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...]
From the Wire: Jonathan Herrera, Quintin Berry Elected Free Agency, Taylor Teagarden Outrighted to Iowa
The Cubs posted three roster moves on the official transactions page Monday morning. INF Jonathan Herrera and OF Quintin Berry elected free agency and C Taylor Teagarden was outrighted to Iowa and off the 40-man roster. With the three roster moves, the Cubs 40-man roster officially stands at 29 players. Jonathan Herrera played an important role for the Cubs during the season but did not appear in a game after Sept. 9. Herrera hit .230/.242/.333 in 73 games with five doubles, a triple … [Read more...]
Ninety-Seven Wins – Cubs 3, Brewers 1
Game One Hundred Sixty-Two - Cubs 3, Brewers 1 WP – Dan Haren (11-9) LP – Jorge Lopez (1-1) Save – Travis Wood (4) Anthony Rizzo drove in a pair of runs with a single in the first inning. The Cubs scored all three runs in the opening frame and gave Dan Haren and the bullpen all the run support they would need. The Cubs completed the sweep over the Brewers at Miller Park on Sunday afternoon. The Cubs finished the regular season with eight straight victories and ended the excellent … [Read more...]
Cubs Scratch Out Seventh Straight Win – Cubs 1, Brewers 0
Game One Hundred Sixty-One - Cubs 1, Brewers 0 WP – Kyle Hendricks (8-7) LP – Tyler Wagner (0-2) Save – Hector Rondon (30) Kyle Hendricks set down the first 16 batters he faced Saturday night. Hendricks surrendered just one hit over six innings. And the bullpen picked up where Hendricks left off. The Cubs staff faced just two over the minimum in route to the team’s 21st shutout of the year. Chris Coghlan scored the only run of the game on an Addison Russell single as the Cubs beat the … [Read more...]
Haren Takes Care of Business, Cubs Top the Reds – Cubs 4, Reds 1
Game One Hundred Fifty-Seven - Cubs 4, Reds 1 WP – Dan Haren (10-9, 3-2) LP – Josh Smith (0-3) Save – Travis Wood (3) Dan Haren tossed 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball as Cubs’ pitchers allowed just three hits and an unearned run. The Cubs scored four times in the first inning with Tommy La Stella, Miguel Montero and Javier Baez driving in the runs. And the Cubs took game one from the Reds on Tuesday night in the Queen City. Dan Haren turned in a good outing against the Reds. Haren threw … [Read more...]
Cubs Fall Short in Finale, Take Two of Three from Cardinals – Cardinals 4, Cubs 3
Game One Hundred Forty-Nine - Cubs 3, Cardinals 4 WP – Carlos Martinez (14-7) LP – Jon Lester (10-11) Save – Trevor Rosenthal (46) The Cubs ended up a run short for the second straight series with the Cardinals from completing a sweep. Jon Lester gave up three runs in the first inning on a pair of home runs and another run in the third. The Cubs cut the Cardinals lead in half with an Anthony Rizzo two-out, two-run single in the third. And the Cubs made it a 4-3 game in the eighth on a … [Read more...]
Cubs Squeeze Out an Extra Innings Win – Cubs 3, Pirates 2
Game One Hundred Forty-Five - Cubs 3, Pirates 2 – 12 innings WP – Hector Rondon (6-4) LP – Vance Worley (4-6) Save – None Chris Denorfia led off the 12th inning with the game tied at two. Denorfia singled to right center and Quintin Berry ran for Denorfia. A wild pitch and an Austin Jackson single later and Berry was on third with no outs. Anthony Rizzo plated Berry with a sacrifice fly to left center. And Hector Rondon retired Jung Ho Kang on a soft liner to Javier Baez to end the game as … [Read more...]
Russell and Rizzo and Baez, Oh My! – Cubs 14, Diamondbacks 5
Game One Hundred Thirty-Three - Cubs 14, Diamondbacks 5 WP – Jon Lester (9-10) LP – Zack Godley (4-1) Save – None Addison Russell went deep twice. Anthony Rizzo smacked the second Grand Slam of his career. And Javier Baez launched a two-run shot. The Cubs crushed four home runs on a day with the wind blowing in, walked a season-high eight times and scored eight unearned runs in the fifth in route to beating the Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon. The Cubs had the right approach against a … [Read more...]
From the Wire: Cubs Recall Baez and Wada, Activate Ross and Jackson, Select Contracts of Berry and Cahill, DFA Soriano and James Russell
The Cubs announced a series of roster moves Tuesday afternoon. The Cubs recalled INF Javier Baez and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada from Triple-A Iowa. C David Ross was activated from the Family Emergency List. OF Austin Jackson was added to the active roster. The Cubs selected the contracts of RHP Trevor Cahill and OF Quintin Berry from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs designated LHP James Russell and RHP Rafael Soriano for assignment to open spots on the 40-man roster for Trevor Cahill and Quintin … [Read more...]