Where do I even start?
OK, so you already know that Kyle Schwarber has been absurdly good in the second half, and that he only extended that run of dominance last night with a monster grand slam. He also added a double and a walk in the game, and didn’t strike out.
I guess let’s enjoy the grand slam again in a few visual ways, then talk about some particulars about it, and then laud just how ridiculous he’s been at the plate. Shall we?
The granny, on which Schwarber slapped the bejesus out of the ball:
Kyle Schwarber has a 1.024 OPS in the 2nd half.#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/4KsrA5hof9
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 6, 2019
34th home run and 2nd grand slam of the season for @kschwarb12!#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/ZtiazWwV2t
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Kelly_Crull/status/1169793329573302275
The homer not only went an impressive 442 feet, it came off the bat at 109.4 mph despite being an elevated 94 mph fastball from a lefty:
Kyle Schwarber broke open the game with a grand slam off this elevated fastball from Drew Pomeranz.
It was the highest pitch he's hit for a HR in his career. pic.twitter.com/K8hZ6S42YS
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) September 6, 2019
If Schwarber is gonna hit THAT pitch a million feet, you are gonna have some trouble with him:
Maddon on Schwarber:
"It's been real. It's real. That was real tonight. That's a tough lefty and that ball was beyond properly struck. … That ball was kilt. It was k-i-l-t. It was kilt. And that's against an elevated fastball and if they can't go there no more, heads up."
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 6, 2019
For his part, Schwarber plays the part of aw-shucks-ing it, and he is delightful in his ability to pull it off, even if we know he’s more good than lucky:
"Got lucky I guess"
No Kyle, it's all skill. He talked with @kelly_crull after the win! pic.twitter.com/fnHn7iOOml
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) September 6, 2019
Schwarber is humble, despite now entering rarified air with the Cubs:
Most HR in a season by a #Cubs lefty
42 Billy Williams 1970
37 Billy Williams 1972
34 KYLE SCHWARBER 2019
34 Billy Williams 1965— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) September 6, 2019
There’s a pretty decent change Schwarber reaches 40 homers by the time the regular season is up, which, even in the Juiced Ball Era, is impressive as heck.
Especially when the guy keeps powering up despite continuing to drop his strikeout rate:
The guy is clearly continuing to make adjustments, and the results are there.
On the season, Schwarber is now up to a .239/.332/.525 line (115 wRC+), and it’s been all the better in the second half, when Schwarber’s been one of the best hitters in the league. His 146 second half wRC+ is tied with Freddie Freeman for the 12th highest in the NL. It’s second best on the Cubs behind Anthony Rizzo (153).