Hitting needs to improve

[CubFaninPA]

There's no doubt pitching upgrades are needed, especially in the bullpen but pitching didn't lose this series to the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers scored exactly two runs in each game and won two of them. The Cubs were shut out in the first and only scored once in the last game. Since trading for hitters doesn't seem to be in the cards, perhaps some internal moves could be made. When Shaw comes off the injured list, he could platoon with Happ in left field against left handers. Ayers could be brought up and given some at bats as DH to see if he can hit major league pitching. If he can, he could be tested behind the plate.

Are the Cubs leading the league in hitting into double plays? It sure seems like it. Are some hitters getting bonuses for staring at third strikes that are clearly in the strike zone? It happens so often with certain hitters I wonder about that.

[Jason Ross]

 

[Radar3454]

22 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

 

Pittsburgh and Wash wouldn't have been in my top 5 for league leaders in runs

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

The Yankees have a top 3 pitching staff in all of baseball and the boys had a couple bad games. It happens.

[Post Count Padder]

As a fellow Cubs fan in PA, welcome!

I am not that concerned. The team is a little streaky and ran into some good pitching. 

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

The Yankees have a top 3 pitching staff in all of baseball and the boys had a couple bad games. It happens.

And the wind was blowing in at 20 mph each game. Neither team hit. Cubs were one boneheaded non challenge away from tying the game yesterday. Or one bad Rea pitch from winning it. They can use a right handed bat to play left, or Shaw needs to get back soon. But the offense is fine, otherwise. It is a lower priority need, but it is a need. 

Edited Monday at 02:24 PM by Rcal10

[Zuxitu]

On 8/3/2026 at 6:20 AM, CubFaninPA said:

There's no doubt pitching upgrades are needed, especially in the bullpen but pitching didn't lose this series to the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers scored exactly two runs in each game and won two of them. The Cubs were shut out in the first and only scored once in the last game. Since trading for hitters doesn't seem to be in the cards, perhaps some internal moves could be made. When Shaw comes off the injured list, he could platoon with Happ in left field against left handers. Ayers could be brought up and given some at bats as DH to see if he can hit major league pitching. If he can, he could be tested behind the plate.

Are the Cubs leading the league in hitting into double plays? It sure seems like it. Are some hitters getting bonuses for staring at third strikes that are clearly in the strike zone? It happens so often with certain hitters I wonder about that.

No, the Chicago Cubs do not lead the league in the number of double plays, although as of August 2026, they are in the top half of the list and average 0.67 double plays per game.

[Brock Beauchamp]

40 minutes ago, Zuxitu said:

No, the Chicago Cubs do not lead the league in the number of double plays, although as of August 2026, they are in the top half of the list and average 0.67 double plays per game.

Welcome to NSBB!

[bukie]

1 hour ago, Zuxitu said:

No, the Chicago Cubs do not lead the league in the number of double plays, although as of August 2026, they are in the top half of the list and average 0.67 double plays per game.

Also, having a lot of double plays isn't a bad offensive sign so much as a sign you get a lot of guys on base.

[macarthur31]

 

I share the video not just because the clickbaity title reveals how my algorithm is tilted (though to be fair, the back end of his opening statement after he calls them frauds is, "they're also very good...particularly their offense..."), but rather since the Cubs have similar outcomes to the Brewers, you see them in comparison on the data tables shared.

The "too long, didn't watch" of it is:  Since 2025, the Brewers have collectively been an elite run producing team because they are disproportiately good vs. pitchers who don't throw hard, don't throw strikes, and don't prevent runs, a.k.a. "The Mitch Keller Theory" because over the course of 162 games, teams have to account for 1400+ innings, and half of those they're facing a pitcher worse that Mitch Keller.

OK, here's the Cub side of it:

• Since '25, the Cubs have the best wOBA against the bottom 48 pitchers (.380)
  • However, unlike the Brewers, they have the best wOBA (.311) against the top 48 pitchers.  
• The Cubs are the 3rd BEST vs pitches below 98 mph.
  • However, they're the 3rd WORST wOBA vs. pitches above 98MPH
    • This is significant given that the playoff pitching ramps up in velo as teams are facing the 1-3 starter and high lev relievers.  (Note the average 4S FB during the '25 regular season is clocked at 94.5 MPH v '25 playoffs at 95.8 MPH.)
• Like the Brewers, the Cubs are super patient - both teams are at the bottom of the Chase Rate% and Swing% tables in 2026, and conversely the top of the BB% rate.
• While the Brewers are 28th in HRs since 2025 (266), the Cubs are 4th (357).
  • And a scan of the '26 leaderboards show that the Cubs are 6th in SLG (.415) while the Brewers are 20th (.398)

 

All this to say, yeah Yankees series was hella frustrating; but in the aggregate, the Cubs have terrific balance on offense, even with their weakness against elite velo.  In light of this, this really affirms why Jed pushed the pedal down at TDL.  

