Mr. Cubs Race!
For better or worse, 37-games left this season. #Cubs
— Bullpen Brian (@bullpenbrian) August 25, 2012
I have two dreams: 1) The Streak never ends. 2) To have more followers than games in The Streak.
— Cubs No-Hit Streak (@CubsNoHitStreak) August 24, 2012
The Beav with a go ahead RBI. Who would have guessed? Guess June promised him milk and cookies. #Cubs
— Christin Haws (@KikiWrites) August 24, 2012
July 20, 1969: #Cubs take a doubleheader vs the Phillies. Fergie wins game 1, Santo homers in game 2, & Neil Armstrong walks on the moon
— Wayne Buckner (@TheWrigleyBlog) August 25, 2012
Cubs commercial just played, previewing Rockies series. Showed Colvin batting. Oops. #cubs
— Jordan Ramos (@JordanRamos6) August 22, 2012
I love it when the #Cubs are on WGN America #southflorida
— Yetta Schmelzer (@Seealo652) August 25, 2012
Yeah, I’m that girl who got engaged at Wrigley today.
#Engaged #Wrigley #Cubs #Rockies #@ Wrigley Field instagr.am/p/Ow-eN7zDk0/
— Elise Loyola (@EliseLoyola) August 25, 2012
My fanhood began at the age of 6 when I wore a #Cubs hat to a #WhiteSox game twitter.com/SirJagnovski/s…
— Kyle Tulley (@ChiCity1908) August 22, 2012
We know there’s a ton of work left to be done with the Cubs rebuild, and we know it all can’t be accomplished in one offseason.
The first phase of the rebuild draws to a close in roughly one month, which has included everything from Team Theo reshaping the club through player trades, waiver-wire moves and a revamping of the front office.
The main goal for next season, of course, is beginning Phase 2 of the process, which starts, first and foremost, with fielding a more competitive team–and by competitive I mean a team void of 90 or more losses.
The Cubs have four areas of critical need entering the offseason: 1.) A quality fourth starter. 2.) Quality bullpen arms. 3.) A third baseman 4.) A center fielder.
THE FOURTH STARTER
I’m assuming Matt Garza will remain a Cub through the offseason and return as the staff Ace. Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood follow Garza with a combination of Brooks Raley and Chris Rusin, among others, as the fifth starters.
Justin Germano would suffice, but is far from a lock, and notice I didn’t mention the return of winless Chris Volstad. Lord help us if that happens.
Speculation is the Cubs will target a mid-range starter the likes of a Paul Maholm–a younger, more affordable veteran with a big league track record. If the Cubs can find, and sign, a guy like a Maholm, that’s actually not a terrible rotation.
THE BULLPEN
All indications are Carlos Marmol will be back as the team’s closer. James Russell is a lock, and I’d count on Manny Corpas being invited back as well. Shawn Camp would also be ideal, but he’s likely to field better offers from more competitive clubs this winter.
Aside from these three, however, that’s a sizable hole to fill in the bullpen, one I speculate will be filled with more project-players and retreads (ie: Corpas & Camp) to go along with the unknowns of Jeff Beliveau, Lendy Castillo, Rafael Dolis, Michael Bowden, Alex Hinshaw, Scott Maine, Marcos Mateo, Blake Parker, Arodys Vizcaino, Alberta Cabrera and Casey Coleman. (SMH).
CENTER FIELD & THIRD BASE
The more we watch Brett Jackson and Josh Vitter the more clear it becomes both are still green in their development. Unless something clicks for either in the final 38-games, I wouldn’t be surprised if both started 2013 back in Iowa.
Outfielders are always easy to come by in the offseason, and with Wrigley playing as such a small center field the right option shouldn’t be hard to find–at least defensively. Finding a productive bat is the difficulty.
Third base is more precarious. If we assume Vitters isn’t ready for the start of next season, incumbent Ian Stewart may still remain one option. Guys like Super Joe Mather and Luis Valbuena are nice fill-in players, but neither should be counted on as full-time starters. And it’s worth noting the free agent crop at third base is thin at best.
MY GOODNESS
If you’re like me you probably just let-go a huge sigh, leaned back in your chair and put your hands behind your head. But, I guess we should at least be thankful the first phase is nearly out of the way.
There’s still plenty of pain and suffering to endure, and that’s not including the final month of the regular season. Here’s to looking forward to Phase 3.
The Cubs franchise record for most losses in a single-season is (103); first set in 1962 and later matched in 1966.
