USATSI_10386482_168382903_lowres

Yu Darvish: 2500 Leagues (and Innings) Under The Sea

After a brief spasm of activity where the Cubs filled out a spot in the rotation with Tyler Chatwood and a couple spots in the bullpen, we’re all sitting around watching the water boil again. Or not boil, however that phrase goes. I guess not boil, which is even more boring than watching it boil. […]

USATSI_10356430_168382903_lowres

2017 Player Profile: John Lackey

Position: Starting Pitcher 2017 Stats: 170 2/3 IP, 4.59 ERA/5.31 FIP/5.20 DRA, 7.9 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 110 cFIP, 0.7 WARP Year in Review: Following four years as a reliable, durable, slightly above-average starter, 2017 was a big disappointment for John Lackey. He still pitched the full season, arguably impressive in itself at the age of […]

USATSI_10350661_168382903_lowres

NLCS Game Two Recap: Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

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 […]

USATSI_10057604_168382903_lowres

Where Should Cubs’ Starting Pitching Concerns Be Focused?

The Chicago Cubs are not in a good place right now. They’re under .500, and there isn’t an area of the game in which anyone can declare that they’re actually excelling at this point. Despite some solid individual offensive and defensive performance, they haven’t put things together as a group in either respect. Same goes […]

USATSI_9882212_168382903_lowres

Projecting John Lackey at 38 and Beyond

John Lackey enters 2017 at 38, after 14 years and almost 2700 innings in the major leagues. The sample of starters who have been pitching at that age, let alone having success, is relatively small. Lackey’s made it there; what then should—or could—we expect from him? The projections naturally give us a starting point. PECOTA […]