Jeff Samardzija's dominant outing Sunday was definitely unexpected. Samardzija ended his first start of the season with an impressive line (one earned run on four hits without a walk and eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings). Really if everything bounces the right way, any pitcher can end an outing with giving up only four hits but it was the eight strikeouts without a walk that helped make Samardzija's outing even more impressive. … [Read more...]
Converting Jeff Samardzija to the Rotation
From all indications, Jeff Samardzija is a near lock to begin the season in the Cubs' starting rotation. Dale Sveum clearly thinks highly of him, and other candidates haven't proven themselves this spring quite to the extent that Samardzija has. With only two weeks remaining in the Cactus League, Samardzija has dominated. He has struck out 8.10 batters per nine innings, but far more impressively, he has yet to walk a batter. The past few seasons, Samardzija has struggled with his command, … [Read more...]
FIP’ping Off the Cubs’ Starters
When was the last time that the Cubs haven't had a below average season in the field? You guessed it, it was 2008. It has been three long seasons since the Cubs were simply average in the field. That year, a spry 32-year old Alfonso Soriano led the team in UZR (which takes in several factors to attach a run value to defense), when he threw out ten runners from the outfield. UZR is not without its inefficiencies, but the statistic gives a good idea of how the player performed in relation to the … [Read more...]
The Cubs will Bank on BABIP for Roster Improvement
"Know what the difference between hitting .250 and .300 is? It's 25 hits - 25 hits in 500 at-bats is 50 points." The quote is from the timeless baseball move "Bull Durham," and is indicative of what the Cubs are hoping for: players' true talent levels to raise their statistics (with a little luck) to a competitive rate. Batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is the biggest indicator of how a player's actual talent is suppressed or elevated. … [Read more...]
Cardenas Gives the Cubs Flexibility
The Cubs claimed utility-man Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland A's Monday. To make room on the 40-man roster for Cardenas, Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment. Cardenas takes DeWitt's role as the backup infielder, and made the one-time Dodger expendable. Not only does DeWitt really play only two positions--second and third base--and neither one that well. DeWitt cannot really hit enough to be a regular in the big leagues. He has been just below league average at the plate, and … [Read more...]
Who Could Be the Odd Man Out of the Cubs Rotation?
Along with the loud exit of starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs have quietly amassed a stable of valuable pitchers. No, the Cubs haven't gone out and gotten the most talented and most capable of starting pitchers. However, relative to the contracts that the team is paying their starting pitchers, their value exceeds their marketability. … [Read more...]
Cubs Offense Figures to Shift Dramatically
With the recent off-season departures of Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena, the Cubs have a markedly different lineup than that of recent seasons. Not only do the Cubs stand little means of replacing their production with players such as Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart, they lack really any power production outside of ... wait for it ... Alfonso Soriano. … [Read more...]
The New-Look Cubs Look to Rely on Defense More Than Ever
During this off-season, the Cubs have seen a complete overhaul of the team's starting rotation. Carlos Zambrano's days in a Cub uniform are over, and it seems as if Matt Garza's days are waning as well. The new front-office has made several notable, although low-key additions to the rotation. … [Read more...]