This year’s team is (47-76) with 39-games remaining. The Cubs need 13 more victories to avoid tying the dubious record.
Whether or not that happens, I don’t know. My gut feeling is the Cubs will avoid it, even if only by the slimmest of margins. And it’s really simple as to why.
Beginning today, Chicago plays 20 of its next 30-games at the Friendly Confines where, somewhat surprisingly, they’re two-games above .500 (30-28).
If the Cubs split those next 20-games at home, they should also be able to manage at least three wins out of its 16 remaining road contests–three of which are against Houston.
But regardless of exactly how the remaining games play out, the Cubs are still on course to have one of its worst seasons in franchise history. Oh, joy.
|
Year |
Losses |
Percentage |
|
1966 |
103 |
.364 |
|
1962 |
103 |
.364 |
|
1980 |
98 |
.395 |
|
2000 |
97 |
.401 |
|
2006 |
96 |
.407 |
|
1974 |
96 |
.407 |
|
2002 |
95 |
.414 |
|
1999 |
95 |
.414 |
Considering the Cubs were pummeled in Milwaukee this week, I decided to use the team’s off day as a chance to talk about something other than rookie pitchers, strikeouts looking and general bad baseball, which pretty much eliminates a Cubs article.
Instead, today’s post is about a more compelling story in the NL Central, the Pittsburgh Pirates, a club I’ve kept my eye on since they became a trendy pick this spring as a possible surprise playoff contender in the National League.
The origins of this hype began last season when Pittsburgh held the division lead through the first 100-games of the season. A second half decline of legendary proportions, however, didn’t faze all the baseball pundits over the winter, despite Pittsburgh finishing the 2011 campaign with a 90-loss record.
THE 2012 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
When the Pirates took two of three games at St. Louis over the weekend I began wondering if the other shoe to Pittsburgh’s magical season would ever drop?
I had been anticipating the Pirates decline even since they were leading the NL Central at the All Star break (48-37). Pittsburgh simply lacked the fire-power needed in its lineup to fend-off its much deeper divisional foes in St. Louis and Cincinnati.
But less than two weeks after the mid-summer break the Pirates were still in position to become buyers before the non-waiver trade deadline–something not seen in western Pennsylvania in two decades.
With the right trades, perhaps, Pittsburgh could keep its heart-warming story of reaching the postseason alive through September.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE THE TRADE DEADLINE?
On July 25 Pittsburgh trailed first place Cincinnati by only 2.5 games. But on the same day the club also completed a blockbuster trade for starter Wandy Rodriguez, which culminated with a four-game winning streak (beginning with the Cubs, no less).
Six days later at the July 31 trade deadline the Pirates dealt for Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez to bolster its lineup. The first place Reds, with a 3.0 games lead, remained well within striking distance. But did the Pirates get enough in its trade returns to hold steady?
The answer appears to be a resounding ‘no’. Rodriguez has been a flat bust going (1-3, 5.06) while Snider and Sanchez have combined for just one HR & six RBI in 104 at-bats.
The Pirates, not surprisingly, have played sub-.500 baseball since the trade deadline (8-13) while its second half record also dipped below .500 (19-20) after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres this week.
Meanwhile, the Reds (76-49) have risen to the second best record in baseball while increasing its division cushion over Pittsburgh to 8.5 games, not to mention, the surging Cardinals jumped the Buccos in the standings this week.
WHAT ABOUT THE WILD CARD?
Atlanta (71-53) and St. Louis (67-56) currently hold the two wild card spots. The Dodgers and Pirates share identical (67-57) records and sit a half game back of the Cardinals.
If the wild and dramatic finish to the 2011 regular season taught us anything, it’s that much can change over the final 40-games.
In Pittsburgh’s case, however, I’m feeling more certain they’ll soon be out of the postseason race altogether and less certain they’ll maintain a season record above .500, a mark the club has failed to accomplish in the last 19 seasons.
If the other shoe to the Pirates season hasn’t hit the floor already, it’s definitely falling fast. Sound familiar, Cubs fans?
Aramis Ramirez currently leads all of baseball in extra base hits (59) and doubles (40). He’s on pace for 54 two-baggers this season, which would surpass the Brewers franchise record of 53 doubles set by Lyle Overbay in 2004.
Surprised?
Many Cubs fans thought the Brewers were insane for signing the 34-year-old Ramirez to a 3yr-$36M deal this offseason. How quickly they forget he won the Silver Slugger Award last season.
MORE HARWARE FOR ARAMIS?
