By now most Cubs fans are well aware that, after his start last Friday, Kyle Hendricks said his mechanics were all out of whack. That much was pretty clear to see for anyone who was watching the game, and the results just backed up what our eyes were telling us: Hendricks gave up five runs, eight […]
Author: Sahadev Sharma
Jake’s Workout Plan
Every once in a while, when Joe Maddon does his pregame session with the media, we’re joined by a guest: Jake Arrieta. And while chatting with Maddon is certainly an enlightening experience, Arrieta isn’t there to soak in more of his manager’s knowledge. No, Arrieta is working out on the Pilates machine—yes, the Cubs certainly […]
Kris Bryant’s Latest Challenge: Adjusting to the Low Strike
There are plenty of buzzwords in baseball. We’ve all heard them, and in all likelihood, we all use some of them. One that I hear more than almost any other when talking to players and coaches in the clubhouse is ‘adjustments.’ Whether it’s a guy like Andrew McCutchen weathering an early season slump, Jason Kipnis […]
No-Hitter Is of No Matter, It’s the No Offense That’s Concerning
Everyone okay? Did you get a chance to breathe, punch a wall, or drown your sorrows in a fine beverage? Good deal, it was probably time for some of that anyway; we all need to blow off a little steam every now and then. But here’s the thing: the fact that the Cubs got no […]
A Quartet of Carnage
If you follow the Cubs at all—and I’m assuming you must, if you’re coming to this site—then you’re well aware what their issues have been of late: the offense. During this recent stretch of run-scoring ineptitude, there have been multiple culprits, but it’s a trio of vets and a young rookie who have stood out. […]
The Cubs Have Holes to Fill… and the Right People to Decide How to Fill Them
The Cubs are entering a very crucial part of the season. They’ve wrapped up one of the tougher stretches of play that they’ll likely face all season, and despite entering Tuesday on a five-game losing skid, things aren’t as bad as they appear. Yes, the losing stretch exposed some of their holes, but that may […]
The New Motte
It’s not the first time you’ve heard it and it certainly won’t be the last, but pitching isn’t all about velocity. However, the fact is, if a pitcher could once pump high-90s gas and then finds himself struggling to touch the mid-90s, it can take a toll on his confidence. That may have been the […]
It’s Just Six Games of Schwarber… For Now
When it was announced Monday night that Kyle Schwarber would be coming up to the big leagues, it was made abundantly clear by Theo Epstein that he’d only be around for six games—one off the bench Tuesday night at Wrigley, and the next five as a designated hitter while the Cubs played in American League […]
Hammel Throwing Eggs
This piece originally appeared on Baseball Prospectus If you’re a follower of the Cubs, you’re aware that this season has been a bit of an up-and-down experience. After a six-game winning streak in mid-May, which took them to a season-high six games over .500, the Cubs have gone 7–9, with the offense being the biggest […]
Castro Cleaning Up Was a Mess
Photo courtesy of Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports On Monday afternoon when the Cubs lineup was posted on twitter, many noticed a rather large change: Starlin Castro was no longer in the clean-up spot. I’m not sharing any new information with you by saying that Castro has looked rough at the plate of late, you’ve seen […]