Aroldis Chapman’s time as a member of the New York Yankees will likely not be what’s remembered about his 2016 season. His chief highlight from his tenure in the Bronx was the 105.1 mph fastball he chucked in July, just a few weeks before coming to the Friendly Confines. But for as remarkable as that is, […]
Tag: Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman, morality in sports, and the final out of the World Series
In its immediate aftermath, Rajai Davis’ eighth-inning game-tying home run in Game 7 of the World Series felt like the biggest gut-punch in Cubs history. For me and many other Cubs fans, the fact that Aroldis Chapman was the one who surrendered that home run made an unbearable moment even more painful. I had been […]
Second City November: No-Save November
Few managerial moves unite fans from the disparate allegiances of the baseball internet, but you’d face a tall task finding someone who was pleased with how Joe Maddon handled the latter innings of the Cubs’ blowout Game Six victory on Tuesday night. Jake Arrieta had pitched well for 5 ⅔ innings and 102 pitches, and […]
Just a Reliever? Maybe Not.
The Cubs remade their bullpen in the two weeks before the non-waiver trade deadline. The Cubs added three major league-caliber relievers, who now make up a third of their nine man bullpen. The acquisitions of Joe Smith and Mike Montgomery brought little fanfare despite adding depth to the bullpen. Aroldis Chapman and the price paid to […]
Not Your Average Fans: The Curse of Caring
In the preseason optimism of early spring, I wrote an homage to Cubs fans and their legendary loyalty. I explored how psychologists define and explain such unwavering affiliation and how Cubs’ PR efforts have been carefully crafting this relationship for decades. It was lighthearted and positive (what else on the cusp of a new year […]
Cubs, Perhaps, Give In To Chapman Temptation
Ordinarily, I’d guess that Tom Ricketts makes it a policy, across all of his businesses, to avoid actively alienating large swaths of his customer bases. Without having done the research, though, I can’t say that with 100 percent certainty. For all I know, the internet could be crawling with records of interactions like: RICKETTS: Are you […]
Game 100 Recap: Cubs 8 White Sox 1
The Cubs are in a weird place right now. On one hand, they’re looking much improved after the break and taking series wins against the Rangers, Mets, and Brewers has calmed much of the angst that had so defined the month of July for Cubs fans. But on the other hand, there’s a swirl of […]
Grace in the Mess: Hector Rondon
It shouldn’t be lost in the moral quagmire of the Aroldis Chapman trade that now-ousted closer Hector Rondon has shown admirable grace in light of his changed role in the Cubs bullpen. The questions raised about what bringing Chapman to Chicago means beyond just on the field performance have been addressed across the internet, by […]
Transaction Analysis: What Should We Make of Aroldis Chapman?
The following transaction analysis, written in part by BP Wrigleyville’s Editor-in-Chief Rian Watt, first appeared, in whole, over at the main site. We trust you’ll enjoy reading a portion of it here. “How can one evaluate such an idiosyncratic president, so brilliant and so morally lacking?” — Historian James MacGregor Burns, on Richard Nixon Aroldis […]
Landing a Lefty: Why The Cubs Should Settle for Good, Not Great
With the trade deadline just one month away, it’s time for teams to begin assessing where they’re at, where they’re going, and what their immediate needs are. For the Cubs, there are no dire concerns heading towards the All-Star Break, but there is a small issue beneath the surface that should be quickly addressed before […]