Aramis hasn’t skipped a beat since joining Milwaukee. Following his typical slow start at the plate he’s hit .322 over his last 74 games raising his batting average from .218 to .288 to go along with 17 HR & 72 RBI all totaled.
At this rate he’ll challenge David Wright (.320, 16 HR, 75 RBI) during the next six weeks to defend his Silver Slugger title. And that’s not all.
Ramirez also has the highest fielding percentage (.973) and fewest number of errors (6) of any National League third baseman. A Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award in the same season?
Who would’ve thunk it?
I’m not suggesting the Cubs were fools for not re-signing Ramirez. His nine seasons spent on the North Side were highly productive, if not under-valued, but his time was up.
Aramis had clearly soured professionally under Mike Quade, and at the tail end of his career he didn’t appear interested, or willing, to invest in the Cubs lengthy rebuilding process. Who could blame him?
MR. CLUTCH
I gave Ramirez the nickname ‘Mr. Clutch’ for obvious reasons; he delivered more big-hits than any other Cub I can remember since his first season with Chicago in 2003.
A-Ram’s long been one of my favorite players, and always one of my favorite Cubs. He was also arguably the best acquisition Jim Hendry ever made as the Cubs GM, and unquestionably, the MVP of both the Cubs last two division winning teams in 2007-08.
But even so, Ramirez spent the better part of his Cubs tenure quietly going about his business in the shadow of Sammy Sosa and Carlos Zambrano, among others. Few, if any, however, actually outperformed him.
It seems a new deal and a new team hasn’t changed a thing about Ramirez. He continues to tear up National League pitching, and quite honestly, there’s no reason any Cubs fans should be surprised.
I can’t believe the Cubs don’t have a better option in the rotation than Chris Volstad (0-9, 6.88).
He’s winless in 14 starts with Chicago and hasn’t won a single game over his last 24 outings dating back to his days with the Marlins.
It’s even tougher to believe Volstad actually won 12-games with the Fish just two seasons ago. Of course, when he faltered badly in 2011 going (5-13, 4.89) he became expendable on South Beach, and now we know why.
Volstad struggles with command, struggles to stick to the game-plan, struggles to pitch out of trouble and struggles with confidence. Did I miss anything?
STOP BLAMING THEO FOR VOLSTAD
It’s easy to be critical of Theo Epstein for dealing Carlos Zambrano for a 6’8″ has-been. But it’s important to remember this trade wasn’t about what the Cubs were getting in return.
This deal was strictly about dealing Big Z; a malcontent who had become a destructive clubhouse cancer on the North Side.
Tom Ricketts was essentially paying Zambrano to go away when Epstein dealt him to Miami in January. The fact a player was coming in return was simply icing on the cake, and although Volstad was coming off a down year, six of his last seven starts were quality outings with Florida.
Let’s not pretend there were better deals on the table for Zambrano, either. In fact, it was the only deal available, and the Cubs finally accomplished what they should’ve done years ago–ridding the organization of El Toro.
PUTTING THE BIG Z TRADE IN PERSPECTIVE
As poorly as Volstad has pitched since joining the Cubs, it’s nowhere near the frustrations that would’ve boiled over with Zambrano’s selfishness on a team treading towards a franchise-worst record. Lord only knows what pyrotechnics would have shot out of Big Z during the Cubs 12-game losing streak in May.
The idea Zambrano would’ve helped the Cubs this season is entirely fool’s gold. Sure, he’s pitched better than Volstad going (7-9, 4.32), but even so it wasn’t enough from keeping his close friend Ozzie GuiIlen from demoting Carlos to the bullpen in the season’s second half.
Volstad, however, doesn’t earn a free pass for simply being a throw-in piece to the trade. The Cubs, believe it or not, are still a major league team in the business of winning. Volstad, to this point, has been counterproductive to those efforts.
WHY IS VOLSTAD STILL PITCHING FOR THE CUBS?
How on earth the Cubs justify Volstad’s roster spot is beyond me. My best guess, however, is with the season a wash and hardly any reserves left in the minor leagues, the Cubs are giving Volstad the longest possible opportunity to show improvement.
It’s been long enough in my opinion, and I’m certain in the minds of many other Cubs fans, as well.
The Cubs currently have two minor league starters who could fit the bill over the final six weeks pitching at least as effective as Volstad, and I’d venture to say even better.
Rodrigo Lopez is (2-5, 5.28) with Triple-A Iowa. He started 16-games for the Cubs last season and wasn’t all that bad going (6-6, 4.42). He’s the furthest thing from being part of the Cubs rebuilding plan, but so too is Volstad.
