CandidCubs

Fireman. Actor. Father. Award-Winning Harry Caray Impersonator. Die-Hard Cub Fan. And now, North Side Baseball's Fan Feature. Patrick Eriksen spent some time with me this week to discuss fandom, fatherhood, and his awesome Cub Cave. Craig Counsell. Pat and I hopped on a video call this week and that was the subject for the first 10 minutes of our call. It was immediately apparent Pat was an extremely charismatic fan and a perfect choice for this weeks feature. Pat currently works as a firefighter in Dekalb while living in the Chicago Southwest Suburbs. In addition, he is a regular extra on the hit show "Chicago Fire." I was able to talk to him live from his Facebook-business page location, Wrigley Fire Bar and Grille. Pat's space features a smorgasbord of Cub memories and memorabilia. He joked about his lack of real estate. Pat and I bonded over our time in insurance. The Northern Illinois University (NIU) grad started his career there, until he pivoted into Miller distribution. After his time there, he became a firemen. The "Fire" in his bar's name is meaningful given his profession and his family history. Pat is a 3rd generation firefighter with relatives who were present and perished on duty during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. In the seldom spaces in which there is not a Cub memory, Pat has several firefighting pieces to honor his profession and family. Cub Fan Origin Story Pat was born in New York, but moved to Chicago when his father took a role at Motorola. His family quickly adopted the Cubs and became regular attendees to the Friendly Confines. Pat recalled his first game was part of a cub scout outing and hearing the PA announcer inform the crowd of it being Johnny Bench's final game at Wrigley. I did some digging and it looks like Pat saw a winner. As many Cub fans can relate, a budding fandom in the 80's would find yourself enamored with Ryne Sandberg. Pat was lucky enough to witness the "Sandberg Game" in 1984. In addition, he has a photo with Sandberg in the parking lot before a game. Pat has had the opportunity to rub-elbows with Sandberg over the years at the Cub Convention and at Wrigley. *Insert Sandberg Photo attached here* Pat now enjoys games with his family, seeing 10-15 games a year. Last year, Pat attended his first Cubs Convention with his son. Pat and his son can be found around the stadium finding autographs to add to his collection. Top Cubs Memories In 2016, Pat was on duty at the firehouse for Game 7 of the World Series. Luckily for him, all emergency calls held off until about 15 minutes after the game. They received a call at that point to respond to a couch on fire in the middle of Greek Row at NIU. For those unaware, Dekalb is a college town with events centering around campus. When Pat and his team arrived, they were treated to a mob of happy fans celebrating in the streets that could rival the tandem celebration on Clark and Addison. The concerns of the mild couch fire faded as strangers hugged Pat and his fellow firemen. Eventually, they put out the fire, but not prior to creating a life-long memory. During Pat's time at Miller, he was invited to the company's box for a game. Pat had become well known by his co-workers for his convincing Harry Caray impersonation. After the game, Pat's boss ran him down to show him something. The scene Pat described felt familiar to may of the Harry anecdotes that live on: Harry was in the hall waiting for the elevator, clearly a few deep. Pat's boss encouraged him to do his impersonation for Harry. Sure enough, Pat mustered up the impression. Harry exploded laughing, complimented him, and stumbled into the elevator. Wrigley Fire Bar and Grille - Pat's Cub Cave In this video, you get a taste of a walk through of the bar area, with the additional treat of Pat's Harry Impersonation. His collection started in the 80's and has continued to grow. The original "Cub Cave" was in his old house, but the dream was always to have his own bar. His family profession and contagious fandom made the theme easy to hone in on. From Harry Caray signed score cards, to a seat bottom autographed by Jim Hendry, Pat's collection is impressive to see. However, it was easy for him to pick a favorite item: *Insert Sandberg Fram Here* Pat beamed as his he walked his camera over to the signed Ryne Sandberg Jersey framed on the wall. The framing was a recent birthday gift from his family. It features the signed jersey along with a limited print highlighting the "Sandberg Game." Pat and I have a similar dream item: A pair of Wrigley Field seats. While the collection may never be truly complete, seats remain the top priority for the space. 2024 Expectations With the news of Counsell being fresh, our dual enthusiasm was hard to contain. Expectations have skyrocketed as a result of the surprise move. Pat and I are eager to see what Hoyer, the silent assassin, has up his sleeve next. Want to see more pictures of Pat's collection? Looking to ask him any questions? You can find him on Facebook at Wrigley Fire Bar and Grille or on Instagram as cubz23. Interested in your fandom/Cub Cave getting featured? Send me an email at canddicubs@gmail.com to apply! View full article

