In 2010 Marlon Byrd had more plate appearances (630) than any other year in his career. He rewarded the Cubs with a .343 wOBA (107 wRC+), nearly 10 runs worth of UZR and was slightly better than average on the bases. His first season with the Cubs was a very good one. He was worth 4.4 fWAR, which was 1.2 …
Another shitty Cubs season in review: Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano hit 10 home runs and slugged .613 in April. Over the remaining five months he hit 16 home runs and slugged .435. Although he had a very good April, his OBP was only .278. It was only .292 the rest of the season and finished just below .290. Soriano has always been a guy who can carry a …
Bill James Expected RBI and Apologizing For Shit You Shouldn't Have to Apologize For
I bought Solid Fool’s Gold by Bill James this morning and I always like writing about some of the things he discusses. Not everything he writes has a lot of practical value, but I find much of it entertaining and this was one of them. James found a way to estimate a player’s RBI. It’s surprisingly simple. Total Bases (TB) …
Another shitty Cubs season in review: Randy Wells
The 2011 Cubs posted the 109th worst winning percentage in its history. What’s really depressing about that is since I’ve been a fan the following Cubs teams have been as bad or worse: 1986, 1983, 1994, 1997, 2002, 1999, 2006, 2000, 1980, and 1981. Of the Cubs 137 year history, 11 teams have had a .438 winning percentage or lower. …
Series Preview: Oklahoma City Redhawks of Houston (51-98) at Iowa Cubs of Chicago (65-85)
Can’t yoiu just feel the excitement in this matchup? There’s a good chance that the Cubs will be the team to push the Astros over the 100-loss threshold this weekend, just in time for their banishment to the time zone abyss of the AL West. Maybe the Cubs can even pass the Pirates, which completely validates the season, saves Cuey’s …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (64-82) at Cincinnati Reds (71-75)
The Cubs played the Reds just last week, and five of the six starters from that series are pitching this series. I’m just going to make a few minor tweaks to the last preview (laughing). Team overview As always, these are team stats with NL ranks in parentheses. Reds Cubs wOBA .322 (4th) .315 (8th) UBR 14.2 (1st) -11.4 (16th) …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (62-81) at New York Mets (70-73)
Have the Cubs even played the Mets this year? I can’t remember (laughing). Apparently the Cubs took two out three from them behind strong performances from Demp and Z. Team Overview Cubs Mets wOBA .315 (8th) .322 (5th) UBR -11.4 (16th) 1.0 (8th) UZR -9.1 (10th) -44.5 (16th) SP FIP 4.23 (12th) 4.12 (10th) RP FIP 3.87 (9th) 3.91 (12th) …
Cubs sign 9 of top 10 draft picks, 18 of top 20
Post to be updated as the bonus numbers trickle in. Notable signings announced tonight: First round pick SS Javier Baez signed for $2.625 mm Second round pick 1B Dan Vogelbach signed for $1.6 mm Eleventh round pick OF Shawon Dunston Jr. signed for $1.275 mm Fourteenth round pick (and first round talent) RHP Dillon Maples signed for $2.5 mm, spread …
Aramis Ramirez caused the US debt downgrade (also, mini Cubs-Braves preview)
Cubs Legend Todd Hollandsworth shot his mouth off on the radio today (recap at HBT). Then you bring into question effort and that’s one thing in the game of baseball that really is inexcusable. One hundred percent effort all the time, there’s really no reason for you not to have 100 percent effort. He’s got impressionable kids around him right …
Series Preview: Washington Nationals (55-59) at The Untouchables (49-66)
Now that the winning streak is over, time to get started on a new losing streak. Not only did the Cubs gain no meaningful ground on the Brewers, who were also playing quite well in that stretch, but the Cubs are still 6 games back of the Pirates despite their losing ten games in a row. This should be familiar …