Casey Coleman (2-4, 4.34) hasn’t exactly been tearing it up at Iowa, either. But he has seen several previous stints in the big leagues as both a starter and reliever, including a spot-start on July 31 against Pittsburgh–4.2, 4-ER, 7-H, 4-BB, 5-K. Volstad-esque, but hardly any worse.
So why not take a chance with one of these two guys? Who knows, maybe the Cubs actually win enough games behind one of them to help avoid a dreadful 100-loss season? Sticking with Volstad, meanwhile, only guarantees the Cubs will reach triple digit losses.
I’ve always been in favor of the Cubs building around Starlin Castro, which is why I’m thrilled the team is close to locking him up with a long-term contract extension: 7-yr, $60M.
I’m not blind to Castro’s faults. His mental gaffes are extremely concerning. His fielding needs to improve, as does his plate discipline. Both have been better this season, but there’s significant progress left to be achieved in both areas.
However, for a kid who’s sparkled since his major league debut, Starlin is about as close to a sure-thing as you’ll find on a Cubs roster fit for a 100-loss season. And that’s exactly what the Cubs need to build around–not trade away–in the coming years.
WHO ELSE CAN THE CUBS COUNT ON?
While Anthony Rizzo appears poised to reach the level of success Castro has, we’ve yet to see him play a full major league season. Bryan LaHair, unfortunately, fizzled out in late May. Darwin Barney appears to be a very good, but not great player at second base. Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, Steve Clevenger, Welington Castillo…who knows how these guys pan out?
Meanwhile, in a few short weeks Castro will have nearly three full seasons under his belt at age 22. That alone speaks to his natural talent.
He’s already made two All Star appearances, led the league in hits in 2011 (207) and shows all the signs of becoming a super-star player.
Castro, for better or worse, is the face of the Cubs franchise. Or perhaps better said, the face of the Cubs rebuild. Why wouldn’t you lock Castro up long-term?
A SMART DEAL FOR BOTH PARTIES
The reported deal buys out Castro’s four arbitration years and his three free agents years. If all goes as planned there’s even an option year for the 2020 season for $16M.
Additionally, Team Theo’s ‘no-trade’ policy is just one of several important factors in Starlin’s new deal.
A deal beneficial for both sides is always the best kind. And with so little to be sure of in the coming seasons on the North Side, it’s the smart move for Team Theo and Starlin Castro.
One date I immediately search when checking the Cubs upcoming season schedule is the third weekend in August. Sounds weird, I know, but that’s the weekend of Chicago’s annual Air & Water Show. Pair it with a weekend game at Wrigley Field and you double the fun.
I put the excitement right on par with that of a Bears, Bulls or Blackhawks playoff game. It’s thrilling. It’s memorable. It’s worth the price of admission, albeit weather permitting, of course.
Even though the fighter jets don’t buzz the ‘ol ballpark quiet like they use to (post 9-11), it’s still a tremendous vantage point to absorb the action in the air, and on the field, all at the same time.
In fact, for my money this is one of Chicago’s premier sporting events. Even if the Cubs are playing out of town you can always grab White Sox tickets and catch a slice of the air show from The Cell.
MLB, THROW US A BONE. TWO TEAMS, NEITHER PLAYING AT HOME?
Strangely, neither the Cubs or White Sox are playing at home this weekend. Granted, Wrigley Field did host the Under Armour All-American Game on Saturday. But with all due respect, that’s not exactly the same atmosphere.
A big league air show like Chicago’s should get a big league game, like the Cubs. Well, maybe not this year. But you get what I’m saying.
With two teams in Chicago MLB typically likes to schedule one team at home while the other is away. Even despite the air show, it makes little sense that neither team was in town this weekend.
WEATHER IS EVERYTHING
Much like baseball, the Air & Water Show is heavily weather dependent, and unfortunately, mother nature hasn’t been so cooperative the past several years.
With today being a beautiful and sunny 72-degrees, I jumped at the chance to take in the Blue Angels at North Avenue beach! I posted some video and pictures below.
CUBS PLAYING AT HOME DURING 2013 AIR & WATER SHOW?
The Cubs 2013 schedule isn’t due out for another few weeks. But keep it in mind to check out the third weekend in August. If MLB’s scheduling stays consistent with what’s been an every-other-year format of home and away series during the Air & Water Show, the Cubs will play a home series in 2013.
Here’s a bulleted recap of the past several seasons with the Cubs during the Air & Water Show.
