I wrote my 2nd half season preview as we came out of the All-Star break highlighting exactly what this team needed to do. Win games against teams that weren't good. Simple. They came out of the break and lost 3 of the first 4 leaving many Cubs fans to start giving up and deciding that selling was the only option. The ability to win ball games when it means the most is a difficult thing. The pressure starts to rise and players start to feel the tension in the locker room wondering where they're going to have to move their family. But this team is different. They didn't let that trade deadline pressure get to them. Instead, they rattled off 9 wins in 10 games and have ranked at the top of the MLB while doing so. It's not a fluke...this team is 4.5 games out of first place with a winning record ready to go on an improbably run.
Since the All-Star Break:
.874 OPS (1st in the MLB)
.492 SLG (4th in the MLB)
.302 Avg (1st in the MLB)
20 SB (1st in the MLB)
99 Runs (1st in the MLB)
96 RBIs (1st in the MLB)
While the pitching has been a different story for this team post-all star break, the bats have come alive to save the season. But imagine if they could do both at the same time? Pre-All Star break the Cubs pitching ranked just outside the top 10 in ERA and WHIP but can obviously use a little boost at the trade deadline. So what and who should they target?
Starting Pitching - Justin Steele is that guy and Marcus Stroman can be that guy most of his outings. But if you are really trying to make a playoff push with this team, we can't go into a series having to start Drew Smyly or Jameson Taillon. They are simply not good enough. Smyly has gone 6 innings once in his last 6 starts giving up 24 runs over 17.1 innings. Taillon on the other hand boasts a season long ERA of 5.75 but has been much better of late giving up only 4 runs over 19.1 innings in his last 3 starts. I think some realistic names here are Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. Either one of them will improve this rotation immediately.
Relief Pitching - Things, and my opinion, have changed slightly since the All-Star break. I think we've really found something in Alzolay as a closer and Daniel Palencia in high leverage situations. I also think Mark Leiter Jr. has gained the confidence of the the fan base and the team back. That being said, I still think they need to bolster the pen. The list remains the same:
David Bednar
Alex Lange
Giovanny Gallegos
Josh Hader
3rd Baseman - Morel has been closer to early 2023 call-up Morel but I still would like to see them add some 3B depth. Madrigal should be coming off the IL soon which will give the Cubs another option at 3B but I think it would be smart to add a corner infielder here at the deadline if the right person is available....Oh, and he is. Bring me Jeimer. Come on home J-Mo.
You can't tell me that this team doesn't feel like a Team of Destiny with the way some of these games have gone since the break. Late game amazing comebacks. Robbing game winning home runs and grand slams. Peaking at the right time to force this front office to go on a shopping spree. The pieces are starting to fall into place, the team is getting healthy, and the fan base never left. Give us a reason to pack 1060 W Addison in September. Give us a team that can win the division and start the winning culture a year before "the window".
Also, bonus video if you read this far of me hitting an absolute BOMB at Wrigley field today.
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