For majority of the season - the Cubs have had the best record in the NL despite all the set backs this team has had to encounter. Their biggest off season acquisition, Yu Darvish, was shut down after suffering a stress reaction to his pitching elbow. Kris Bryant was hit in the head by a pitch earlier in the season, a sore shoulder, and now is out for tonight's game after being hit in the wrist during last nights game. The Cubs closer, Brandon Morrow, was shut down and to fulfill his duties was Pedro Strop who suffered a hamstring injury vs the Reds who is now shut down for the regular season. Tyler Chatwood has been as horrible as you could have imagined walking 8.25 batters per 9 innings with an ERA of 5.30. Addison Russell on administrative leave during the investigation of a domestic abuse case. After many rain delays, the Cubs had to play 47 games in 48 days to end the season. If you were to tell me in March during Spring Training that all of this was going to happen this season, I would call you crazy that the Cubs would be entering the final week of the season in first place with another 90 win season for the fourth straight year. But here we are.
If there's one thing we know about this Cubs team is they know how to pull it together when they need too. With the division tightened up with a 0.5 game lead over the Brewers with five games to play, it will be a real test to see how this team reacts. They have a real good resume under their belt. Lets flashback to the 2016 NLDS - on the verge of facing a game five down 5-2 in the 9th inning vs San Fransisco, the Cubs scored four runs in the 9th inning to advance to the NLCS. We also know what happened in the 2016 World Series where the Cubs came back from being down 3-1 to win the World Series. How about this year when pinch hitter, David Bote, stepped up to the plate with the Cubs down 3-0, two outs, and bases loaded - he hits a walk off grand slam to win vs the Nationals. There's magic in this team and now they have to show it. The Cubs have had a real rocky September. Here's some stats that will blow your mind: - The Cubs offense has a .293 OBP - The Cubs batters are hitting just .230 - The Cubs have hit 18 HRs (28th worst) - The Cubs rank 28th in OPS (.649) - The Cubs have the 5th highest strikeout rate - The Cubs worst offensive month of the season So to say the Cubs got cold at the wrong time is an understatement. On the flip side - The Milwaukee Brewers have been a real scary team as of late. Christian Yelich has also separated him self from a MVP Candidate to the front runner. They have been the media's under dog all season long but that hasn't stopped them from performing well & they are turning it on at the right time. This is September baseball at its finest - games that count right down to the wire, scoreboard watching, champagne, and heartbreak. What has happened in the past month can be washed out with a strong finish winning the NL Central & if the Cubs can carry that momentum into October. It hasn't been pretty but the real test is here. Finish this out.
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The Cubs had a chance in the last two weeks to put a nail on the division facing the Brewers in two different series but unfortunately it became a race instead of a chase. Our followers asked us some questions with only a few weeks left of the season so founder of Cubs Live, Kyle Malzhan, & beat writer, Mark Talarico, are here to answer those questions: Kyle: I don't think the Cubs are going to go out in the last two weeks in the season to acquire a closer. The Cubs have options with Strop and Morrow out. The Cubs desperately need CJ Edwards to get right if they want to make any type of push late in October. Right now there are a few guys I trust: Chavez, Wilson, De La Rosa. With that being said - If CJ can get back to his old ways along Cishek, that just boosts the bullpen. I think using Cishek so much in the season has really been a down fall especially with the series of events that have taken place recently. Mark: While it's concerning when a player like Strop gets injured, I don't think the Cubs need to hit the panic button and immediately find a replacement for him outside of the organization, which would be hard to do this late in the season anyway. Hopefully Morrow can come back soon and return to his form from earlier in the season, but I still like the Cubs with Chavez, Wilson and De La Rosa along with Cishek and Edwards, who are due for a boost soon. Kyle: I think you're going to see a lot of Randy Rosario in that position with Strop out. It wouldn't surprise me if you saw Justin Wilson in there as well. Mark: I think it'll either be Rosario or Wilson, but don't leave out Chavez or De La Rosa. All of those guys can get the job done. Kyle: Dakota Mekkes is a prospect that can be very eye appealing. If you looked at his numbers with Iowa this season: 31.1 innings, 1.44 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and only one HR allowed. With that being said, Mekkes will get his shot with the Cubs but I doubt it will be within the next two weeks. Mark: I think it's too late to introduce someone like that to the team without the experience, especially in the middle of a playoff push. If Morrow and Strop are out longer than expected, perhaps, but I wouldn't expect him with this kind of pressure. Kyle: Jason Heyward was running in the outfield earlier this week and he told the media that he anticipates to play baseball again this season so I'd say that's a pretty positive look. I didn't think I'd say this - but I feel like the Cubs are missing Jason Heyward's presence in the lineup and in the field. Mark: Hamstrings are a tricky injury to come back from as they can easily be aggravated upon return if it's too premature. This is where the depth the Cubs have is so important, even with Schwarber also being out and Happ and Almora struggling at the plate. Kyle: You're not wrong. In 28 games & 123 AB's - Zobrist is hitting .285 with 4 HRs, 17 RBI, & 22 runs. Most definitely potential for a lead off man. I'm not sure if that's the best order though. I think between those five players you listed, the best order would be Murphy - Bryant - Rizzo - Baez - Zobrist. Mark: I've wanted Zo in the leadoff for a while, but I understand not putting him there because he's so good with runners on base. Murphy's going to heat back up again soon and then that problem should solve itself. Until then, sure. Kyle: If the Cubs were to land Harper, I think someone would be on the move because of how deep the outfield would be - there would be to many. If I had to pick someone to go, it would be between Almora or Happ and my gut feeling says Almora. I say that because Theo loves Schwarber like his son & with Happ - he gives you that IF/OF versatility where if someone goes down, he can fulfill it at pretty much any position unlike Almora. Mark: What about Russell? Really don't know what kind of haul he would bring in but his defense is still elite and having so many guys that can fill the gap for him makes him just as expendable as anyone else you listed. Out of those guys, I think Happ would be the first to go personally. I just have always felt like he's not in that core group of guys for whatever reason. Schwarber isn't going anywhere. Kyle: It's hard to say. Maddon seems to like Gore a lot in pinch running situations - rightfully so. Which come Oct. when it's a tight game and you need someone quick on the bases, you have your go to. Right now I would say Bote, Happ, and Gore. La Stella the odd man out. Mark: I love the speed Gore brings to the table, but in October, you need people that can get on base in the first place, and La Stella is a true pro at that. Happ and Bote for sure, probably La Stella, I don't see Gore making it. Kyle: NL Central: Cubs NL East: Braves NL West: Dodgers WC: St. Louis @ Milwaukee NL Rep: Cubs Mark: Same as Kyle but swap St. Louis with the Rockies. Cubs in 4. Kyle: This just got weird.
Mark: He doesn't seem like an outie guy. Innie. |
Kyle MalzhanFounder who is an aspiring journalist who covers the Chicago Cubs daily. Archives
April 2020
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