The Cubs are 33 games into their 2011 season and it seems a good time to check on how players are doing. I’ll break it into four parts. Click the link below to read more.
Cubs rWAR and fWAR
Most of you are at least somewhat familiar with WAR and how it works. I’d bet most of you are familiar that Fangraphs publishes their own WAR (fWAR) and Baseball Reference publishes their own. BRef’s WAR is based on Rally Monkey’s formula and it’s been referred to as rWAR for a few years now. There are some key differences between …
Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs
Kerry Wood, 20 strikeouts Astros wOBA wRC Cubs wOBA wRC Craig Biggio .406 .82 Brant Brown .361 .64 Derek Bell .387 .72 Mickey Morandini .349 .58 Jeff Bagwell .422 .83 Sammy Sosa .425 .84 Jack Howell .372 .63 Mark race .377 .65 Moises Alou .419 .77 Henry Rodriguez .361 .58 Dave Clard .252 .20 Jeff Blauser .299 .35 Ricky Gutierrez …
When could Wells and Cashner return?
LOS ANGELES — Cubs pitchers Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells headed to Arizona on Wednesday to continue their rehab there and both could be facing batters next week. — Carrie Muskat So let’s say they begin facing batters on Monday, May 9th. They get their 4 days off and go back out to face some hitters again on May 14th. …
PNC Park usher allowed to die
Police said today that a 17-year-old boy came across a PNC Park usher who was having a heart attack in his car, pulled the man out and onto the ground, went through his pockets and stole his wallet, then drove away in the vehicle, leaving the usher to die in the street. – Post Gazette I don’t have anything to …
Cubs have been consistently bad through April
Through the first month of the season the Cubs rank 9th in the NL in runs per game. They’ve scored 4.08 runs per game and the NL average is 4.25. The Cubs pitching has allowed 5.27 runs per game, which is 3rd worst in the NL. Only Arizona (5.35) and Houston (5.59) have been worse. The Cubs have the second …
James Russell to start Monday unless someone else does
“That’s what I don’t know,” Quade said. “If we go in-house, then Russ is going to pitch. But if something else has taken place within the last 24 hours, [Hendry] can bring that to me and we can make a decision. Obviously, anybody who pitched [Friday] night wouldn’t be available. But there could be something else.” — cubs.com The depth …
On early season Pythagorean Win Expectancy and the Chicago Cubs
Through the month of April the Cubs have allowed 31 more runs than they’ve scored. This differential ranks 15th in the NL. Only Houston (-34) has been worse. In the American League the White Sox (-37) and Twins (-57) have been worse. Even the Pirates (-24) have been better. The differential between runs score and allowed is important. Runs scored …
Should Starlin Castro move off shortstop?
After Starlin Castro‘s 3-error inning the other day a lot of talk began again about moving the 21-year old to 2nd base. It’s even been suggested that Darwin Barney (also a natural shortstop) be moved from 2nd to short. Mike Quade hasn’t even begun to think about that, which is great news. It’s not going to happen anytime soon and …
Carlos Pena sits vs righty
The Cubs wagered $10 million that Carlos Pena would return to 2009 form while playing in Wrigley Field, but after going 0-for-4 on Thursday, he’s out of the lienup for the third time in six games Friday. Unlike the previous times he sat, this time it’s happening against a right-hander, Arizona’s Armando Galarraga to be specific. — NBC Sports Pena …