David Ross brought his fierce competitive nature to the endeavor of restoring a winning culture, after the organization had reached a competitive plateau. For that, I thank him. Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports It has been a few days, so I can safely say I have finally been able to pick my jaw up off of the floor. The Craig Counsell announcement has quickly turned into an “I remember where I was when…” Cubs memory. I am still carrying some momentum from the shock and excitement. However, this is not a reaction piece. Rather, I wanted to take some time to thank David Ross for his contributions to the Cubs. I have a feeling how this will be received, but hear me out. As the Cubs became more competitive and entered striking distance of a playoff spot this past season, I noticed the echo chamber of social media start to sour on the short-term Cubs manager. The criticisms were flying faster than a Giancarlo Stanton home run. Let’s look at how we got there. At the end of 2019, the Chicago Cubs decided to move on from Joe Maddon. Emotions were high, as this marked a tonal shift in the perception of the 2016 squad. Maddon had fallen out of grace and received criticism for his loose clubhouse and criticism of analytics. Most of us would agree that we would inevitably feel uncomfortable with moving on from the manager that finally did the thing, but it felt like the time had come. David Ross ended up winning the job in the interview process heading into 2020. That season ended up being an unprecedented mess, slashed to less than half the usual length and played under downright bizarre circumstances. To Ross’s credit, the team started hot and made the playoffs. The same feast-or-famine offensive issues of “the core” reared their heads in a quick playoff exit delivered by the Miami Marlins. That fall, Theo Epstein stepped down, ushering in the Jed Hoyer era. Ross’s objective as manager shifted significantly. He no longer held a job with a roster that expected to compete. He was there to manage a roster filled with trade opportunities. At the 2021 trade deadline, Hoyer converted those opportunities with ruthless efficiency. Of course, 2022 was no different. Fringe players were put together, as the goal became clear to “soft reset” the organization under Hoyer’s vision. Ross pushed an average roster to an above .500 record after the break, including a sell-off of anything not nailed to the ground. The hope of Ross getting a competitive team was palpable going into that offseason. Hundreds of millions of dollars later, the Cubs had their most competitive, full-season roster of Ross’s tenure. However, that didn’t mean it was a team destined to compete. The team struggled to turn a corner until July, when the switch flipped. August brought the Cubs to 10 games above .500. Unfortunately, the energy it took to build up to that level likely sunk a team. David Ross brought fire and consistency to a team in disarray, following a trend of underachievement in a post-curse world. There was never a moment watching his teams in which one could question the heart of the players on the field. In 2022, Ross showed the potential of solid bullpen management abilities in his handling of Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele. In a clubhouse that could have sunk in 2023 based on hardships, players rallied to his call and nearly proved the analysts wrong on this team. Ross’s red-ass style of play translated in his strong desire to win games. The organization did not give him many opportunities to truly compete, as he inherited legacy roster issues, or managed brand-new ones. Four years into the job, Ross showed tremendous leadership, with players consistently complimenting him on communication and support. As we turn the page into what is a new competitive window with an exciting, unexpected hire, take a moment to appreciate how David Ross calmed a ship while returning a fanbase to elevated expectations. Thank you, Grandpa Rossy. I can’t wait to see what you do next. View full article

I think about that...a lot.

