https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/page/148/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/how-mike-tauchmans-approach-flexes-to-meet-every-moment-r861/He's not just the Chicago Cubs' WAR leader, at this point. He's an outright leader. He's not just a valuable role player; he's their MVP. Mike Tauchman was the reason the Cubs stayed afloat so long in 2023, and in 2024, he's been their heartbeat. It was just cute, at first. It was a nice lit...861Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:40:15 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/chicago-cubs-trade-deadline-needs-targets-offense-hitters/With the calendar turning to June just a few days ago, the trade deadline became less than two months away, so it may be time to begin asking the ever-important questions of what the Cubs can do at the trade deadline. At the time I am writing this, the Cubs sit in the NL WC3 spot, even though it...854Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:47:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/how-unlucky-has-christopher-morel-been-going-to-the-tape-pt-2-r860/After mashing his 11th home run Tuesday night, Christopher Morel is on pace to approach 30 for the Cubs this season. His overall numbers remain insufficient to his role as their cleanup hitter, though, so let's finish digging into the idea that he's been grossly unlucky. Yesterday, I wrote a...860Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:01:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/a-team-wide-identity-crisis-sloppy-glovework-still-plaguing-team-built-around-defense-r859/For the second time on what's only been a four-game homestand so far, the Chicago Cubs overcame a huge, multi-run defensive failure to win a game. It was exciting. Maybe it will be galvanizing. But it sure isn't what this team was supposed to be about. Identity is an interesting thing within...859Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:09:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/addressing-the-cubs-trade-deadline-needs-bullpen-bullpen-bullpen-and-more-bullpen-r844/As the calendar ticks over to June, it's time for us to start considering what the trade deadline might look like from a Chicago Cubs point of view. The pitching side of that question brings us interesting dichotomies: a rotation that feels deep and strong and a bullpen that feels paper thin. ...844Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:02:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/how-unlucky-has-christopher-morel-been-going-to-the-tape-pt-1-r858/It's early June, and the Chicago Cubs' everyday cleanup hitter is hitting .195/.307/.371. Under normal circumstances, this would be a daily topic of anguished, even livid conversation. This seems to be a different case, though, because of who the player is and how he's come by this stat line. Le...858Tue, 04 Jun 2024 23:10:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/chicago-cubs-pitcher-of-the-month-may-2024-r847/While the Cubs' bats were fairly quiet in May, the pitching staff was able to keep them in the game most times out. Which pitchers were the best for the Cubs last month? Héctor Neris has been in the big leagues for a long time, and at times, he has had a ton of success. Shota Imanaga was the...847Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:11:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/stormy-present-spells-uncertain-future-for-seiya-suzuki-in-right-field-r855/It's a sporadic problem. It doesn't crop up often, and there's no predicting when it will. Because Seiya Suzuki's defense is having such a huge negative impact, though, it might be a problem on which the team needs to act decisively. For myriad reasons, Saturday night was a messy affair betw...855Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:16:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/what-happens-if-it-turns-out-the-cubs-paid-top-dollar-for-a-manager-in-decline-r852/Absolutely no one thinks about managerial aging curves in MLB. The very notion of one seems almost nonsensical. The thing is, it might be a thing--and that might mean trouble for the Chicago Cubs. Like player aging curves, naturally, managerial aging curves are imperfect descriptions of indi...852Mon, 03 Jun 2024 23:10:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/chicago-cubs-hitter-of-the-month-may-2024-r846/After a hot start to the season in April, the Cubs struggled badly this month as they dealt with injuries and underperformances up and down the roster. Nevertheless, a few hitters held their own and deserve to be praised for holding down the fort while the team collapsed around them. It was...846Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:13:15 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/run-a-deep-dive-on-third-base-coach-wavin-willie-harris-r848/In Willie Harris's three-plus seasons as the third base coach of the Chicago Cubs, they have been the most aggressive team in baseball at trying to score--and they've been thrown out the most often. The outs--especially a few recent ones--have earned Harris a lot of criticism. Is that fair?...848Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:57:12 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/monday-morning-north-sider-may-is-over-happ-is-hot-horton-is-hurt-and-more-r850/At long last, May is over. And yet, the Cubs’ problems still persist, as Cade Horton is out with a lat injury. At least Ian Happ is swinging a hot stick at the plate. The Cubs went 10-18 last month. I’m not sure about you, but watching the Cubs go from a war for first place in the NL Central...850Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:28:00 +0000