Where we stand now: 2020 post trade deadline

In Commentary And Analysis by berselius108 Comments

Baseball has somehow managed to roll along far enough to get past the midway point of the season, against at least *some* odds. It’s been nice listening to a Cubs game or two on the radio but this bizarre and awful dumpster fire of a year has really put a damper on anything it touches, at least for me.

Anyway, on that happy note, here’s where the Cubs stand now

Record: 21-14, first place in NL Central
Games up: 3.0 on Cardinals (14-13)
Playoff odds: 98.1% (74.1% to win division, 23.8% for one of the other options)

Top performers:

  • Ian Happ: .304/.420/.643, 10 HR .440 wOBA, 1.9 WAR
  • Yu Darvish: 43 IP, 7 GS, 52 SO, 8 BB, 1.47 ERA, 2.03 FIP, 1.8 WAR
  • Jason Heyward: .299/.411/.563, 5 HR, .409 wOBA, 1.2 WAR
  • Anthony Rizzo: .225/.365/.450, 8 HR, .351 wOBA, 1.0 WAR

Strugg-a-ling:

  • Kris Bryant: .191/.276/.324, 2 HR, .268 wOBA, 0.1 WAR
  • Javier Baez: .200/.243/.369, 5 HR, .261 wOBA, 0.1 WAR
  • Craig Kimbrel: 8 IP, 10 G, 15 SO, 12 BB, 10.13 ERA, 7.90 FIP, -0.3 WAR
  • Kyle Ryan: 11.1 IP, 13 G, 10 SO, 4 BB, 5.56 ERA, 7.03 FIP, -0.2 WAR

Happ and Darvish have certainly been the standouts so far this year. I also think David Ross has vastly exceeded my expectations (which are low for any manager). His on-field stuff has been fine, but as has been noted around here it seems like he’s been doing a great job with all the off-field stuff. The bizarre circumstances around this season would be tough for any manager, especially a rookie one, but it seems like he’s riding out the storm and keeping things in perspective with the team on the pandemic.

Trade deadline acquisitions and roster moves

The Cubs main focus was left-handed pitching at the trade deadline, either relievers or guys who can hit said relievers:

  • The Cubs traded 2 PBTNLs or cash to the Rays for former Cardinal Jose Martinez, who always seemed to crush the Cubs but never seemed to find playing time in the glut of big bats/lousy gloves that the Cards had. He’ll fit well as a DH or late game PH
  • The Cubs also picked up Cameron Maybin, who can play a credible CF and hit lefties. They sent Zack Short to the Tigers in the trade.
  • He’s picking up time from Albert Almora, who was supposed to be the lefty-facing CF but just couldn’t improve his bat. He was sent back to the minor league camp as part of these trades.
  • The Cubs also picked up lefty relievers Andrew Chafin and Josh Osich from the Dbacks and Red Sox, respectively, both for PBTNLs. Chafin has been pretty solid for the Dbacks for the last few seasons, but is currently on the IL with a finger problem and it’s not clear when he will be available. Osich is pretty much a replacement level guy, but that would be an improvement on what Kyle Ryan has looked like this year.

Looking forward

There’s 4 more weeks to go, and luckily the Cubs only have one more doubleheader on the schedule. They have two off-days in the middle of the month but are currently in a stretch of 13 straight days of baseball. Enjoy it while you can. Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.

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Comments

  1. Rizzo the Rat

    All I can think of is Ross set the lineup when lefty Holland was the scheduled starter and did not want to spring a lineup change on the players.

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  2. andcounting

    Rizzo the Rat,

    Maybe between extra innings last night and an early game tomorrow, he’s playing a bench-heavy lineup tonight to give tomorrow’s guys a full rest between games?

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  3. andcounting

    dmick89,

    This year anyone on the 40-man roster by September 15 is eligible for the postseason. They’re keeping the 28- man roster through the playoffs along with a five-man taxi squad.

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  4. Nate the old recalcitrant one from a long time ago

    I am enjoying the season so far. I hope the Cubs keep most of these guys after this year

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  5. Author
    berselius

    The real story of the 2020 Cubs season is that they felt confident enough to approve a billion ads for an Official Trashbag of the Chicago Cubs.

