Series Preview (and game thread): Giants (6-3) at Cubs (3-5)

In Game Threads, Series Previews by berselius83 Comments

The Cubs will get a whiff of success this weekend, and it will probably be coming from the other dugout. (Blatantly plagarized from Brett's preview blurb at Bleacher Nation, because it's too funny. Take that, Paul Sullivan. Or something.) The Cubs are on a roll, not having lost for two straight days. The Giants, meanwhile, have crushed all before them and are coming …

Series Preview: Brewers (1-5) at Cubs (2-4)

In Series Previews by berselius60 Comments

The Cubs open their first homestand against a team that is in even worse shape than they are. The Brewers are already missing first basemen Corey Hart and Mat Gamel due to injuries suffered before the season, and in the past week 3B Aramis Ramirez, LF Ryan Braun, and SS Jean Segura have all been banged up. None of the injuries …

Matt Garza pushing for early May return

In Commentary And Analysis by dmick891 Comment

ATLANTA — Matt Garza rejoined the Cubs on Friday, one day after his first bullpen session since mid-February, and said he was already penciling himself into the rotation for May. "I'm pushing for early May and pushing hard, too," Garza said. The right-hander is on the disabled list with a strained left lat, which he first felt during a live …

Daily Facepalm 4.6.13

In Facepalm by berselius12 Comments

Cubs lose The Cubs dropped the first game of their series against the Braves. Scott Feldman gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings, and is lucky he didn't give up more than that. He allowed 4 hits, walked four, hit a batter, had two wild pitches, and topped it off with a fielding error. Behind him, Alberto Gonzalez attemped to tag out …

Series Preview: Cubs (2-1) at Braves (2-1)

In Series Previews by berselius37 Comments

The Cubs somehow managed to scratch together enough runs to take a series from the Pirates. Now they head to relatively warm Atlanta for another three game set. Atlanta beat up on their aging divisional rivals, the Phillies in their opening series.  Team Overviews Here's how the teams looked in 2012. NL Ranks in parentheses.   Cubs Braves wRC+ 80 (16th) …

That revamped Cubs rotation

In Commentary And Analysis by dmick8996 Comments

Much has been written here in the last few days about the Cubs rotation injuries and what it means for the overall strength of the rotation. Most, or actually all of that has been negative. Sure, losing Garza can't be spun as a positive so I'm not going to do that. As the resident optimist, I am here to assure …

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Cubs players who are out of options

In Commentary And Analysis, News And Rumors by dmick897 Comments

There are 6 Cubs players who are out of options meaning they cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. They would have to be placed on waivers instead. Those players are: Michael Bowden, Welington Castillo, Rafael Dolis, Jeff Samardzija, Luis Valbuena and Travis Wood. There are no concerns that Jeff Samardzija would need to be optioned to the minors, but …

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Scott Feldman will be the 4th starter

In News And Rumors by dmick8925 Comments

Dale Sveum said yesterday that Scott Feldman will be the 4th starter for the Cubs. He also confirmed what we already knew in that Scott Baker won't be ready to start the season. Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Scott Baker, coming back from Tommy John surgery last year, most likely will not be ready by Opening Day, and that Scott …

2013 PECOTA Projections

In Commentary And Analysis, Projections by dmick8972 Comments

The 2013 PECOTA projections are out and I thought I'd post some of the Cubs below. Since you have to be a subscriber in order to download the spreadsheet, I'm only going to include PA and wOBA, which I calculated using the basic formula. For pitchers I'll only show IP and FIP (I calculated this too). 2013 PECOTA Projections for …