Why We Are Losing

[sunnydoo]

Batters (7+):

.223/.306/.603- 27 runs in 24 games. That is 2nd/3rd/2nd worst respectively in the NL.

 

Pitching (7+):

 

4.14 ERA, .247/.321/.761. 36 runs allowed.

 

Bullpen (Total)

 

0-7, 3.34 ERA, 57% Save Percentage. Only team not to win in MLB from the Pen this season.

 

Wuertz, Dempster, Eyre, Cherry, Ohman 0-1

Howry 0-2

 

Run Differential 1-6: Cubs +30

Run Differential 7+: Oppo +9

 

To me, it looks like this team is just going through the numbers once we hit the stretch. Lou needs to teach them how to close out the deal.

 

Discuss.

[rawaction]

San Francisco has the worst OBP after the 7th and by far the worst ERA after the 7th......they are 13-11.

 

For the record in 2006, the Cubs and Pirates (worst 2 teams in the NL) were 3-4 in ERA after the 7th inning.

 

The Cardinals scored the fewest runs, and they and the Mets were .009 ahead of the Cubs in OPS after the 7th, good for a 10th place tie in the NL.

 

This argument reeks of "the Cubs aren't good in the clutch".

[Soriano12]

Lou needs to teach them how to close out the deal.

 

And how would he go about doing that?

[soccer10k]

To answer the topic question, because it's the Cubs.

[CubColtPacer]

San Francisco has the worst OBP after the 7th and by far the worst ERA after the 7th......they are 13-11.

 

Maybe overall, but not in close games:

 

Hitting in close and late:

SF: .264/.308/.372

Cubs: .211/.298/.250

 

Now, pitching it is the opposite:

Cubs: 2.58 ERA

San Fran: 4.11 ERA

 

The team has simply not hit well late in close ballgames. It's hard to figure out exactly why.

[CubColtPacer]

San Francisco has the worst OBP after the 7th and by far the worst ERA after the 7th......they are 13-11.

 

For the record in 2006, the Cubs and Pirates (worst 2 teams in the NL) were 3-4 in ERA after the 7th inning.

 

The Cardinals scored the fewest runs, and they and the Mets were .009 ahead of the Cubs in OPS after the 7th, good for a 10th place tie in the NL.

 

This argument reeks of "the Cubs aren't good in the clutch".

 

There's a big difference between 2006 and 2007. In 2006 the team was one of the worst in both hitting categories and pitching categories.

 

This team is 6th in the NL in runs/game, 10th in OBP, 6th in SLG, 6th in OPS, 5th in ERA-all those would indicate they should probably be one of the top 6 teams in the NL in wins at least. Instead, they are tied for 12th.

[jersey cubs fan]

The team has simply not hit well late in close ballgames. It's hard to figure out exactly why.

 

Probably the same reason they haven't hit well in any situation for years. They are dumb. They have a dumb approach to hitting, and keep finding more guys with dumb approaches. They are a swing first and ask questions later organization. Occasionally they jump all over a starting pitcher with that approach, but if a guy is good enough to make it through one, he can usually get through them all.

 

 

Alsonso Soriano is the epitome of the stupid but talented hitter. He gets himself out all the time because he swings at everything. That's the type of guy Hendry holds on a pedestal. They've got Lee with a good approach and Ramirez whose production masks a mediocre approach, but just about everybody else that plays frequently has a terrible approach. Theriot was a little different, but he just doesn't have enough talent to be all that productive.

[TruffleShuffle]

This argument reeks of "the Cubs aren't good in the clutch".

 

Given the difference between their Pythagorean record and their actual record, and their record in close games, I'd say that's the biggest reason why the Cubs are losing.

[rawaction]

This argument reeks of "the Cubs aren't good in the clutch".

 

Given the difference between their Pythagorean record and their actual record, and their record in close games, I'd say that's the biggest reason why the Cubs are losing.

 

If they scored more runs in the first 6 innings, they'd wouldn't have the problem of losing close games.

 

And again, then how do you explain SF being 2 games over .500 and being just as bad hitting late and much worse pitching late?

Edited May 1, 2007 by rawaction

[jersey cubs fan]

This team is 6th in the NL in runs/game, 10th in OBP, 6th in SLG, 6th in OPS, 5th in ERA-all those would indicate they should probably be one of the top 6 teams in the NL in wins at least. Instead, they are tied for 12th.

 

How do you figure they should be top 6? 10th in OBP outweighs the 6th SLG and 6th OPS. At best, such a stat line should give you something like the 7th or 8th best teams.

 

But this early in the season, it's hard to correlate what those stats say should be their record, and their record. One 12-run game throws everything off. The Cubs might be 6th in runs, but I know at one point they were 4th. The Cubs are 9th in runs scored right now, but one game could vault them to 6th or drop them to 12th. It's just not useful right now.

