After leaving New York in the worst-case scenario, the Cubs will turn to their offense and the shaky back-end of their rotation to dig them out of the 0-2 series hole with the Mets. Kyle Hendricks has been announced as the Game Three starter night in what will certainly be a pivotal game, determining whether […]
Tag: Jason Hammel
Jason Hammel and Why Sometimes There Isn’t a Definitive Answer
In baseball, there are a lot of things that go beyond the numbers. Mechanics. Injury history. State of mind. And a general good old-fashioned feel for the game. While the numbers paint a large portion of the picture, they aren’t the only thing contributing to it. There are exceptions to the sabermetric rule, and I would […]
Fight Club: Don’t Mess with These Cubs
As we saw in the Wild Card game on Wednesday, things can get heated in the playoffs. An inside pitch here, an angry glare there, and soon you’ve got punches. Fisticuffs. Headlocks. Shiners. And so on. We don’t endorse baseball fights, and of course we don’t want anyone to get hurt, so this is all in good fun. […]
Hammel’s Second Half Blues, Part Deux
Jason Hammel failed to throw six innings again Wednesday, a modest feat he’s only accomplished twice since the beginning of July. After failing to retire Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips in the sixth, Joe Maddon sauntered to the mound to once again pull Hammel early. The Cubs’ recent skid, in which they’ve lost three consecutive […]
The Road They’ve Traveled: George Plimpton, DRA Run Values, and the Cubs Rotation
One of my favorite baseball books is George Plimpton’s 1961 classic, Out of My League. Plimpton, the founding executive editor of the Paris Review—and an enormous baseball fan—took it upon himself to pitch batting practice to the 1958 National League All-Stars a few hours before they took on the Junior Circuit at Yankee Stadium that year. Plimpton […]
DRA, cFIP, and the Cubs Rotation Going Forward
Would it surprise you to learn that Chicago Cubs starters have been among the best in baseball in 2015? If so, it shouldn’t. Their 3.38 staff ERA ranks fifth in the game. Their 3.22 FIP is second, as is their strikeout rate. They have walked fewer batters, as a percentage of the total they have […]
That’s So Cub: A Look at the Top June Contributors and Moments
Today is July 1st, which means that my favorite holiday of the year—the Fourth of July—is just around the corner, that I will be moving back to Chicago from London tomorrow, and that I, as I have since the beginning of time since the beginning of the season, will sit down and write about the top Cubs’ […]
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 […]
Can He Pitch, Though?
Photo courtesy of Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports Heading into the season, the Cubs pitching depth was a potential point of weakness for a team that was looking to compete in 2015. They did sign Jon Lester, but as the season has gone on it’s become clear that the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation […]
That’s So Cub: A Look at the Top April Contributors and Moments
Photo courtesy of David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports Today is May 1st. That means, for one thing, that Mother’s Day is a mere ten days away. Purchase your thoughtful presents now. It means, for another, that—by virtue of their off day yesterday—the Chicago Cubs have completed their April schedule. Although mothers are undoubtedly important, it is that […]