https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/page/134/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/sweeper-specialist-ethan-roberts-is-a-breath-of-fresh-air-in-cubs-bullpen-r1067/He's been through a lot to get this far, and he finds success in a much more interesting way than many of his contemporaries. The second-half success of the Chicago Cubs bullpen has been much discussed--as it should be. Their 2.55 second-half bullpen ERA leads baseball. Their 1.9 Fangraphs W...1067Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:14:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/a-whole-new-kind-of-dansby-swanson-has-joined-cubs-lineup-since-all-star-break-r1066/The quintessential throwback shortstop of his time is throwing his game back to a style he's never actually played before. The constant in Dansby Swanson's game--the meat in the sandwich, around which toppings and bread styles can change without the essence materially doing so--is his defens...1066Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:20:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/cubs-week-in-review-series-wins-waning-playoff-hopes-as-last-week-of-august-arrives-r1068/Stakeholders of big market teams all too often let good be the enemy of great. What I mean by this is that even in a week where the Cubs won four out of six games, we don't necessarily register the triumphs as anything more than what we should have gotten all along. Allow me to submit this week...1068Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:50:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/looking-at-the-2025-chicago-cubs-zips-offense-projections-r1063/With the Cubs' postseason chances dwindling a little by the day, we'll look forward to 2025 and where the Cubs might need help on offense. With the season rapidly winding down, leaving poor Chicagoans to wonder if Caleb Williams lives up to generational hype and if anyone in the league wants...1063Sat, 24 Aug 2024 14:28:40 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/the-chaotic-maybe-breakout-of-cubs-catcher-miguel-amaya-r1061/A major mechanical change made early last month has drawn a lot of attention, but it might be a bit of a red herring. As baseball fans, it can be frustratingly difficult to see the difference between a player making good moves on the mound or at the plate, and one who's failing. So many of t...1061Fri, 23 Aug 2024 11:40:44 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/cubs-signal-desire-for-stability-in-closer-role-who-can-provide-it-r1060/1060Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:10:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/what-do-we-really-want-from-cubs-rookie-pete-crow-armstrong-r1059/It's a good time to ask some big questions, even though we don't quite have their answers yet. I have a finite number of approaches to writing. Generally, I’m heading down one of three routes: push an agenda in favor of or against a narrative; draw attention to a particular player; or explor...1059Thu, 22 Aug 2024 11:25:47 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/since-electing-not-to-trade-mike-tauchman-cubs-have-absolutely-buried-him-on-the-bench-r1058/Even after leading the month with a walkoff double and a home run the next day, the team's erstwhile fourth outfielder has been virtually invisible. Back in spring training, Craig Counsell was proactive and firm. He sat down with Mike Tauchman right away to tell him he would be on the team,...1058Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:12:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/drew-smyly-keeps-getting-away-with-this-can-he-get-away-from-the-cubs-r1057/The sub-.500 Cubs jettisoned one expensive and unwanted reliever Tuesday. Could they try to shed another, in the hope of sneaking underneath the luxury tax threshold after all? In their series-opening win over the Tigers at Wrigley Field Tuesday night, the Cubs turned the eighth inning over...1057Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:21:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/the-two-problems-facing-the-cubs-as-another-important-offseason-looms-r1056/There's a difference between what this team is and what it ought to be. That much is clear. Unfortunately, the club's irrational belief in its own roster has foreclosed some options for fixing that. If you’re like me, you’re punting on the remainder of the 2024 Chicago Cubs. If you’re even m...1056Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:18:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/since-joining-cubs-organization-jack-neely-is-throwing-whatever-lies-beyond-a-gyro-slider-r1055/This is going to be fascinating. It might be insane, or it might just be ugly, but it won't be boring. On Tuesday, the Cubs cut Héctor Neris loose, designating him for assignment and immediately releasing him, after he'd previously cleared waivers. The move makes way for the addition of Jack...1055Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:10:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/cubs-part-ways-with-veteran-reliever-h%C3%A9ctor-neris-lighten-2025-payroll-r1054/So long, Heart Attack Héctor. May you be less Nervous in your future Nerises. The Héctor Neris era in Chicago has been tidily terminated--in direct contravention of the way he often finished games as the primary closer-by-default for Chicago. Neris was a disappointment in his role, pitching...1054Tue, 20 Aug 2024 19:04:39 +0000