Enjoyable(?) with Cubs Numbers: 1000, 15/8, 37/28, 2, 12 –

I went to see an early screening of Masters of the Universe final night time, and I actually want it had been a late showtime. The Cubs have been up 4-2 after I walked out of the theater, so all I bought to see was them pissing down their legs for the previous couple of innings. Not that any of us ought to anticipate a unique final result with the best way they’ve been enjoying over this 5-18 stretch that dates again practically a month.

Though there are nonetheless 100 video games to play, some already see this as a season on the brink. Or perhaps it’s already gone off the cliff. I see it as going from mendacity in an open nation subject with an entire universe of stars winking again at you to driving into the town and discovering that the sunshine air pollution obscures all however the very brightest pinpricks of celestial sparkle. There was a time after we couldn’t provide you with sufficient superlatives to explain this group. Now we’re looking for any scrap of optimism like a junkie fiending for an additional repair.

Before I get to waxing extra poetic, let’s simply get into a number of the numbers:

Happ’s 1,000-hit milestone

Ian Happ was caught in a rut for a lot of May, enduring a stretch of 59 plate appearances during which he batted .122 with a 42 wRC+ and a 44.1% strikeout charge. Craig Counsell sat his cleanup-hitting left fielder for 2 video games as a psychological reset, then inserted Happ into the two-hole earlier than dropping him to fifth. Over 36 PAs in that decrease spot, Happ is batting .343 with three homers, a 207 wRC+, and a 22.2% Ok charge. Not unhealthy.

That features a 2-for-4 effort within the newest loss to the A’s, which put Happ at 1,001 profession hits. He’s now forty fifth amongst energetic massive leaguers and thirty seventh in Cubs historical past, in case you have been questioning. What I’m questioning, nevertheless, is why the blue hell Dansby Swanson hasn’t gotten an analogous break. His Gold Glove protection at brief isn’t so a lot better than Nico Hoerner’s that the Cubs can’t afford to take a seat him.

Over his final 75 PAs, Swanson is batting .136 with a 34 wRC+ and one homer. His double on Wednesday night time was his second extra-base hit since May 19, over which era he’s truly value the Cubs when it comes to win likelihood. This may go with out saying, however which means the Cubs have been appreciably worse with Swanson within the lineup over the previous couple of weeks.

Isn’t this precisely why Pedro Ramirez is in Chicago? It’s effectively previous time to present Swanson a day or two off.

Ignominious streaks of 15 & 8

With their second loss to the A’s, the Cubs grew to become the primary group in MLB historical past to comply with a 15-game house successful streak with an eight-game house dropping streak. That latter skid ought to come to an finish tonight, however we’ll see.

Time is a thief: 37 & 28

Time flies whenever you’re having enjoyable and it slows to a crawl when there isn’t any pleasure, which is why that 15-game run felt like per week moderately than 37 days. And it’s additionally why going 4 weeks (and counting!) between house wins has felt like an eternity. My kingdom for any semblance of constant play.

Alcantara’s baserunning blunders: 2

There was nearly a 3rd late in Wednesday’s sport when he was nearly back-picked at third base within the tenth inning, however Kevin Alcántara’s baserunning could also be a part of why Craig Counsell doesn’t belief him. The Jaguar has solely gotten eight plate appearances in 11 group video games since being known as up, and he wasn’t within the lineup in opposition to lefty Jeffrey Springs.

That may stem from him being caught stealing on a botched try in Tuesday’s sport, although the problem runs a bit deeper. Remember when Counsell flipped out on the group early in spring coaching once they have been being lazy throughout baserunning drills? Turns out, Alcántara was the supply of his ire. The lanky outfielder hasn’t been given a lot of a chance to show he belongs, which positive appears to point the Cubs aren’t too involved with giving him extra run.

He’s out of choices this yr and may now not be stashed within the minors, and we’ve seen nothing to counsel the Cubs see him as a full-time substitute at both nook outfield spot. Alcántara has additionally misplaced loads of steam with exterior evaluators as he slips down the prospect rankings. Time will inform, however I’m getting very robust Alexander Canario and Nelson Velázquez vibes.

12 video games in opposition to terrible opponents

Regardless of how they end in opposition to the A’s, the Cubs may have 12 video games in opposition to the Giants and Rockies to comply with. Those two are battling it out for the worst document in baseball, so there must be loads of fertile floor to at the very least get again to successful two of three. Or so we hope.