Do you have a special place in your house for all of your favorite memorabilia? Do you have a Cubs fandom journey you want to share? Welcome to our Friday Fan Feature. This week, I sat down with Jay Herrman to talk about his recently finished "Cub Cave," along with discussing his fandom and 2024 expectations. Image courtesy of Jay Herrman I love connecting with other Cubs fans. Every one I have met has such an incredible story to tell about their fandom. There are common links that make these interactions feel familiar, with special experiences that elevate their fandom to an unusual level. I joined a group of Cub fans on Facebook called Cubs Man Caves CMC, as I have spent the better part of the last year creating my own "Cub Cave." In an effort to learn more about the members and their fandom and collections, I reached out to the group to find interest in sharing their spaces and stories. Enter Jay Herrman. I had the privilege to speak with Jay on a video call this week after he answered my request to share his story. Jay is from Normal, Illinois and works in data analytics. In addition, he is a part-time teacher at Illinois State University. He is happily married, and recently became an "empty nester," with his kids moving out of the house. Cub Fan Origin Story Jay credited his fandom to his father, who was a small-town high-school baseball star. HIs father was a Yankees fan growing up. However, as the Yankees crashed back to Earth in the mid-1960s from the zenith of their dynastic years, Jay's father began following the Cubs. It is easy to imagine falling in love with teams featuring Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and Ernie Banks. First Cubs Game: In St. Louis vs the Cardinals in 1977 First Trip to Wrigley: 1983, when the team was beginning to become competitive prior to the halcyon and heartbreak of 1984. Top Cubs Memories Jay and I shared some stories about our favorite Cub moments. The following are his top memories so far: In 2016, Jay's wife and parents chipped in together to get him a single ticket for Game 3 of the World Series. Even though the game didn't have the result one would like, Jay appreciated being able to be at the first World Series game played at Wrigley Field since 1945. In January of 2020, Jay traveled to a well-known baseball card shop near Normal called Bricks and Ivy Sports. They were known for hosting signings for players and coaches. That month, Ben Zobrist was scheduled. Jay traveled that day to meet Zobrist with his dad. Zobrist was kind and took a ton of time with each fan, staying long past the end of his scheduled visit to ensure everyone got to meet him. This ended up being Jay's final road trip with his dad, as he passed away in June. Jay's Cub Cave Jay lit up when we moved on to discuss his Cub Cave. When he and his wife moved into their current home seven years ago, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the finished basement. Like many of us fanatics, Jay had always imagined having a space to celebrate his fandom. Being an empty-nester also helped create additional disposable income to curate the ideal collection. Jay's collection has a main theme: Family and Friend memories. The pieces featured are those of meaning to the people with whom he shares his life and his fandom. Unlike my own cave, Jay was particular in the collection, not seeing a need to cover every square inch of space. I should probably take on his advice. Jay highlighted two items that are his favorite of his collection: Chicago Cubs Pinball Machine I am going to be honest: I am very envious of this piece. The lights and decorations highlight visuals from the 80's, which features some of my favorite Cubs branding and imagery. When Jay's dad passed away in 2020, his family divided up the assets. Jay's brothers wanted to retain their father's hunting items, so Jay received financial compensation instead. He wanted to use the money on a meaningful item that reminded him of his dad. Jay told me of the fond memories he had playing pinball at bars and pubs with his dad growing up. He started to search to see if there was a Cubs pinball machine worth owning. It turned out there was one. Around 1,600 of these were made by a company based in Chicago. It is the only team-licensed pinball machine ever produced. Jay scoured pinball machine websites and social groups. Finally, he found a guy in Portland, Oregon who had purchased this machine from a club in Anchorage, Alaska. Jay has had to refurbish it some since he got it. You can find him in the cave playing on the machine 2-3 times a week. 2016 Shuffleboard TableAbove the shuffleboard table is a framed photo of Jay's memories from his World Series game. It features his scorecard, ticket, and memories with his loved ones. It is hard not to feel romantic about baseball. 2024 Expectations Jay and I are very much aligned on our checklist for this offseason. We both feel it is time for the "big market" behavior to come back. He sees bullpen depth and a top-of-the-rotation arm as the team's biggest needs. Like many of us, he hopes Cody Bellinger comes back in 2024. Want to see more pictures of Jay's collection? Looking to ask him any questions? You can find him on Facebook as a participant in Cubs chats and groups. Interested in your fandom/Cub Cave getting featured? Send me an email at candidcubs@gmail.com to apply! View full article

Well if you did not see my new article series, I am back as a STH. More information on my thoughts to come!

