As they prepared to meet the Spartans in a naval battle outside the city of Naupactus during the second year of the Peloponnesian War, the Athenian soldiers trembled at the overwhelming numbers and strength of their opponent. Sensing this fear, their general, Phormio, spoke to them, declaring that their inferiority in numbers was compensated for […]
Tag: Cubs
Second City October: NLDS Game Five, Cubs (2-2) at Nationals (2-2)
It always seemed destined to end up like this. Before the series, every preview you saw or went through in your own head made it awfully hard to split these two teams. Similar offenses, rotations that though they go about it differently are just about as solid, and deep pens. The games themselves haven’t varied […]
Second City October: NLDS Game Two, Cubs (1-0) at Nationals (0-1)
The Cubs and Kyle Hendricks stole Game One from a dominant Stephen Strasburg, which makes winning Game Two a bit less desperate. Strictly speaking, the Cubs already got their one required win in Washington, and this is not a must-win game. That’s a boring way of thinking, though, and today the Cubs are in position […]
NLDS Game 1 Recap: Cubs 3, Nationals 0
If I could turn back time, there are three things I would do immediately… 1. Take back those words that hurt you and you’d stay 2. Unless you’re Baby Hitler, in which case you’re toast 3. Travel back to the second inning of tonight’s game and bet every cent I own that the Cubs will […]
Chris Bosio’s Eddie Butler Blueprint
Ever since the Chicago Cubs traded for Jake Arrieta and turned him into the bearded wonder that throws no-hitters and wins the Cy Young award, fans have been looking for the next project pitcher to blossom under pitching coach Chris Bosio. One of the latest is former Colorado Rockie Eddie Butler. After he was designated […]
How The Cubs Kickstarted Advanced Statistics
The year was 1938, 25 years before the popularization of “nerd”, the place was Wrigley Field, three stories and six hours away from his mom’s basement, and the man was Coleman Griffith, father of sports psychology. Long before there was BAM or WAR1 or DRA, there was Coleman Griffith, a camera, 154 daily reports, and […]
CACTUS CATCHUP: CUBS REV THEIR ENGINES BEFORE FIRST SPRING GAME
As the sun beats down in Mesa, Arizona, the baby bears are about to embark on their journey to repeat as World Champions when spring games officially kick off tomorrow. Yes, real, live action baseball, is almost back. Oh, what a lovely day. Waiting for the first “play ball!” has seemed to take forever, but […]
Check Your Expectations for Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber is a mythical player for the Chicago Cubs, and frankly, he has been for quite a while now. It all started when he went 4-for-7 with two home runs and four RBI against Cincinnati in an unbelievable back-and-forth win on July 11, 2015. The lead in the Tribune the following day said it […]
Don’t get too attached to Ian Happ
During the rebuilding years, an essential part of being a fan of the Chicago Cubs was falling in love with the current batch of prospects and following their progress through the minors with almost as much (or more) fervor as the big league team. While there isn’t quite the embarrassment of riches down on the […]
Is a Cubs “D-Peat” Imperative?
“If we catch the ball and pitch the ball like we did last spring and this year, we shall ‘D-Peat.” — Joe Maddon While talking about his team’s historically great defense in 2016 at the Cubs Convention earlier this month, we were blessed with the latest Maddon-ism: “D-Peat”. It is clever not only because of its double […]