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by macarthur31

[Bertz]

25 minutes ago, macarthur31 said:

 

I share the video not just because the clickbaity title reveals how my algorithm is tilted (though to be fair, the back end of his opening statement after he calls them frauds is, "they're also very good...particularly their offense..."), but rather since the Cubs have similar outcomes to the Brewers, you see them in comparison on the data tables shared.

The "too long, didn't watch" of it is:  Since 2025, the Brewers have collectively been an elite run producing team because they are disproportiately good vs. pitchers who don't throw hard, don't throw strikes, and don't prevent runs, a.k.a. "The Mitch Keller Theory" because over the course of 162 games, teams have to account for 1400+ innings, and half of those they're facing a pitcher worse that Mitch Keller.

OK, here's the Cub side of it:

• Since '25, the Cubs have the best wOBA against the bottom 48 pitchers (.380)
  • However, unlike the Brewers, they have the best wOBA (.311) against the top 48 pitchers.  
• The Cubs are the 3rd BEST vs pitches below 98 mph.
  • However, they're the 3rd WORST wOBA vs. pitches above 98MPH
    • This is significant given that the playoff pitching ramps up in velo as teams are facing the 1-3 starter and high lev relievers.  (Note the average 4S FB during the '25 regular season is clocked at 94.5 MPH v '25 playoffs at 95.8 MPH.)
• Like the Brewers, the Cubs are super patient - both teams are at the bottom of the Chase Rate% and Swing% tables in 2026, and conversely the top of the BB% rate.
• While the Brewers are 28th in HRs since 2025 (266), the Cubs are 4th (357).
  • And a scan of the '26 leaderboards show that the Cubs are 6th in SLG (.415) while the Brewers are 20th (.398)

 

All this to say, yeah Yankees series was hella frustrating; but in the aggregate, the Cubs have terrific balance on offense, even with their weakness against elite velo.  In light of this, this really affirms why Jed pushed the pedal down at TDL.  

 

 

This is really good!  I knew the Brewers where using an elite lack of chase to do a lot of damage, anf they've moved away from launch angle, but I didn't know a lot of the rest.

They're basically a finesse offense, which is an interesting zag to everyone else's zig.  I do wonder if simply another 3-4 teams aping them and fighting for the same types of hitters. would kill the viability of the strategy.

[Jason Ross]

56 minutes ago, macarthur31 said:

 

I share the video not just because the clickbaity title reveals how my algorithm is tilted (though to be fair, the back end of his opening statement after he calls them frauds is, "they're also very good...particularly their offense..."), but rather since the Cubs have similar outcomes to the Brewers, you see them in comparison on the data tables shared.

The "too long, didn't watch" of it is:  Since 2025, the Brewers have collectively been an elite run producing team because they are disproportiately good vs. pitchers who don't throw hard, don't throw strikes, and don't prevent runs, a.k.a. "The Mitch Keller Theory" because over the course of 162 games, teams have to account for 1400+ innings, and half of those they're facing a pitcher worse that Mitch Keller.

OK, here's the Cub side of it:

• Since '25, the Cubs have the best wOBA against the bottom 48 pitchers (.380)
  • However, unlike the Brewers, they have the best wOBA (.311) against the top 48 pitchers.  
• The Cubs are the 3rd BEST vs pitches below 98 mph.
  • However, they're the 3rd WORST wOBA vs. pitches above 98MPH
    • This is significant given that the playoff pitching ramps up in velo as teams are facing the 1-3 starter and high lev relievers.  (Note the average 4S FB during the '25 regular season is clocked at 94.5 MPH v '25 playoffs at 95.8 MPH.)
• Like the Brewers, the Cubs are super patient - both teams are at the bottom of the Chase Rate% and Swing% tables in 2026, and conversely the top of the BB% rate.
• While the Brewers are 28th in HRs since 2025 (266), the Cubs are 4th (357).
  • And a scan of the '26 leaderboards show that the Cubs are 6th in SLG (.415) while the Brewers are 20th (.398)

 

All this to say, yeah Yankees series was hella frustrating; but in the aggregate, the Cubs have terrific balance on offense, even with their weakness against elite velo.  In light of this, this really affirms why Jed pushed the pedal down at TDL.  

 

 

I meant to share this. Thank you for sharing it. I watched this last night and I adored it. 

[mul21]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

This is really good!  I knew the Brewers where using an elite lack of chase to do a lot of damage, anf they've moved away from launch angle, but I didn't know a lot of the rest.

They're basically a finesse offense, which is an interesting zag to everyone else's zig.  I do wonder if simply another 3-4 teams aping them and fighting for the same types of hitters. would kill the viability of the strategy.

I've had the exact same thought.  Patience and hard ground balls are the hallmarks of their current strategy and it makes me wonder how sustainable it is.