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  6. andcounting

    berselius,

    I would’ve considered Happ playing well enough to earn consistent playing time a pleasant surprise. I was not prepared for this scenario in which he’s the entire Cub offense.

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  7. Author
    berselius

    andcounting:
    berselius,

    I would’ve considered Happ playing well enough to earn consistent playing time a pleasant surprise. I was not prepared for this scenario in which he’s the entire Cub offense.

    Not to mention the fact that Jason Heyward has been just behind him production wise.

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  8. Rizzo the Rat

    Look, I know hitting at this level is hard, but watching Souza take an 0-2 sinker in the strike zone with the bases loaded and no outs against a pitcher with a low strikeout rate makes me want to scream.

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  9. Rizzo the Rat

    Heyward was experiencing shortness of breath and feeling light-headed in Sunday's game, so Cubs sent him to the hospital to get tests and make sure everything's alright.

    — Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 7, 2020

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  10. andcounting

    In a fast-paced pitchers’ duel, I can’t listen to the radio guys. That Xfinity spot every two minutes is unbearable.

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  11. Author
    berselius

    andcounting:
    In a fast-paced pitchers’ duel, I can’t listen to the radio guys. That Xfinity spot every two minutes is unbearable.

    It’s only a fraction of the ads they air. Can you believe that? A fraction!

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  12. EnricoPallazzo

    berselius,

    it’s great how they claim to be “glass half-full” people, or whatever their exact verbiage is. no no no no you are very clearly two neurotic pricks who fly into a furor and think that the world is out to get you at the slightest sign of inconvenience. go fuck yourselves. xfinity can/should burn in hell.

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  13. Author
    berselius

    EnricoPallazzo: xfinity can/should burn in hell.

    It’s funny how they can make such a shitshow out of bashing AT&T, which is one of the shittiest companies out there (dying laughing). They tried to shoot fish in a barrel, but ended up shooting their own dicks off.

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  14. andcounting

    I haven’t given much thought to how perfect it is that the Cubs won the World Series on a throw from Bryant to Rizzo, but damn if that wasn’t the absolute best way for it to go.

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  15. andcounting

    I’m only just now paying attention to this, but the Cubs play 8 of their final 12 games against AL teams, all of whom somehow have better records than the Cubs. The path to not making the postseason is still well-lit and free of obstruction.

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  16. andcounting

    To-day’s base ball squadron includes Ildemaro Vargas. It also includes Jason Heyward, who I didn’t think we’d see in the lineup until tomorrow.

    Carry on.

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  17. WaLi

    The Brewers beat the Tigers 19-0 yesterday. It wasn’t even the largest scoring difference of the day either.

    Braves beat Marlins 29-9.

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  18. andcounting

    With 17 days remaining in the season, the Brewers will play 19 games, and the Cardinals will play 21. Granted, that’s including several 7-inning games, but that’s an awful lot of work on the pitching staff.

    The Cubs have just 15 games in that stretch, but mostly against much better opponents. I still have no confidence in a good (Or any) postseason spot, but maybe that will change this weekend.

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  19. dmick89

    andcounting: I still have no confidence in a good (Or any) postseason spot, but maybe that will change this weekend.

    the smart bet is always against the Cubs. I figure the Cubs have a 0% chance of making the playoffs. That’s probably all they should have. Ian Happ is their best hitter. A team with Ian Happ as their best hitter is not a good team. Especially when Heyward is the 2nd best hitter. That team sucks.

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  20. Rizzo the Rat

    OK, the pitcher the Cubs are facing today, Brent Suter, really confuses me. He throws a fastball 80% of the time. His fastball averages 86 mph. He also has 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. How?

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  21. Perkins

    If there’s one annoying constant of every Cubs team from 2017 on, it’s the absolute failure to stomp on a rival team’s neck when they have the chance.

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  22. andcounting

    I’m pretty sure everything that happened from the point Javy got up to face Hader last night in the 9th until now has been some alternate reality. Nothing makes sense. I’m ok with it.

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