https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/page/3/?d=7News: Chicago Cubs Historyenhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/luis-valbuena-the-man-who-kept-kris-bryants-seat-warm-r1367/The 2016-era teams are obviously the most fascinating from the last quarter century, but I've recently become interested in the pre-World Series teams (i.e., the ~2007-2014 teams) and what they did and didn't do that led to that fateful squad. Over on the Players Project, we've recently examined...1367Sun, 05 Jan 2025 19:22:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/looking-back-on-cubs-wild-2023-comeback-against-mariners-r1340/After the second inning, the game looked like one to turn off and forget, but the boys in blue had fight in them and turned it into a memorable game for plenty of Cubs fans.  Headed to the bottom of the third inning, the Cubs trailed 7-1, and it felt like it was going to be one of those tur...1340Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:40:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/merry-christmas-fondly-remembering-the-christian-bethancourt-game-r1325/One August day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bethancourt got his occasional start behind the plate, but things went awry. Kyle Hendricks got the start and had one of the ugly, unfortunate showings that defined his final season with the team. After six innings, Chicago was in a 10-3 hole, and i...1325Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:59:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/the-chicago-cubs-players-project-round-up-2016-world-series-edition-r1328/What is the Players Project? It's a community-driven, wiki-style project that focuses on Cubs players of all stripes. It's open to all North Side Baseball users and we've had contributions for current players, past players, and players who never even made the major leagues but played in the Cubs...1328Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:26:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/jason-hammel-a-forgotten-role-player-in-the-cubs-2016-championship-team-r1297/Of course, most will probably get Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, and Kyle Hendricks right off the bat. While I did manage to get the fourth pitcher, it took me a beat or two longer than the other three. Jason Hammel started 31 games for the Cubs in 2015 and followed that up by starting 30 games in 20...1297Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:19:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/jon-lieber-the-forgotten-anchor-of-early-2000s-cubs-squads-r1246/The 2001 season was a wacky one for the Cubs. It was an 88-win season sandwiched between two seasons with 90+ losses. Nothing really stands out on the offensive side as to the spike in wins. Only Sammy Sosa posted a bWAR above 2.5 that season among all Cubs batters (granted, it was 10 WAR b...1246Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:13:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/second-guessing-cubs-drafts-the-2007-mlb-draft-first-round-pick-josh-vitters-r1224/Playing armchair quarterback (or general manager) to your team's play and transactions is easy. You also trust your organization to scout profusely and plan and discuss the best ways forward. That being said, I was dubious leading up to the 2007 MLB Draft regarding how the Cubs would procee...1224Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:16:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/ross-barnes-was-the-master-of-the-fair-foul-hit-yes-that-was-a-real-thing-in-baseball-r1218/Today, we’re going to try something new. Last offseason, I wrote seven different Remember Some Cubs pieces on the following players: Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Mark Bellhorn, Steve Trachsel, Chris Coghlan, Carlos Marmol, and Matt Murton. All players who played on the Cubs in the 21st century, o...1218Sat, 09 Nov 2024 14:17:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/kevin-orie-was-the-cubs-third-baseman-of-the-future-for-a-moment-r956/Since Ron Santo was unceremoniously jettisoned crosstown to the White Sox, third base became a bit of a black hole for the North Siders. Following the December 1973 trade of Santo, this is the list of third basemen who logged the most innings there each season until 1997: Bill Madlock Ste...956Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:18:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/remember-some-cubs-the-chaotic-dominance-of-carlos-marmol-r595/To that point in the season, Marmol had a 6.00 ERA, and had just given up four runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a disastrous outing a few days prior. After walking the first two hitters he faced, Marmol then struck out the next three in a row, putting out the fire that he had started....595Sun, 11 Feb 2024 16:10:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/remember-some-cubs-mighty-mike-fontenot-r563/The 2008 Chicago Cubs demonstrated just how fun a baseball season can be when everything goes right. Geovany Soto broke out as the team’s starting catcher and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee provided steady production and star powe...563Sun, 21 Jan 2024 12:41:23 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs-history/mark-bellhorn-switch-hit-home-runs-same-inning-2002/The date was August 29, 2002, and the Cubs were in Milwaukee for what was, essentially, a battle for last place in the National League Central. Mark Bellhorn stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth inning, facing lefthander Andrew Lorraine. Bellhorn, hitting right-handed, hit a home run to...514Mon, 25 Dec 2023 14:16:03 +0000