OSS: Cubs drop to 22 games over .500, all is lost. Three up: Heyward was the only Cubs hitter to post a positive WPA on the day, a whopping 0.09. A big chunk was due to a base-clogging single in the third that eventually led to the Cubs only run, the rest was from a leadoff single in the sixth …
Cubs 2, Marlins 4 (6.23.16)
OSS: Injuries starting to take their toll Three up: David Ross continues to spit in the face of father time, tying the game with a solo homer in the eighth and drawing a walk to load the bases in the ninth in the Cubs failed rally. He also TOOTBLAN’d Christian Yelich in the fourth inning and probably would have another …
Cubs 3, Cardinals 4 (6.21.16)
OSS: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Three up: Addison Russell had a three hit day, pacing the Cubs by far with a .316 WPA. All three hits were rally starters/continue-rs but he never found his way home, which is pretty much the story of this game. Gerardo Concepcion was solid in his MLB debut, striking out two and allowing no baserunners in 1.1 innings. …
Cubs 2, Cardinals 3 (6.20.16)
OSS: Cubs comeback squelched by a backbreaking TOOTBLAN Three up: Willson Contreras looked great in his first start as a Chicago Cub. He notched his second career RBI with a single in the third and nailed Matt Carpenter by a mile in a stolen base attempt in the top of the ninth. His receiving technique was reportedly a little shaky, …
Cubs 10, Pirates 5 (6.19.16)
OSS: Another day, another top prospect having a great debut. Three up: Willson Contreras homered on the first pitch of his MLB career. It was one of many by the Cubs, including a solo shot by Baez in the second, a two run insurance blast by Russell in the eighth, and back to back-ers by Bryzzo. Kyle Hendricks cruised through …
Cubs 4, Pirates 3 (6.18.16)
OSS: Javy Baez keeps the game close and the Cubs bomb their way to victory. Three up: Javy Baez’s statline looked pretty pedestrian, but he had a huge game. This “it’s magic”-esque slide led to the Cubs second run, and two fantastic defensive plays kept the game close. Bryant, Rizzo, and Grandpa all hit solo shots in this game. Bryant’s …
Nationals 4, Cubs 1
OSS: Max Scherzer tries to strike everybody out. Three up: Addison Russell tied this game at 1 despite Max Scherzer's outstanding start. It was easily the Cubs top WPA play of the game and the second best on the day. It was a great at-bat for Russell against Scherzer before he hit the home run to break up the perfect game, …
Cubs 13, Braves 2
OSS: Jon Lester was too dominating and the Cubs singled the Braves to death. Three up: Jon Lester threw 7 dominating innings in this win. He allowed 5 hits, walked nobody and struckout 7. Lester has allowed 1 run or less in 9 of his 13 starts this year. In another, he allowed 2, but one of the runs was …
Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.10.16)
Round Rock Express 8 @ Iowa Cubs 5 The number one through eight hitters each had a hit last night. Munenori Kawasaki was 1-5 with an RBI. Willson Contreras was back from his foot injury after a few days and was 1-4 with a couple strikeouts and a run scored. Dan Vogelbach was 1-3 with a walk and a strikeout. …
The Cubs historic start part 2
A month ago I looked at the Cubs historic start to the 2016 season by using Baseball Prospectus's 3rd order winning percentage.The Cubs didn't have any comparables at the time and today I set out to find the top team in 3rd order winning percentage each season going back 50 years. I looked for the top team as of games …