Position: Starting pitcher 2016 Stats: 190 IP, 22.8 K%, 5.9 BB%, 2.13 ERA, 3.34 DRA, 4.4 WARP To say that Kyle Hendricks’ 2016 season piqued the interest of baseball in the same way that Jake Arrieta’s 2015 season did feels irrational at first blush. But it truly isn’t. Just two years ago, Hendricks looked to be every bit […]
Category: Articles
“Three Finger” Brown Deserves a Spot in Cubs History
Under the ownership of the Ricketts family, the Cubs have done a fairly good job of acknowledging and celebrating their history. Legends like Billy Williams and Andre Dawson are routinely feted at Wrigley Field while greats like Lee Smith and Randy Hundley often return to be applauded by the fanbase. One thing underlying most of […]
Now Comes the Weird Upon Us: The July 31 Walk-Off
“Always I had in mind some giant, armed in giant force, would come against me here. But this, but you—small, pitiful and twiggy—you put me down…” – Polyphemus (The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 427-430) Seattle Mariners reliever Cody Martin had to have wondered at the situation he found himself in late into the night of […]
Player Profile: Tommy La Stella
Position: Second Base, Third Base 2016 Stats: 74 GP, 169 PA, .270/.357/.405, .287 TAV, 0.4 WARP Year in Review: The 2016 season was a roller coaster for Tommy La Stella, but it wasn’t what transpired on the field that created the most compelling storylines. In early August, the return of Chris Coghlan from the disabled list […]
Player Profile: Justin Grimm
Position: Relief Pitcher 2016 Stats: 52.2 IP, 28.9 K%, 10.2 BB%, 4.10 ERA, 3.52 DRA, 0.9 WARP Year in Review: Much like the man whom I profiled last week, Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm was pushed out of the Cubs’ latter season and postseason bullpen plans due to the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman and the resultant […]
Tyson Ross: Potential Offseason Target
The Cubs want for very little when it comes to their expected 25-man roster going into 2017. Many things can change, of course, but they are well built enough to be the World Series favorite again next year—not just contend. It’s easy to make that projection before Christmas of 2016. However, there’s a developing point […]
Player Profile: Rob Zastryzny
Position: LHP 2016 Stats: 16.0 IP, 1,12 ERA, 3.75 DRA, 89 cFIP, .270 oppTAv, 25.8 K% and 7.6 BB% Year in Review: After playing on seven different minor-league and fall-league clubs and starting the 2016 season in Double-A Tennessee, Zastryzny made his major-league debut late this season. He was the first pitcher drafted by the Theo Epstein-era […]
Player Profile: Addison Russell
Position: Shortstop 2016 Stats: .238/.321/.417, .275 TAv, 21 HR, 3.8 FRAA, 3.9 WARP Year in Review: If you’d like to, you can find things that are wrong with Addison Russell. He hit only .238 this year, and .242 the year before. His release is quick, his throws are accurate, but his arm isn’t particularly strong. He strikes out […]
Player Profile: Matt Szczur
Position: Utility Outfielder. Which, in the Joe Maddon era, means he actually plays fewer positions than the average Cub. 2016 Stats: .259/.312/.400, .265 TAv, 0.8 WARP Year in Review: A career high 200 plate appearances. A new personal best in home runs. A World Series championship. But the greatest part of Matt Szczur’s 2016 undoubtedly […]
The Cubs Outfield Is Going To Be Fine
In a perfect world, every Cubs player who contributed to the historic 2016 World Series Champion team would take the field on Opening Day, World Series ring in hand and a smile upon their face. Sometimes, that isn’t how baseball works though. The heartwarming tale of Dexter Fowler’s return to the North Side last February marked the […]