 

The Cubs are 13th in walks taken this year, a trend that has gone on for far too long, and is likely to continue. And they have just 3 guys who aren't hitting poorly. Three guys, Lee, Ramirez and DeRosa, are propping up this lineup.

 

It's not hard to understand why they fail so often "when it matters" because more often than not, the hitter at the plate "when it matters" isn't any good.

 

One guy is getting on base frequently (Lee), one guy is getting on at a good pace (Ramirez). DeRosa and Theroit have gotten on at an okay rate, but for Theriot at least, that was all yesterday's doing. Everybody else has a terrible OBP. If you are counting on 2 guys to carry your team, then it's not hard for teams to avoid losing the game to them.

 

THE CUBS ARE MAKING OUTS FAR TOO FREQUENTLY.

 

That shouldn't surprise anybody, since that is the single category that has consistently dogged this team for years.

[Mephistopheles]

We're fine. Everyone needs to shut up. The record might not be what you want it to be, but the Cubs are playing better than anyone else in the division and appear to be the best team at scoring runs and the best team at limiting runs. With 80% of the season remaining, which is more important? Of course it's the fact the Cubs are playing well.

[jersey cubs fan]

We're fine. Everyone needs to shut up.

 

This is ridiculous, although par for the course. Just like Cubs not taking walks and losing games.

[CubinNY]

This team is 6th in the NL in runs/game, 10th in OBP, 6th in SLG, 6th in OPS, 5th in ERA-all those would indicate they should probably be one of the top 6 teams in the NL in wins at least. Instead, they are tied for 12th.

 

How do you figure they should be top 6? 10th in OBP outweighs the 6th SLG and 6th OPS. At best, such a stat line should give you something like the 7th or 8th best teams.

 

But this early in the season, it's hard to correlate what those stats say should be their record, and their record. One 12-run game throws everything off. The Cubs might be 6th in runs, but I know at one point they were 4th. The Cubs are 9th in runs scored right now, but one game could vault them to 6th or drop them to 12th. It's just not useful right now.

 

The Cubs are 13th in walks taken this year, a trend that has gone on for far too long, and is likely to continue. And they have just 3 guys who aren't hitting poorly. Three guys, Lee, Ramirez and DeRosa, are propping up this lineup.

 

It's not hard to understand why they fail so often "when it matters" because more often than not, the hitter at the plate "when it matters" isn't any good.

 

One guy is getting on base frequently (Lee), one guy is getting on at a good pace (Ramirez). DeRosa and Theroit have gotten on at an okay rate, but for Theriot at least, that was all yesterday's doing. Everybody else has a terrible OBP. If you are counting on 2 guys to carry your team, then it's not hard for teams to avoid losing the game to them.

 

THE CUBS ARE MAKING OUTS FAR TOO FREQUENTLY.

 

That shouldn't surprise anybody, since that is the single category that has consistently dogged this team for years.

they are a broken record that keeps going back to the same place.

[Soriano12]

Everyone needs to shut up.

 

Yes, Master :?

[swordsman]

Does anyone track number of batters per inning for a team? Or the average number of batters per inning?

[jersey cubs fan]

Does anyone track number of batters per inning for a team? Or the average number of batters per inning?

 

Why? Just look at OBP, the higher the OBP, the more batters a team will have per inning.

[sunnydoo]

Lou needs to teach them how to close out the deal.

 

And how would he go about doing that?

 

Possible suggestions:

 

Sports Psychologists

Motivational Speakers

Dirty Looks

Switching Take Me Out to the Ballgame with Eye of the Tiger

 

and as a last resort:

Clubbing over the head with blunt object

[Soriano12]

Lou needs to teach them how to close out the deal.

 

And how would he go about doing that?

 

Possible suggestions:

 

Sports Psychologists

Motivational Speakers

Dirty Looks

Switching Take Me Out to the Ballgame with Eye of the Tiger

and as a last resort:

Clubbing over the head with blunt object

 

That would be sweet.

[cubweiser03]

Beer sales are shut down in the 7th. Cubs shut it down in the 7th. Coincidence? When in doubt, blame beer.

 

The offense hitting the breaks late is pretty strange. This offense should thrive against weak pitching and pound the ball harder when the opposing bully comes in.

[JeffH]

Baseball arithmetic:

 

Lots of bad baseball players + Lots of overrated baseball players = Lots of losses = Chicago Cubs

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

We're losing because we suck. I thought it was that simple.

[Chocolate Milk]

I agree we need more clutch-i-ness.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

We're losing because we suck. I thought it was that simple.

 

 

In lieu of trying to explain it, let's allow the Cubs' performance speak for itself.

 

We. Are. Pathetic.

[brinoch]

The Cubs don't get on base enough. It's the same thing it's been since ... well... I've been alive.

[BigbadB]

I don't know why they suck, so I'm going golfing tomorrow.