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 Minor League Recap
Memphis Redbirds 5 @ Iowa Cubs 6 Willson Contreras was not in the lineup after injuring his foot, but it does not sound serious. He's expected back in the lineup soon and was said to be day to day. Even with his absence and Albert Almora's promotion to MLB, the Iowa Cubs still won. They're now 29-27. Arismendy Alcantar was 1-3 …
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 …
Cubs Minor League Recap (6.4.16)
Iowa Cubs 7, Oklahoma City Dodgers 5 The rainout on Wednesday didn't slow Willson Contreras down. He went 1-4 with a walk and hit his 9th home run of the season. He drove in 3 runs and scored 2. Dan Vogelbach and Albert Almora didn't miss a beat either. Vogelbach was 2-4 with a double and Almora was 2-3 with a …
Dodgers @ Cubs Game Thread (6.2.16)
Time: 1:20 PM CT TV: CSN Series Preview Gameday LINEUPS Dodgers Chase Utley, 2B Corey Seager, SS Justin Turner, 3B Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Joc Pederson, CF Trayce Thompson, RF Carl Crawford, LF A.J. Ellis, C Julio Urias, P Cubs Dexter Fowler, CF Jason Heyward, RF Kris Bryant, 3B Anthony Rizzo, 1B Jorge Soler, LF Addison Russell, SS Javier Baez, 2B Miguel Montero, …
Series Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles (27-24) at Chicago Cubs (34-14)
These were the top two teams going into the season by projections, but since then their paths have diverged. We all know about how great the Cubs have been both at the plate and on the mound, but I at least didn't really haev a clue what has been happening with the Dodgers aside from remembering injury problems in the …
Cubs 4, Phillies 1 (5.28.16)
OSS: Kyle Hendricks threw a Maddux in my heart Three up Kyle Hendricks had his best start of the season, going the distance with seven strikeouts, no walks and six baserunners. He probably should have got the Maddux, but some miscommunication between Heyward and Zobrist in the ninth turned a lazy pop fly into a leadoff double for the Phils. …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (27-9) vs Milwaukee Brewers (16-22)
The Brewers find themselves neck and neck with the Reds for the worst record in the NL central division. Their offense has been middle of the pack in the NL so far, and in fact they are second only to the Cubs in walk rate (11.0% to the Cubs 12.6%). But the pitching, particularly the starting pitching, has been putrid. …
Are the Cubs the favorites to sign David Price?
Common sense would indicate the Cubs would have significant interest in David Price this offseason. He's one of the best pitchers in baseball and he's a free agent. He won't cost the Cubs a draft pick since he was traded at midseason. He had a long working relationship with Cubs manager Joe Maddon. And the Cubs could really use another …