Happy 7th Anniversary to the greatest event in our collective Chicago Cubs fandom. A few members of the North Side Baseball team share their stories and memories from the night that changed everything. “Just One Before We Die” This was not just an awesome OBVIOUS SHIRTS tag, but a mantra that carried a fan base through systemic futility. The franchise had long owned phrases such as “Lovable Losers” and “cursed”, building it into the fabric of their identity. National coverage of the Cubs consistently harped on the “almosts” and the failures, distinguishing the team from those who inhabit the upper echelons of baseball lore. In 2016, all of that changed. On a long night seven years ago today, it finally happened. It had all the drama of an event 108 years in the making. A retirement home run. A terrifying foul poke by a Chicago native. A game-breaking double down the line. A slipping final out. Here are a few memories from North Side contributors of the night it happened: Matt Ostrowski There are, of course, so many things about November 2, 2016 that I will never forget. The anticipation that I felt immediately upon waking up is something that, to this day, I can confidently say has only been replicated by my wedding day. At the time, I was in my fourth year at the University of Kansas, and after a long day of being a husk of a human being in class, I had to work that evening until 8:00--which was, roughly, one hour after the game started. Thankfully, I worked with my now-wife, who knew how much that moment meant to me. She was willing to do all of the work that had to be done, while I sat around and watched the game. Cool! As game time neared, our boss called in to tell me that I could go home for the night to watch the game. She, also, knew how much that moment meant to me. I suppose being an obnoxious Cubs fan during literally the only season of my life where I could be one has its benefits. (Alternatively, I was blessed to be around some awesome people.) I began my sprint home. Did I want to pick up something to drink while I was on my way? No. I decided I wanted to watch this game with a completely clear mind. I burst through the front door of my apartment, where one of my friends (also from Chicago) already had the game on. This was just in time for me to see Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run, and that is really when it hit me. “Holy cow… the Cubs literally can win the World Series tonight.” To be honest, I don’t remember much after that, at least until the rain delay. I locked myself in my bedroom. There were a few of us watching, not all Cubs fans, and I just couldn’t bear to be around people at that point. With hindsight, we know that the rain delay was probably a good thing for the Cubs, but at the time, I specifically remember thinking about how it was just going to delay our misery. Having to sit through that after watching the Cubs blow that lead was absolute torture. As the game concluded (and after my brief moment of celebration with my Cubs fan friend), I recall thinking “what now?” Should I stay up all night and party? Should I run around downtown Lawrence, KS, with a W flag? None of it felt right. Sometimes, truly special moments in life require time to soak everything up--to truly record and remember how you’re feeling. So, I saved the partying for the parade that weekend, and locked myself in my room again. I slowly drifted to sleep while watching highlights and interviews from the locker room and various celebrations around Chicago. This time, I didn’t even have to dream it. Jason Ross I’m not normally someone who keeps cash lining his wallet; I pay for everything with my card. The day of Game 7, however, I went out of my way to an ATM to grab $40. It wasn’t superstition, and it wasn’t that I needed the scratch in a traditional sense, but the need was rooted in personal experience. Having cash on hand would ensure that in the event of a stunning, instant, brutal, and devastating loss, I would be able to make a quick getaway from the bar I was going with friends to watch the game later that evening. I wouldn’t have to stew in miserable embarrassment to pay my tab; I could just throw cash at the bartender and bolt. I had once chosen to watch a deciding game without cash on hand and got stuck watching the other team celebrate as I stood there in a stunned, very public silence, a few minutes feeling like a lifetime. Never again, I promised myself. Strangely enough, the first seven innings made it seem like I was being a bit melodramatic--that maybe I didn’t need the cash. I was having fun, Fowler set the tone, Jon Lester entered in relief, and hell, even Grandpa Rossy went deep in his final game, it was all kind of…perfect? Then it happened; Rajai Davis hit a line drive down the left-field line, and all of those feelings of needing to run--the fear of a loss, the despair--came rushing back in. Respite came in the rain delay, for both myself and the Cubs. As Jason Heyward was rallying the team in the clubhouse, I was throwing that $40 in cash at the bartender (it might have been an overly generous tip; I didn't care) and then running to my car. The nerves got to me. I couldn’t bear to watch this in public any more. It was at home, with my dog, that I witnessed Ben Zobrist and Miguel Montero deliver RBI singles. It was there I watched Kris Bryant kind-of-sort-of-trip while throwing the ball to Anthony Rizzo for the final out. And it was there I celebrated. I grabbed a Cuban cigar I had been saving for just such an occasion, and enjoyed it on my porch. Just the way I drew it up. Jeff Ragauskis "“I am not superstitious. but I am a little stitious.” -Michael Scott" -Jeff Ragauskis That was a big year for my family. During the 7th-inning stretch of a Cubs home game, my wife handed me a small baseball glove with a positive pregnancy test in the pocket. I was going to be a dad. I joked with my wife at that moment that if the Cubs won the World Series, I would get to name the baby. She had 108 years of solid odds, so she happily obliged. I was fortunate enough to be a season-ticket holder, but had agreed with my partners we would sell our tickets for the postseason in