Back in the heady days when the Cubs offense was clicking, I was starting to wonder about my belief that the 2008 Cubs was the best Cubs team I’ll ever see in my lifetime. I’m feeling pretty confident that’s still the case, but thought it would be interesting to see how the squads stack up.
Hitters
Rate stats only here, since I’m too lazy to convert WAR numbers to prorated season numbers.
2008 Cubs
(Batters with >200 PA, ranked by wRC+)
[table id=13 /]2015 Cubs
(Batters with > 100 PA, ranked by wRC+)
[table id=14 /]It’s easy to forget how great that 2008 offense was. The regulars’ worst OBP, Soriano’s .344, would have been third best on this squad.
2007 Cubs
[table id=19 /]Starting pitchers
2008 Cubs
(Pitchers with >=10 starts)
[table id=16 /]2015 Cubs
(Pitchers with >1 start)
[table id=15 /]It’s also easy to see here how much the run environment has changed – a fringy guy like Wada’s rotation-worst 3.16 BB/9 would have been the second best on the 2008 team.
2007 Cubs
[table id=20 /]Relief Pitchers
2008 Cubs
[table id=17 /]2015 Cubs
[table id=18 /]*pours one out for 2008 Marmol and his slider*
2007 Cubs
[table id=21 /]*pours another one out for 2007 Marmol’s slider*
Clearly the 2015 Cubs have been more of a pitching-first team, though it’s surprising to see just how much better this year’s staff has been, both in terms of their era-adjusted ERA- and FIP- and those ludicrous walk rates. That 2008 four headed monster rotation doesn’t look as impressive as I remember either, just ‘merely’ very good.
That offense though. The 2015 team is hopefully due for some regression, especially at the bottom of that list. Rizzo’s numbers should drop as well, obviously. If you count in terms of walkoffs, this team has been just about as memorable as 2008 was. But it would sure be nice to see some more blowouts.