In our last installment, we analyzed a starting pitching staff that despite a lack of depth was one of the best in all of baseball. While their accomplishments were impressive, what may be even better was a bullpen that finished eighth in overall ERA at 3.38 with 20 pitchers and two position players making at least one appearance. Let’s take a look back at the Cubs patchwork bullpen. Much like last year, the bullpen was again headlined by three pitchers, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Justin … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Bryant’s Blast, Castro Hitting Clean-Up and Other Cubs News
Tuesday night’s game will not soon be forgotten. Addison Russell delivered the game winner, a two-out double in the ninth that gave the Cubs their fifth walk-off win of the season, tops in baseball. And with Tuesday’s 3-2 victory, the Cubs improved to 13-10 in 23 one-run games this season. Even with Russell coming through with the winning hit, the buzz after the game was about the blast Kris Bryant hit off the left field video board in the eighth inning that tied the game at … [Read more...]
Cubs Designate LHP Phil Coke for Assignment
Updated 7:56pm CDT – According to the transaction page on Cubs.com, LHP Phil Coke was designated for assignment on Monday. RHP Brian Schlitter was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. RHP Dallas Beeler was optioned to Iowa and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada was activated from the 15-day DL. The Cubs' 40-man roster officially stands at 38 players. According to reports from Jesse Rogers and Carrie Muskat, one of the roster moves the Cubs will announce on Tuesday is that LHP Phil Coke has been designated for … [Read more...]
Cubs Move Travis Wood to the Bullpen
The Cubs announced a decision to add an arm to the bullpen Saturday without saying a word. LHP Travis Wood started warming in the bullpen during the eighth inning and he was obviously doing more than just throwing his side session in between starts. Joe Maddon gave the ball to Wood for the ninth inning. And he retired the Pirates in order on 10 pitches, six for strikes, to end the game and earn the first save of his professional career. Wood ran his fastball up to 92 mph and mixed in a couple … [Read more...]
Jon Lester Leads the Way, Cubs Win Sixth in a Row – Cubs 4, Pirates 1
Game Thirty-Six – Cubs 4, Pirates 1 WP – Jon Lester (4-2) LP – Gerrit Cole (5-2) Save – Travis Wood (1) Jon Lester limited the Pirates to one run over seven innings and and outdueled Gerrit Cole. Joe Maddon pieced together a bullpen that had Travis Wood pitching the ninth inning. Starlin Castro drove in the first two runs. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo manufactured two runs in the seventh as the Cubs scratched out a win over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Jon Lester gave Joe … [Read more...]
Bryant Blasts Off in Blowout Loss to Brewers – Brewers 12, Cubs 4
Game Twenty-Nine – Cubs 4, Brewers 12 WP – Kyle Lohse (2-4) LP – Travis Wood (2-2) Save – None Kris Bryant launched his first big league homer, a three-run shot in the third inning that gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead. Travis Wood, Edwin Jackson and Phil Coke gave up 11 runs in the first five innings as the Cubs were blown out on Saturday night in Miller Park. The only thing that seemingly went right for the Cubs on Saturday night was the three run homer Kris Bryant (1-for-4 with a home run … [Read more...]
Cubs Pitching Can’t Slow Down the Cardinals – Cardinals 7, Cubs 4
Game Twenty-Five – Cubs 4, Cardinals 7 WP – Mitch Harris (1-0) LP – Edwin Jackson (1-1) Save – Trevor Rosenthal (9) For the second night in a row the Cubs built a lead just to see the Cardinals comeback and tie the game. And the bullpen could not keep the Cardinals off the board as the Cubs dropped their fourth game in a row on Tuesday night in St. Louis. Kyle Hendricks struggled with his command but limited the Cardinals to one run over the first four innings. The Cubs took advantage … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Changes Coming to the Cubs Bullpen? And Other News and Notes
What was viewed as a strength of the team coming out of Spring Training has turned into a glaring weakness for the Chicago Cubs. And for the fourth time in four seasons a bad bullpen is costing the Cubs games. Prior to this year, the Cubs were not expected to win games. Jed Hoyer has used the phrase “puncher’s chance” on numerous occasions to describe the odds the front office put on the big league team to compete in the three previous seasons under their leadership. This year is different, … [Read more...]
Cubs Get No Relief, Give One Back to the Cardinals – Cardinals 10, Cubs 9
Game Twenty-Four – Cubs 9, Cardinals 10 WP – Miguel Socolovich (2-0) LP – Pedro Strop (0-2) Save – Seth Maness (2) There are no two ways about it Monday was a difficult night and a bad loss for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs had an 8-4 lead as late as the sixth inning before Travis Wood and the bullpen imploded. The Cardinals scored two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh. And the Cubs dropped game one on Monday night in St. Louis. The Cubs broke out of their offensive slump in a … [Read more...]
Cubs Unable to Strop Aramis Ramirez and the Brewers – Brewers 5, Cubs 3
Game Twenty-Three – Cubs 3, Brewers 5 WP – Will Smith (1-0) LP – Pedro Strop (0-1) Save – Francisco Rodriguez (4) Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Jason Hammel drove in runs, but the offense continued to struggle putting the ball in play while Aramis Ramirez drove in three of the Brewers five runs and delivered the game winner as the Cubs lost the finale to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon. With the game tied at three in the eighth inning, Pedro Strop gave up a double to pinch-hitter Gerardo … [Read more...]