Cubs’ Historic Offense, Maddon’s Chill, Schwarber’s Swing, Ryan’s Release, and Other Bullets

April 9, 2019, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

Yesterday’s win was tempered a bit by Jon Lester’s early exit (more on that later), but it nevertheless overall made for a really nice home opener, especially given the horrifying road trip that preceded it.

The Cubs offense is still pretty crazy, eh? Through 10 games, the Cubs have now scored a whopping 72 runs, which is their most in more than 60 years. More than that, they’ve scored at least 10 runs in HALF of their first 10 games, making them just the FOURTH team since 1900 to do that.

Cubs have the 4th best offense in baseball by wRC+. (via FanGraphs) pic.twitter.com/gxnUm1OkXv

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 9, 2019

Speaking of that offense, Kyle Schwarber went deep again, and provided a good opportunity for a swing comparison:

We've heard about Kyle Schwarber going back to a swing similar to his days at IU, so a quick GIF comparing a 2013 HR (via @BigTenNetwork) and today in the home opener. pic.twitter.com/wXgHRknXLU

— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) April 9, 2019

Schwarber has put up a “hey, that’s actually believable” line of .250/.325/.528 (118 wRC+), with a 10.0% BB rate, a 17.5% K rate, a .231 BABIP, and a .278 ISO. If I had to guess, the walk and strikeout rates will both go up, the BABIP will probably go up a good bit, and the ISO might come down a little. But mostly, that just kinda looks like what you could see Schwarber actually doing this year.
Joe Maddon remains very chill about the Cubs’ results so far, and is trying to stress simply winning on a given day, and maybe making up a game per week:

Can't blame this on Joe Maddon: "Adversity is a good thing for the soul, brother." https://t.co/bpQ0cxQX1E

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) April 9, 2019

Maddon wasn’t interested in talking about “urgency,” an offseason concept that always struck me as in conflict with Maddon’s essential mantras. Whatever hot, urgent start the Cubs hoped to get out to this year, that is long past possible. So bringing back in Maddon’s sense of chill is very much going to be best for the Cubs, presuming the talent is there for them to succeed.

How about some old friends taking care of the Brewers? Last night, Tommy La Stella homered and Trevor Cahill cruised as the Angels beat the Brewers. Could even count Justin Bour, who drove in two, and was a former Cubs farmhand. Go Past Cubs!
I thought he looked pretty darn far over toward first base, but I didn’t realize just how extreme new Cubs reliever Kyle Ryan was:

Kyle Ryan's release point is insane — no other MLB lefty has such an extreme release point towards the first base side. pic.twitter.com/bbNvU0zcud

— Brendan Miller (@CubsRelated) April 8, 2019

You would think that would make him absolutely brutal on lefties and extremely susceptible to righties, who are getting a much longer look at him, but while that’s been true in a tiny sample this year, he’s actually been split-neutral for his career. Still, he’s moved that release point progressively further toward first base over the years, so maybe he’s increasingly becoming a guy who can dominate lefties, but not so much righties. I guess this will be something to track, especially in a world where, starting next year, relievers will have to face at least three batters. If Ryan remade himself into a killer LOOGY, that might only be valuable this year.
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Carl Edwards Jr. is at Iowa now, and they immediately inserted him into a jam:

Very encouraging outing for Carl Edwards Jr. with the @IowaCubs tonight: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, 0 BB. 28 pitches, 19 strikes. One hit was an infield single, other hit was a slapped single through a shift. Inherited a bases-loaded jam and got out of it.

— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen) April 9, 2019

So nice to see this:

It’s good to be home. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/sHwyZo4qhh

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 9, 2019

And always nice to see incredible shots from MBD:

Forgot to post this one. Javy Baez #ElMago makes a whirling throw to first. @javy23baez @Cubs @BleacherNation @realcubsinsider pic.twitter.com/6s4dpDxyFW

— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) April 9, 2019