Former players Chris Denorfia and Matt Murton join Cubs’ Baseball Operations Department … Vijay Tekchandani promoted to Director of Team Travel and Clubhouse Operations The Cubs have named Chris Denorfia as Special Assistant to the President and General Manager and Matt Murton as Baseball Operations Assistant. In addition, Vijay Tekchandani has been promoted to Director of Team Travel & Clubhouse Operations. In their new roles with the organization, both Denorfia and Murton will … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Baseball America Picks Cubs to Win It All, Updates on Szczur, Murton and Other News
The countdown to the Cubs’ Spring Training games is over. The Cubs kickoff their Cactus League schedule this afternoon (2:05pm CST) in Maryvale against the Brewers. According to Baseball America, Theo Epstein will get what he hoped for back in January. Baseball America posted its predictions for the National League on Wednesday. And not only does the well-respected publication have the Cubs winning the NL Pennant, Baseball America has the Cubs beating the Red Sox in the Fall … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Too Many Free Agents and Cubs News, Notes and Rumors
Countdown to Pitchers and Catchers: 9 Days With the off-season winding down there is still a large amount of Major League veterans available. Dexter Fowler, Ian Desmond and Yovani Gallardo, the three remaining qualifying offer free agents, headline a list that also includes former Cubs’ outfielders Austin Jackson, Chris Denorfia and David DeJesus. Players still available at this late date include 1B/DH Pedro Alvarez, LHP Franklin Morales, OF David Murphy, OF Alex Rios, OF Marlon Byrd, OF … [Read more...]
Recapping the Cubs Options for Center Field
As the calendar year came to an end, rumors continued to point to the Cubs talking to several teams as the front office explored ways to acquire pitching, both for the rotation and bullpen. The Cubs have added depth to the roster this winter but many within the game do not think Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are done making changes to the team. Whether the Cubs are able to acquire a starting pitcher or arms for the bullpen or before Spring Training begins is obviously dependent on a lot of … [Read more...]
Cubs 2015 Position Review – Center Field
In 2014, center field was arguably the Cubs worst offensive position. After seven total players failed to establish themselves, the front office traded for Dexter Fowler and received an immediate uptick in numbers. Center field managed an overall .252/.345/.411 line with 18 home runs, 53 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Let’s take a look back at the position and where the team may go as they look to remake the position again in this offseason. Dexter Fowler was an immediate revelation and the table … [Read more...]
Cubs 2015 Position Review – Left Field
Like many positions on the diamond for the Chicago Cubs, left field is in a holding pattern of who might be the main starter come Spring Training. Nine total players patrolled there batting .247/.338/.419 with 22 home runs, 67 RBI and 13 stolen bases and became a large platoon of the right player for that day's matchup. Let's take a look back at left field and what we can expect moving forward. A platoon of Chris Coghlan and Chris Denorfia is where the front office decided to go for left … [Read more...]
Too Many Mistakes, Cubs Give the Mets Game 3 of the NLCS – Mets 5, Cubs 2
National League Championship Series Game 3 – Cubs 2, Mets 5 WP – Jacob deGrom (1-0) LP – Trevor Cahill (0-1) Save – Jeurys Familia (3) The Cubs defensive issues caught up with them Tuesday night and it cost them Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. The Cubs gave the Mets too many outs in the sixth and seventh innings that led to three runs and ended up being the difference in the game. The Cubs were only charged with one error but it was the mistakes that do not show up in … [Read more...]
Cubs Can’t Dig Out of Early Hole, Lose Game 2 of NLCS – Mets 4, Cubs 1
National League Championship Series Game 2 – Cubs 1, Mets 4 WP – Noah Syndergaard (1-0) LP – Jake Arrieta (0-1) Save – Jeurys Familia (2) Jake Arrieta gave up three runs in the first inning and was lifted after five innings with the Cubs down 4-0. Kris Bryant doubled in Dexter Fowler in the sixth for the only run. And Arrieta lost for the first time since July 25 as the Cubs dropped game two of the NLCS on Sunday night. For the second straight game, the Cubs could not dig out of an … [Read more...]
Cubs Power Downs the Cardinals, Cubs Advance to the NLCS – Cubs 6, Cardinals 4
National League Division Series Game 4 – Cubs 6, Cardinals 4 WP – Trevor Cahill (1-0, BS 1) LP – Kevin Siegrist (0-1) Save – Hector Rondon (2) Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber launched home runs to right field and Jason Hammel put the Cubs on the board with a two-out single in the second inning. The backend of the bullpen held the lead and the Cubs advanced to the National League Championship Series with an incredible win at the old ballyard Tuesday. The Cubs won the … [Read more...]
Cubs Take Lead in Series Behind Historic Home Run Parade – Cubs 8, Cardinals 6
National League Division Series Game 3 – Cubs 8, Cardinals 6 WP – Jake Arrieta (1-0) LP – Michael Wacha (0-1) Save – None The Cubs outslugged the Cardinals on Monday night and took a 2-1 lead in the best of five National League Division Series. The Cubs set Major League records and became the first team in post-season history to hit six homers in a single-game and have six different players hit home runs. The Cubs scored all eight runs on the six longballs and beat the Cardinals on Monday … [Read more...]