https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/page/91/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/searching-for-value-in-nico-hoerners-contact-only-bat-r1723/How much value is there in being Luis Arraez? Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner is running some experiments to find out. I love a paradox.  There's something poetic about two things that don't necessarily work together (but also somehow do?). Lucky for me, I spend my time (outside of the clas...1723Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:20:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/jameson-taillon-and-the-inexplicably-improved-fastball-r1725/Chicago Cubs righthander Jameson Taillon pitched seven strong innings against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday night. Since a clunker in Arizona to open his season, Taillon has a 2.76 ERA. What's behind his excellent five-start surge? He's neither missing bats at a high level nor keeping the...1725Mon, 28 Apr 2025 17:28:41 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/week-in-review-cubs-create-distance-with-division-foes-r1722/We all have unrealistically high expectations of what the Chicago Cubs should be. They are meeting them all, so far. Much more than laying the foundation for winning baseball in 2025, the Cubs have outplayed a slate of daunting opponents. Raised eyebrows at some questionable non-moves this w...1722Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:14:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/the-2025-chicago-cubs-are-historically-good-on-the-base-paths-r1721/The Chicago Cubs are off to a historic start to the season on the base paths. Exactly how historic are we talking? The Cubs have been a good baserunning team for quite a while now. Two seasons ago, they ranked eighth in baseball in FanGraphs’ baserunning runs above average metric (or BsR, fo...1721Sun, 27 Apr 2025 23:06:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/craig-counsells-lineups-are-doing-a-really-nice-job-covering-the-cubs-weaknesses-r1718/The Chicago Cubs are hammering left-handed pitching, but posting league-average numbers against righties. Is this a concern long-term, or a just an early season aberration? The Cubs are destroying left-handed pitching this season, even with three of their main hitters batting on the weak pla...1718Sun, 27 Apr 2025 11:56:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/is-michael-buschs-breakout-real-r1717/Prior to the 2024 season, the Dodgers offloaded Michael Busch onto the Cubs after he had failed to live up to his prospect hype in a crowded and stacked lineup. Perhaps surprisingly, Busch ended up making a significant contribution on the North Side, and this year, he's off to an even better sta...1717Sat, 26 Apr 2025 11:53:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/one-smaller-step-for-carson-kelly-one-giant-leap-for-carson-kellys-production-r1714/The Cubs signed a complementary catcher over the offseason. So far, what they're getting is one of the best hitters in baseball, and while that won't last, it's stemming from a real change. Somehow, if the season ended right now, Carson Kelly would be the best hitter in baseball for the year...1714Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:36:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/chicago-cubs-bullpen-could-use-help-and-a-few-minnesota-twins-might-be-available-r1707/The Minnesota Twins are off to a rough start, and could be headed for total disaster in 2025. The Cubs need impact additions to the bullpen. Could the two teams link up this season and cut a deal that works for both sides? It’s been another worrisome start to the season for the Cubs' bullpen...1707Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:02:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/with-kyle-tucker-maybe-he-will-maybe-he-wont-and-that-uncertainty-is-ok-r1712/Don't let great be the enemy of good.  (Famous last words, but) This is not a thinkpiece. When it comes to Kyle Tucker as a Cub, it's practical advice for all of us who call ourselves the faithful of Chicago's North Side ball club. What is the advice, you ask? Enjoy yourself. Earlier this we...1712Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:56:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/whats-next-for-cubs-at-third-base-after-matt-shaw-gage-workman-experiments-fail-r1710/Pitching moves were expected. Position player moves... less so. In between games of their quick two-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs shuffled the roster around a little bit. Just not quite in the way that we thought they would:   The pitching side of...1710Wed, 23 Apr 2025 22:37:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/in-needed-roster-shuffle-cubs-end-gage-workman-experiment-sign-nicky-lopez-as-bench-filler-r1711/After the latest in a series of bad games for the athletic but ultimately overmatched infield prospect, the Cubs cut bait Wednesday. They'll stop the gap with a more experienced, competent defender—but are more reliant on their starters for offense with each such move. Wednesday brought a fl...1711Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:56:35 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/since-last-we-talked-about-this-pete-crow-armstrong-began-swinging-less-it-worked-r1708/It's all about staying hot, now—by not letting the fact that you're hot get into your own head. Twelve days ago, Pete Crow-Armstrong was batting .211/.286/.263, and had yet to hit a home run on the young season. He was an absolute mess at the plate, but even then, you could hear the gatherin...1708Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:44:45 +0000