Addison Russell has really come on lately, which has to leave Cubs fans with an extra fuzzy feeling. The 22-year-old shortstop is most prominently known for his excellent defense in the field, so the fact that he has 18 home runs and an above league average OPS at .767 is all just bonus points. With […]
Author: Ryan Davis
Game 117 Recap: Cubs 4 Milwaukee 0
Call it the Cahill and Montgomery game. Top Play (WPA): The Cubs were already leading the Brewers 1-0 when starter Matt Garza walked Dexter Fowler leading off the third inning. After a Kris Bryant pop out for the first out, a single by Anthony Rizzo put two on with just one out. Ben Zobrist hit […]
Johnson, Developing as a Reliever, Awaits Wrigley Call
Pierce Johnson, it seems like for as long as we can remember, has been the Cubs’ pitching prospect. At a time when hitters dominated the ranks of Chicago’s minor league system, and not to mention all the headlines, Johnson was alone on the pitching side. The hitters have graduated, but Johnson’s trajectory toward the big leagues […]
Game 113 Recap: Cubs 4 Cardinals 3
If there were a time capsule that required an item to explain “Cubs versus Cardinals” for future generations, this one might be placed in there alongside some game where David Eckstein did something scrappy and annoying. Top Play (WPA): In general, this game was incredibly painful to watch, but in a good way. Is that possible? […]
Brimming With Confidence, Almora Jr. Awaits Wrigley Return
When the Cubs bring Albert Almora Jr. back to the major leagues, he’ll be ready to help out in whatever way he can. The 22-year-old Almora was first called up to the big leagues earlier this season when Jorge Soler had to go on the disabled list, making his debut just a week into June. […]
Series Preview: Cubs vs. Marlins, August 1-3
I want to take you back to a simpler time, a time before iPhones, Twitter, and Google Docs. It’s 2003, and the Cubs are facing the Miami Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field in late July. Both teams are right around .500 and they weren’t exactly big rivals at the time, which makes the matchup pretty […]
In Strop and Rondon, Cubs Have One Of Their Best Ever Duos
Other than maybe the Kansas City Royals of the last few years, every fan thinks that the bullpen of their favorite team is bad and could use improvements at the trade deadline. So with all the fanfare regarding the Cubs trading for Aroldis Chapman, their brand-new, shiny closer, you’d think they’ve had problems at the […]
Game 95 Recap: Cubs 5 Brewers 2
Let’s talk about Dex, baby. Top play (WPA): Dexter Fowler stepped in for his second at-bat of the game with the bases loaded and nobody out. He took four consecutive pitches, three of them for balls, before striking on pitch number five—lining a double the opposite way into the left-field corner (+0.110). The Cubs would […]
Do The Cubs Have A Solution to ‘Second Half Hammel’ Problem?
When Jason Hammel went out to the mound for his first start of the second half of the season last Saturday, a lot of fans watched with anxiety over what the results might look like. The long-held and frequently cited theory is that, as soon as the schedule officially moves across the midpoint, Hammel turns […]
In Struggling ‘Pen, Carl Edwards, Jr. Seizing Opportunity With Both Hands
After Carl Edwards Jr.’s 2014 was shortened by inflammation in his pitching shoulder, the Cubs made a decision to move him to the bullpen–at least for the short-term. The theory, as general manager Jed Hoyer explained to the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales, was that moving to the ‘pen would help the former number 81 prospect […]