Until a bit of a lull the last few games, the Cubs haven’t had a problem scoring runs this season. They’ve scored them every way you can imagine—patient at-bats, getting on base, hitting home runs, stealing the occasional bag, and so on. The Cubs work starting pitchers so hard, with only a handful of pitchers […]
Author: Ryan Davis
Patience Rewarded as Cubs’ Russell Continues to Grow
While all the focus recently has been the Cubs’ torrid stretch of winning—and then, the sky falling because they lost two games (and, I suppose, another yesterday)—there have some issues that have been glossed over by fans and media. It’s true that Jason Heyward has struggled to start the season, but he’s been given a […]
Let’s Not Forget Rizzo: A Cubs Star, Already Excellent, Gets Better
I can remember back to a lazy afternoon in the offseason prior to the 2014 season. I was, for some reason, listening to Chicago sports talk radio. A pundit who shall not be named was ragging on ‘The Plan’, which was something that was not uncommon back in those days. With the Cubs coming off […]
In Surging La Stella, Maddon Has a Muse
They say the happiest people get the best out of everything. In my experience in life, I think this is pretty true. Positivity breeds positivity, and that pretty well describes Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The guy is a walking positive slogan, and I mean that in the best way possible—good vibes surround the man. Of […]
Game 19 Recap: Cubs 9 Reds 0
The Cubs went into this game trying to take their record on the road trip to a fantastic 5-2, rather than finishing a somewhat disappointing 4-3. As Jim Deshaies said on the broadcast, “It would’ve been a bummer to lose this game.” Isn’t that telling? Only this Cubs team could make a 4-3 record on […]
Jake Arrieta: An Inhuman Monster’s Greatest Games
At some point, at an unknown time between October of 2013 and May of 2014, Jake Arrieta made the transition. I don’t mean simply transitioning from a starting pitcher just trying to stay in a major league rotation to one of the best pitchers in the game, but transitioning. We have all the evidence we […]
As Lackey Returns to St. Louis, a Look Back
It’s been weird, following the John Lackey story for the last few years. He was the villain of baseball, and just when you thought he couldn’t be any worse he totally redeemed himself—pitching well for the Red Sox to help them clinch their third World Series this millennium. He found his way to St. Louis and […]
Game 5 Recap: Cubs 4 Diamondbacks 2
Top Play (WPA): You would think that because Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke had such a rough Opening Day, allowing seven earned runs in four innings, there would be reason to worry that he’d come out dealing against the Cubs. But that wasn’t the case, and they jumped all over him in the first inning. Jason […]
Finding A Path Forward for Jorge Soler
I have a confession to make. I’ve always been in love with Jorge Soler as a hitter. With a walk rate over 10 percent and strikeout rate right around 17 percent in the minor leagues, and with his hulking physique and a smile that could light up the entire state of Ohio for a week, how could […]
Know Your (2016) Enemy: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have been the model of consistency for as long as can be remembered by most fans. They went through a lull in the 1990s, making just one playoff appearance on the back of an 88-win season in 1996 and posting a winning percentage of just .488 for the decade. But Walt Jocketty took […]