Cubs have lead the MLB in strikeouts every year since 2001?

[badnews]

Has this ever been done before? It seems like a somewhat remarkable run to me, considering if you look at the other teams in the top 5 it changes pretty regularly throughout the years.

[nilodnayr]

And besides this year and 2002, it wasn't even close.

 

Too bad 5 out of the last 6 years we were top 7 in walks allowed.

[UMFan83]

Interesting because Larry Rothschild has been the Cubs pitching coach since 2002...

[nilodnayr]

Interesting because Larry Rothschild has been the Cubs pitching coach since 2002...

 

Matt Clement, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano didn't hurt...

[jersey cubs fan]

Interesting because Larry Rothschild has been the Cubs pitching coach since 2002...

 

Matt Clement, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano didn't hurt...

 

It also helps to have your non strikeout guys be like Ted Lilly, and being able to call up Hill from the minors. Farnsworth, Howry, Eyre, Ohman and Wuertz all struck out guys at solid rates for many relief innings. I think it's a combo of Hendry preferring big hard throwers, and Rothschild preaching a "miss the bat" approach.

[TheDude]

I think it's a combo of Hendry preferring big hard throwers, and Rothschild preaching a "miss the bat" approach.

 

These guys also seem to favor the 'effectively wild' guys with hard breaking stuff, even if they aren't the hardest throwers.

[Banedon]

Interesting because Larry Rothschild has been the Cubs pitching coach since 2002...

 

Matt Clement, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano didn't hurt...

 

Kerry Wood has also been known to strike out a batter or two.