Tuesday night’s game was one of the biggest wins of the Cubs’ season to date, and the scoreboard didn’t even show it. The Arrieta Section: Unsure where this should fall in the narrative of the game itself, I decided it was worth simply breaking it out into its own space. Jake Arrieta, the ace who carried […]
Category: Articles
Started From the Bottom, Not Yet Here: The Cubs’ Low-Level Pitching
The Cubs’ system isn’t exactly loaded with top-end pitching talent, especially at the upper levels, but don’t ever let anyone tell you that the Cubs don’t have any potential starting pitchers in the minors. Since Theo Epstein and company took over before the 2012 draft, the Cubs have made it clear that their plan is […]
More Dollars Than Sense In Atlanta Makeup Game
For most of the first half, the Cubs gave us a season relatively free of neurosis and paranoia. Then the last two weeks of the first half happened. And all of a sudden, it was like the soundtrack to Wrigley Field’s pregame hype video changed from Imagine Dragons’ “Warriors” to the theme from Curb Your Enthusiasm. […]
Game 92 Recap: Cubs 5 Mets 1
It’s easy to get lost in the hyperbole of a rough stretch of games, especially ones against so-called “playoff preview” opponents, so the recent four-game sweep at the hands of the Mets during said stretch has left a stinger in the palm of many Cubs fans, though maybe not the players themselves. All of this […]
Bryant’s Sophomore Statement: Warm is the New Hot
“We have Kris Bryant, and you don’t.” Typically, it’s a trademark majestic bomb that motivates the popular fan jibe, but on June 27, 2016, it was three of them, plus two doubles thrown in for good measure. On that night, at least, Kris Bryant’s awesome offensive firepower was the story du jour. But closer observation revealed a more striking trend. Through a purposeful effort […]
Young Cubs: Finding MLB Value One Way or Another
We’re now in the middle of July, which means that you won’t open up your browser much over the next few weeks without seeing trade speculation. Much of this will be wild—hopefully at least some will be measured—but there is no doubt that some trades will be made this month, and there is little doubt that much […]
Series Preview: Mets at Cubs, July 18-20
If things go according to plan, this series could be the last time a diminished Cubs team takes the field. Dexter Fowler could be back by the end of this week. From the sound of it, Jorge Soler might not be far behind him. That convalescence comes as the clock starts ticking a bit more […]
Game 91 Recap: Rangers 4 Cubs 1
A bad sequence John Lackey didn’t stop soon enough, and a dominant performance by Cole Hamels prevented the Cubs from sweeping the Rangers, but the wins Friday and Saturday ensured the team would begin the second half on the right foot. Top Play (WPA): For two uneasy innings, it looked like Hamels might shut the Cubs […]
Game 90 Recap: Cubs 3 Rangers 1
Top Play (WPA): Let’s take a moment to swoon over Yu Darvish’s slider: a dirty, pretty thing that eludes batters with its sudden downward drop-off. In just his fourth start of 2016 and his first following a DL stint for shoulder discomfort, Darvish wielded his standout pitch brilliantly, striking out seven Cubs by the time […]
Game 89 Recap: Cubs 6 Rangers 0
We witnessed a near-perfect 2016 Cubs performance on Friday afternoon, beginning the ceremonial second-half with a bang against the AL-best Rangers. Good pitching, patient and timely hitting, savvy managing, and superb defense: this game was a good one on all fronts. Top Play (WPA): Although the fireworks would come later, it was the Cubs’ half of […]