Things Have Gotten Really Bad and Other (Not All Terrible?) Cubs Bullets

The combined impact of the site problems and the Cubs giving me absolutely nothing to get excited about at the moment (other than trade value? which, not yet in the mood, and also some relievers are torching theirs …) have me feeling a touch dark in relation to writing about the team. I expect that it’ll bleed through – the frustration, the lack of nuance, the inability in the moment to allow for the bigger picture – so I guess … heads up?

  • How bad have things gotten for the Cubs? They’re about to get passed in the standings by a team that started the season 3-22:
  • Increasingly, I don’t even care to have the conversations about where the Cubs land relative to the rest of the worst in the league in “true talent,” because it’s not much going to matter when there are so many injuries that make a bad team even worse, and when their are looming trades that’ll do the same. The Cubs might lose 90 games, they might lose 100 games. Heck, are you really ruling out 105+ at this point? I’ll track that stuff late in the year when we’re psyching ourselves up to follow ping-pong balls in the lottery, but for now, it really doesn’t matter. The Cubs are playing poorly, they are losing a lot of games, and they are not righting this ship in 2022.
  • Last night’s blown lead was the biggest since the infamous Jake Arrieta game in Milwaukee (the one where the Cubs gave him a 7-run lead in the first, and it was all but gone by the second). That loss felt like the end of the Cubs’ competitive chances last year (June 30, and it capped a sweep by the Brewers), but you can’t really say that about last night’s loss, since we already knew these Cubs were way out of it. And multiple weeks ahead of schedule!
  • At least the Cubs got a strong performance last night from Kyle Hendricks in his return from the not-on-the-IL-but-hadn’t-pitched-in-two-weeks:
  • Hendricks looked good, both in terms of smooth mechanics and pitch-command. He said after the game that he felt good, even if he was wearing down at the end of his outing. Of his time off, Hendricks told NBC it was worthwhile: “It benefited me a ton health wise. I feel back to 100 percent normal. That was huge from Rossy (Cubs manager David Ross) to find that window there with a couple off days to have me skip a start and really decrease my volume a lot. I feel back to normal, so now should be good to go.”
  • For lots of reasons, it would be incredibly well-time for Hendricks to get on one of those summer heaters he always used to get on.
  • Willson Contreras was the other obviously great thing from last night, with two homers and a double. He is now hitting .279/.403/.546/166 wRC+ on the year, which is the 9th best wRC+ in baseball. Getting him a real back-up catcher to pair with, and the DH to be able to give him half-time off, have been huge this year, I suspect. Oh, and the funnest of facts? By expected wOBA, Contreras has actually gotten slightly UNLUCKY this year in his results. The guy is just obliterating the ball (9th highest average exit velocity in baseball).
  • You knew who else is really ripping the ball? Nico Hoerner. Two of the top three Cubs exit velos last night were his, including this beautiful triple:
  • Hoerner’s average exit velocity this year (88.8 mph) is only middle of the pack among qualifiers, but remember the profile: he’s a high-contact guy. Having a league average exit velocity over the course of several months for a guy like that is quite good! Notice who’s basically tied with him on the list: Nick Castellanos, Wander Franco, Spencer Torkelson, Cedric Mullins, Justin Turner. Overall, I’m loving what I’m seeing this year from Nico Hoerner, at the plate and in the field.
  • Speaking of which: no, that still doesn’t mean the Cubs should sit out the shortstop class in free agency, because that’s where you might find the best and most impactful player. It’s a sign-him-and-figure-the-rest-out-later situation if you really like the player, especially because some of them might wind up moving off of shortstop, and/or because Hoerner is elite at second base. Worry about it later. For now, it’s just awesome that Hoerner looks like a more-than-capable big league shortstop.
  • OK. Try to turn your day around, Brett:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Pre-Gamin’: Marlins at Cubs – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...

    MLBits: The White Sox Might be the Worst Team Ever, What Games I’m Watching this Weekend, More

    Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...

    Can I Interest You in a Positive Injury-Update on Justin Steele?

    Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...

    FAA Reportedly Investigating How a Passenger on Colorado Rockies Team Flight Was Seen Accessing the Cockpit

    If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024: Kevin Alcántara is Heating Up!

    The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...

    It’s Not Kyle Hendricks Last Chance (But…), Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Latest News

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Pre-Gamin’: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (6:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

    The Bulls and Heat go at it for the last spot in the NBA Playoffs. Let's get it. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1781299357574213738 Game Info Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Chicago Bulls Coby White...

    Scottie Pippen’s Youngest Son Will Play at Michigan

    A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Blue Jays vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Following a two-homer game in a loss to the Yankees, Daulton Varsho leads the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) into action as -112 favorites against the San Diego Padres (11-10). First pitch from PETCO Park at 9:40 PM ET on Friday,...

    Diamondbacks vs. Giants Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Jung Hoo Lee will look to extend his 10-game hitting streak when the San Francisco Giants (9-11) take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11). The Diamondbacks are listed as -123 favorites on the moneyline for the contest, which starts at 10:15...

    Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New York Mets (10-8) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) Friday at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. Bookmakers consider the Dodgers to be -201 favorites, while the...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires only one make from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Brandon Ingram must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsBrandon Ingram's over/under for...

    more cubs news