While we wait for the World Series to start (and end) so the Cubs can finally do something to get back to the postseason, I realized a couple things that stemmed from the previous entry. The one thing is an extension of that blog, where it’s way more fun when the Cubs win, and that could generate far more goodwill …
Cubs 7, Brewers 4 (4.9.17)
OSS: The bats are waking up. Three up The box score had Heyward at 2-5 on the day, but it could just easily have been 5-5. He was hitting the cover off the ball today, which is certianly a great sign for a guy who struggled so much last season. He knocked in three of the Cubs runs. Kris Bryant …
White Sox 1, Cubs 3
OSS: The Cubs find a way to beat the White Sox ace and even out the four game series. Three up: John Lackey was really good tonight in his 6 innings. He gave up an RBI double to Melky Cabrera in the 1st and that was it. He gave up 4 hits and that 1 run while walking a batter and striking …
Cubs 5, Brewers 2 (7.22.16)
Baseball predictions are silly up to a point, but I’m going to predict the Cubs are about to go on a run that’s similar to what they did in the first half. The Cardinals have pulled within 6.5 games, which is still a mile away in baseball terms, but I do miss the double digit lead they enjoyed for awhile. The …
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, …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (43-18) @ Washington Nationals (39-24)
The Nationals and Rangers are tied for the second best record in baseball at 39-24, which is well behind the Cubs at 43-18. Scherzer and Gonzalez would like some revenge against the Cubs and they're playing some good baseball right now. So are the Cubs. This should be a fun series. Team Leaders Cubs (100 PA) OBP: Ben Zobrist (.431) …
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 …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (41-17) @ Atlanta Braves (17-42)
The league's best team vs the worst. The Cubs run differential is +149, which is more twice as much as the next best (Red Sox, +70). The Braves are -97, which is only one run worse than the Reds. This series is about as lopsides as it gets on paper. The Braves snapped a 6-game losing streak with a 4-2 …
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 …
Cubs beat Phillies 6-4, but could lose Jorge Soler
Soler Injury: Jorge Soler singled to the left field wall in his 2nd at-bat and as he was getting ready to round 1st base, he began limping and returned the bag. He grabbed his left hamstring and left immediately when Joe and the trainer came out to see him. Soler has had hamstring issues so they weren't going to take any …