https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/156/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/ian-happ-is-playing-defense-like-the-ball-is-alive-and-hates-him-r355/Remarkably, I do think the numbers (Defensive Runs Saved, from Sports Info Solutions, says Ian Happ is 3 runs better than an average left fielder; Defensive Runs Prevented, from Baseball Prospectus, has him 6.5 runs to the good) are telling us the truth. Somehow, someway, Ian Happ is getting mor...355Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:15:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/patrick-wisdom-and-the-final-trial-of-the-2023-chicago-cubs-r354/There have been as many moments when the game seemed to tell Patrick Wisdom he wasn't wanted as there have been when the 2023 Cubs seemed dead and ready for burial. Wisdom wasn't drafted out of high school, though some part of that was because he was committed strongly to Saint Mary's. He was a...354Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:38:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/where-justin-steeles-cy-young-chances-stand-entering-the-final-week-r353/Confession time: I was never that high on Justin Steele. A mid-rotation arm? Sure. But a frontline starter capable of hanging with some of the top hurlers around the league? It wasn’t something I was buying, entering 2023. It won’t be the last time I’m wrong, but Steele has spent the bulk of thi...353Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:33:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/heres-the-lineup-the-cubs-should-use-in-all-nine-remaining-games-r352/By no means were the bats the primary reason why the Cubs just dropped a series to the lowly Pirates. The Cubs' pitching staff is running out of steam, and their ace let a game get away from him at the worst possible time. Still, they have missed too many opportunities to score--to come from beh...352Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:02:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/if-the-cubs-miss-the-playoffs-theres-one-man-to-blame-r347/Before I get into the meat of this piece and go all scorched-earth on who I consider the main culprit in this difficult end to the season, it’s fair to note that there has just been some unusually bad luck baked into what’s happening to the Cubs lately. It’s hard to explain in detail if you have...347Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:16:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/destination-the-show-episode-6-r350/In this episode, we debate the ceiling of Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez, talk through potential 2024 ROY candidates for the Twins, Cubs, and Brewers, and answer listener questions on AFL rosters and the Twins 2022 pitching draft haul. You can support the show by downloading it...350Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:15:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/how-justin-steele-failed-to-stop-the-bleeding-and-how-david-ross-could-have-r351/Physically, Justin Steele looks and pitches a lot like a young Jon Lester. He doesn't have as deep a repertoire as Lester had, but he uses the same glove-side movement to get in on right-handed batters and generate weak contact, while overwhelming lefties with the same stuff, running away from t...351Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:42:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-cubs-regained-their-plate-discipline-monday-night-but-now-face-an-immediate-test-r349/When this team has done well this season, it has very often been because they took tough pitches, fouled off others, and made opposing pitching staffs work themselves thin. Only the Brewers have seen more pitches per plate appearance this year than have the Cubs, and even that is a new developme...349Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:39:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/chicago-cubs-health-check-whos-hurt-whos-healthy-and-whos-coming-back-r346/The Cubs have enjoyed pretty good health this year, all things considered. The wheels have seemed to come off at just the wrong time, though. Let's round up the wounded soldiers. The 60-Day Injured List Crew 60 Days and Counting These guys aren’t going to return this season, but there rem...346Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:04:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/why-are-the-cubs-skipping-jameson-taillon-instead-of-javier-assad-r348/The off day Monday was the team's second in five days, and it made it possible for them to shorten their starting rotation to four for a turn without burning anyone out. To no one's shock, Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks will start Wednesday and Thursday, setting them up to start next Tuesday a...348Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:29:30 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/despite-a-brutal-week-on-the-bases-the-cubs-have-been-great-there-this-year-r344/The frustration was palpable for the Chicago Cubs this week as they lost two of three to the lowly Colorado Rockies. Despite pounding out 33 hits, the Cubs scored just 12 runs, in part because of all of the outs that were made on the bases.   Seiya Suzuki was thrown out at home plate. Pete...344Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:23:12 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/this-sucks-but-dansby-swanson-has-been-terrible-in-the-clutch-all-season-r343/  No one wants to feel badly about Dansby Swanson's first year with the Cubs. He's been awesome. He's been delightful. His defensive play at shortstop is even better than advertised, and his leadership is surely one reason why the team even reached September in position to play meaningful g...343Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:32:02 +0000