dutiful and deferential […]
Finding a Comparison for Game Seven
When we as fans look back on Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, most of us agree with Theo Epstein’s assessment: “I died like six times. It’s got to be a top-three game of all time. And that was the way it had to happen.” Which is the kind of thing you can say […]
Ryne Sandberg and the Summer of ’89
To almost every Cub fan, Ryne Sandberg is most indelibly associated with the 1984 season–and for good reason. He won the MVP in a year where the Cubs advanced to the postseason for the first time since 1945. Statistically, it was his magnum opus as he accumulated a career-high 7.6 WARP. And there was that […]
“Three Finger” Brown Deserves a Spot in Cubs History
Under the ownership of the Ricketts family, the Cubs have done a fairly good job of acknowledging and celebrating their history. Legends like Billy Williams and Andre Dawson are routinely feted at Wrigley Field while greats like Lee Smith and Randy Hundley often return to be applauded by the fanbase. One thing underlying most of […]
Player Profile: Matt Szczur
Position: Utility Outfielder. Which, in the Joe Maddon era, means he actually plays fewer positions than the average Cub. 2016 Stats: .259/.312/.400, .265 TAv, 0.8 WARP Year in Review: A career high 200 plate appearances. A new personal best in home runs. A World Series championship. But the greatest part of Matt Szczur’s 2016 undoubtedly […]
Player Profile: Kyle Schwarber
Position: Greatest DH in Cubs history 2016 Stats: .000/.200/.000, -0.1 WARP Year in Review: A number four overall draft pick with a -39 OPS+?! #FireTheo Kyle Schwarber might have just played the most unique season in baseball history. As you no doubt recall, his regular season ended on April 7 when he left Chase Field […]
Understanding Maddon’s Use of Lester in Game 7
With the Winter Meetings underway, it appears to finally be time to turn the page on the greatest night of our baseball lives and focus instead on the coming season ahe— You know what? Screw that. The thing about the greatest night of our baseball lives is that there’s no such thing as spending too […]