The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions. I could end things right there and there would be no more left to say. The words themselves defy belief and yet there they are, the proof in living color on our televisions and live-wire shivers down our spines. The images—a ball, grounded to the third base side; […]
Author: Rian Watt
Playoff Prospectus: Of Errors, Common and Uncommon
This piece, written by BP Wrigleyville’s Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Errors are not the best way to measure a fielder’s quality. You know that. I know you know that. But still, here’s a fact for you: Kris Bryant committed just 14 errors all season, […]
Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and World Series Game 4 Preview
This piece, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Scooter Hotz, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Despite all the pregame talk of 30-40 mph wind blowing out at Wrigley for Game 3, runs were in short supply Friday night on the north side of Chicago. The only run of the […]
Playoff Prospectus: Assessing the Managers’ Moves in Game 3
This recap, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Sometimes, a universe turns on a single moment, and sometimes that moment doesn’t matter. Two such moments of interest from last night’s game, which the Indians ended up winning 1-0. With one out in […]
Playoff Prospectus: The Bold and the Beautiful
The piece previewed here, written by BP Wrigleyvilles Editor-in-Chief Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the playoffs, “Playoff Prospectus.” Additional Game Two coverage, exclusive to BP Wrigleyville, can be found here, under the name “Second City October”. The last time two starting pitchers with ERAs this low faced off in […]
Second City October: Miggy Makes ‘Em Pay
This piece, written by BP Wrigleyville’s Editor-in-Chief Rian Watt, forms part of our in-house coverage of the Cubs in the playoffs, “Second City October.” Additional Game One coverage can be found here. The 2016 Chicago Cubs posted a Park-Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (PADE) score of 6.38, which is both tremendously good, when considered in absolute terms—it means the team converted balls […]
Playoff Prospectus: Lester Was a Baez Better
The piece previewed here, written by BP Wrigleyville’s Editor-in-Chief Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the playoffs, “Playoff Prospectus”. Additional Game One coverage, exclusive to BP Wrigleyville, can be found here, under the name “Second City October”. David Ross doesn’t play all that often these days, what with Miguel Montero and Willson […]
Playoff Prospectus: NLDS Preview, Giants vs. Cubs ($)
The piece previewed here, written by BP Wrigleyville’s Editor-in-Chief Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the playoffs, “Playoff Prospectus”. Additional series coverage, exclusive to BP Wrigleyville, can be found here, under the name “Second City October”. The thing about the playoffs is that the best teams don’t always win. That’s what […]
Transaction Analysis: Cubs Extend Theo and the Gang
This piece originally ran, in full, on the BP main site. We hope you enjoy this preview of it here. Chicago Cubs Signed president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer, and senior vice president of player development and scouting Jason McLeod to five-year contracts. [9/28] Wednesday night the Cubs announced that they […]
Life at the Margins: Kris Bryant’s Changing Changes
This piece originally ran on the main site. We hope you enjoy a preview here. Kris Bryant never made much secret of the fact that he liked to hit the ball in the air. “I liked hitting home runs when I was little,” he told the Chicago Tribune last year. “To do that, you have […]