While the starting pitching was one of the Cubs greatest strengths this past season, it seemed like the bullpen was the main weakness. With an overall record of 103-58-1, it’s hard to fathom there were very many rough patches but when there was, it seemed like a bullpen meltdown was usually the cause. Overall, 21 pitchers were used in relief and they combined for a 22-19 record, 38 saves, 3.56 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 519 strikeouts in 470.2 innings. Travis Wood ended up leading the bullpen in … [Read more...]
Seven Cubs Become Free Agents
Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill, Chris Coghlan among seven Cubs to become free agents 139 players have become free agents since the end of The World Series. And the Cubs have seven players that are officially free agents, including David Ross who is retiring from baseball. LHP Aroldis Chapman, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Trevor Cahill, OF/INF Chris Coghlan, INF Munenori Kawasaki, RHP Joe Smith and C David Ross became free agents Thursday, Nov. 3 and are eligible to sign with any team … [Read more...]
Cubs Month in Review – September/October 2016
Cubs Month in Review – September/October 2016 September was a month full of milestones for the Chicago Cubs. On the 15th, the club clinched the National League Central crown after the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the San Francisco Giants. The squad was the earliest to win a divisional crown since the 2008 Angels and finished a staggering 17.5 games ahead in the standings. On the 23rd, the team beat the Cardinals 5-0 and a loss by the Nationals later that evening caused the Cubs to clinch … [Read more...]
Cubs Backups Comeback and Win the Season Finale – Cubs 7, Reds 4
Game One Hundred Sixty-Two – Cubs 7, Reds 4 WP – Justin Grimm (2-1) LP – Raisel Iglesias (3-2, BS 2) Save – Carl Edwards Jr. (2) Down 4-3 with the bases empty and two outs in the ninth, Albert Almora Jr. walked. Munenori Kawasaki followed with a single to center. With two on, Matt Szczur worked a full count. Szczur sliced the 3-2 offering from Raisel Iglesias down the first baseline. Almora Jr. and Kawasaki scored and the Cubs took a 5-4 lead on Szczur’s two-out double. Miguel Montero … [Read more...]
Cubs Turn It On Late, Top the Reds – Cubs 7, Reds 3
Game One Hundred Sixty – Cubs 7, Reds 3 WP – Jake Buchanan (1-0) LP – Josh Smith (3-3) Save – None Ben Zobrist hit two home runs, a solo shot in the fifth for the Cubs first hit and a two-run blast in the eighth. Anthony Rizzo singled in a pair of runs as the entire NL All-Star infield drove in at least one run Friday. Addison Russell doubled in Zobrist in the seventh. Kris Bryant plated a run in the sixth. And the Cubs topped the Reds on Friday night. Jake Buchanan kept the Reds off … [Read more...]
Cubs Grind Early, Pull Away and Sweep the Reds – Cubs 9, Reds 2
Game One Hundred Fifty-Two – Cubs 9, Reds 2 WP – John Lackey (10-8) LP – Robert Stephenson (2-2) Save – None What started out as a grind on Wednesday night ended as a comfortable win for the Cubs behind John Lackey. The Cubs pounded out 15 hits and scored in six of their eight at-bats. Four of the Cubs nine runs scored on two-out hits from Miguel Montero and Javier Baez. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant homered and the Cubs completed the three-game sweep over the Reds at the old … [Read more...]
One Tough Inning, No Support for Kyle Hendricks – Brewers 3, Cubs 1
Game One Hundred Forty-Nine – Cubs 1, Brewers 3 WP – Wily Peralta (7-10) LP – Kyle Hendricks (15-8) Save – Tyler Thornburg (11) Kyle Hendricks had one tough inning in what was another good outing. Hendricks allowed two runs on four hits in the second inning that gave the Brewers an early lead. And the two runs proved to be insurmountable for his teammates. The Cubs continued to struggle with runners on base, especially in scoring position. The Cubs could not cash in several scoring chances … [Read more...]
Brewers Crash Cubs Party – Brewers 5, Cubs 4
Game One Hundred Forty-Six – Cubs 4, Brewers 5 WP – Jimmy Nelson (8-14) LP – Justin Grimm (1-1) Save – Tyler Thornburg (10) Jorge Soler gave the Cubs an early lead with a two-run homer in the second. The Brewers scored three in the fourth inning to take a one-run lead. Mike Montgomery drove in Jason Heyward with his first big league hit in the fourth and tied the game at three. But Justin Grimm surrendered a two-run pinch hit double to Scooter Gennett and the Cubs were not able to mount a … [Read more...]
Cubs Leave Too Many on Base Again – Cardinals 4, Cubs 2
Game One Hundred Forty-Four – Cubs 2, Cardinals 4 WP – Alex Reyes (2-1) LP – Jason Hammel (14-9) Save – Kevin Siegrist (2) Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run. And the Cubs took a 2-0 lead on a second inning double by Addison Russell. The Cubs knocked Jaime Garcia out of the game in the second inning and made rookie Alex Reyes work. The Cubs walked eight times, only one of the free passes scored as the struggles with runners in scoring position continued. Jason Hammel allowed … [Read more...]
Rizzo Robbed, Cubs Villar-ed – Brewers 2, Cubs 1
Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine – Cubs 1, Brewers 2 WP – Corey Knebel (1-2) LP – Joe Smith (2-5) Save – Tyler Thornburg (9) Anthony Rizzo tried to put the Cubs on his back Wednesday night in the finale at Miller Park. Rizzo homered off Matt Garza and tied the game at one in the sixth. And Rizzo appeared to hit the game-tying homer in the ninth. Keon Broxton made a leaping catch at the wall in center field and robbed Rizzo of his second multi-homer game in as many days. And the Cubs lost by … [Read more...]