Countdown to Pitchers and Catchers: 6 Days If all goes as planned in Spring Training, John Lackey will make his Cubs’ debut on April 7 in Arizona in the first of four games with the Diamondbacks. Lackey enters camp next week slotted as Joe Maddon’s third starter behind Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. Lackey is coming off a very successful first full season in the National League. Lackey was 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 3.57 FIP for the NL Central Champs in 33 regular season starts. And … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Reno Sportsbook Sets Cubs Win-Total at 89, Second Highest in Baseball and Other News
Countdown to Pitchers and Catchers: 7 Days The pitchers and catchers that are not already in camp have to be in Mesa one week from today. Players continued getting their work in Thursday preparing for the official start of Spring Training. Baseball’s second season is almost over. The Cubs first on-field workout is next Saturday. Steve Mikkelson, the director of Atlantis Casino’s sportsbook, posted his win-totals for all 30 Major League teams on Thursday. This is the 10th straight year … [Read more...]
Cubs 2015 Position Review – Bullpen
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: Arrieta Ranked Second Best Pitcher in Baseball and Other Cubs News and Rumors
Buster Olney posted his list of the top 10 starting pitchers in the game and he ranked Jake Arrieta behind Clayton Kershaw as the second best pitcher in baseball. Olney’s top 10 starting pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke, Madison Bumgarner, Jacob deGrom, David Price, Dallas Keuchel, Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole and Matt Harvey Some members of the media, according to Olney, view Jake Arrieta as a “one-hit wonder.” As Olney pointed out, that is not the case. The National … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: David Ross Set to Return Next Season and Other Cubs News
Veteran catcher David Ross told Nick Cafardo he will honor the final year of his contract and return to the Cubs next season. David Ross signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Cubs last off-season. Ross will make $2.25 million next year in what could be his last season as a player. Many in the game think Ross will be a coach and then eventually a manager in the big leagues. “It was a great ride. It’s more sad we didn’t play well and the Mets played great. A lot of positives as I … [Read more...]
Cubs 2015 Regular Season Highlights – June and July
The Cubs played good ball in June and July while hovering around the five-game over .500 mark. The Cubs could not get over the hump until a series in late July in Milwaukee. Jake Arrieta found a groove and started an incredible run while Jon Lester also settled in with his new team. Balls started leaving the park on a regular basis, but the offense still lacked a bat. The front office made the call and Kyle Schwarber made his Major League debut in June. Schwarber was optioned down to Iowa … [Read more...]
Cubs Month in Review – September 2015
After a strong August, September and early October was more of the same for one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. The young squad got stronger as the season wound down and won their last eight games. With the wild card playoff game on Wednesday on every Cubs fans mind, let’s take a look back at the final month of the season. 2015 Team Record: 23-9 Team Average: .257 Team ERA: 2.45 Top Hitter: Starlin Castro Top Pitcher: Jake Arrieta 2014 Team Record: 12-13 Team … [Read more...]
Cubs Blanked Before Celebrating Post-Season Berth – Pirates 4, Cubs 0
Game One Hundred Fifty-Four - Cubs 0, Pirates 4 WP – Francisco Liriano (12-7) LP – Jason Hammel (9-7) Save – None The Cubs managed four hits Saturday and were shutout for the 10th time on the season. And Jason Hammel served up a three-run homer to Jordy Mercer in the fifth inning as the Cubs lost to the Pirates again Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs celebrated the franchise’s first trip to the post-season in seven years after Saturday’s loss. The party went from the … [Read more...]
Cubs Outslug the Brewers on a Wild Night at Wrigley – Cubs 9, Brewers 5
Game One Hundred Fifty - Cubs 9, Brewers 5 WP – Jason Hammel (9-6) LP – Wily Peralta (5-10) Save – None Starlin Castro drove in two runs, including the game winner. Anthony Rizzo reached base five times and scored three runs. Kris Bryant had three hits and scored twice Miguel Montero and Addison Russell drove in run and Jorge Soler capped the scoring with a three-run pinch hit homer in the seventh as the Cubs beat the Brewers on Monday night. The Cubs and Brewers went back and forth … [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...]