order to assuage the unavoidable unfairness of divvying up attendance. The few people in the world I would have taken to a Cubs playoff game were not able to go. My mom had just had major surgery, after she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Family has always been a big part of my Cubs story, so being around them with the focus of a broadcast including several angles and controllable sound were the ideal position for me. The day of Game 7 included the same routines as all the other Cubs playoff games: a W Flag donut from Dunkin' to start the day, a Cubs Jersey over my dress shirt at work, and pizza ordered during the game. When the Cubs went down 3-1 in the series, we shifted venues, from my parents' house to watching in my condo. My mom felt it was best we shake things up, just in case her house was bad luck. The Cubs went up early and I was overcome with so many emotions. I was pre-crying feeling the gravity of the moment. I was consumed with the importance and planning of how I would celebrate. When Davis's shot cleared the wall, I felt my dreams disintegrating. My wife retreated to the back bathroom of our condo, concerned that the stress would put her into labor. However, she did request that I shout the play-by-play back to her. Then it happened. Bryant to Rizzo. Wow. The next few days were straight adrenaline. I stayed up all night watching the postgame coverage, afraid I would miss something special. I wrote my son a letter about how he got his name: Kyle Anthony Frank. The next morning, I was congratulated at work as if I were a player in the game. I was kicked out of a work meeting due to my jersey. I didn’t care. That evening, I had baby class with my wife, followed immediately by going with my buddy to stake out Ohio and Michigan for the parade. By the time my head hit the pillow that Friday evening, I had absorbed sufficient Cub bliss to fill a lifetime. What are your memories? Where were you when it happened? We want to hear your story, too. View full article

Check out the first article in a new series talking about the adventures of a Chicago Cubs Season Ticket Holder. Image courtesy of Jeff Ragauskis In 2019, I ended my time as a Chicago Cubs season ticket holder. It was an extremely difficult decision, as my love of the Cubs is great. I started in the middle, though. Let me catch you up on my history. I became a Cubs fan the same way a lot of folks do: family. I am a from-the-cradle Cub fan who grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. My grandmother introduced me to the game on WGN. The church of baseball quickly had another devoted disciple. As the years passed, my fandom continued to grow. Growing up, Cubs tickets were not something to which I had regular access. Historically, Cub tickets have been one of the more expensive fan experiences. I was lucky to get tickets here and there through relatives' work connections, family friends, and random church raffles. Each time I attended Wrigley Field, I did the exact same thing: Sit in my chair as soon as I got there Not move for the entire game Wrigley became a magical place to me, and its power only grew. I adored the ivy-covered brick walls, the historic manual scoreboard, and the marquee above the entrance. Around the age of 10, I put my name on the season ticket holder list. At that time, the list stretched so long that the estimated time to reach the top of it was 15-plus years. I figured (it was shaky math) I would be in a position to afford the tickets on my own by the time I was called. In 2012, I got the call. I remember my cell phone ringing and picking it up in my cubicle at my insurance job. Immediately, nothing else mattered. I needed to figure out how to afford these tickets. The Cubs put their best foot forward and took me on a tour of Wrigley. The inaccessible portions of the field became TOUCHABLE for me in an afternoon. I remember touching the ivy that day. I will never forget what it felt like. My wife likes to brag that I told our tour guide Joe Girardi did not select the Cubs job the moment the news broke. Our tour guide got replaced with someone else after the news so he could attend a meeting. I figured I could attend games with promotions I adored, and sell the remaining tickets to fans to maintain going at my cost. I had done my research and felt the Theo Epstein hiring would raise the market value of my seats as he began to reshape the organization. I started in Section 220, Row 17. At that time, it was centered behind home plate, under the overhang. I had two seats. Perfect. To help afford the tickets, which cost about $6,000 each season, I enlisted a few partners. Finding partners was a struggle, as my baseball friends were mainly diehard Sox fans. After the 2012, 2013, and 2014 seasons, it became even more difficult to keep partners. In those seasons, I would have had to attach a $20 bill to my seats to get people to take them. In 2015, everything changed. The next year made things even better. I don’t think I need to explain why. If I do, you are on the wrong website. I felt everything change after that. Winning became normal, but the fandom did not. We didn’t know what to do with the attention and the success. It somehow began to feel like we were underachieving. Offseason budgets got tightened. The roster stagnated. The front office was forced to use prospect capital to address deficiencies. On top of the pure baseball issues, the ticket prices continued to jump at a 5-7% clip. In 2016, I became a dad. In 2018, we welcomed a second kid. My wife gave me a Bryce Harper ultimatum. I agreed with this plan. It broke my heart. I felt this financial connection to a team I loved. The tickets were a badge of honor that I wore proudly. However, it no longer made financial sense in my situation to continue. I put my name back on the list with the hope of my situation changing, eventually. Like many fans to whom I have talked, I have struggled with the team's direction and the lack of a competitive roster. As much as it hurt at the time, the slow unstacking of the 2016 cornerstones helped force the team into a new era. Jed Hoyer used his assets to rebuild a struggling farm system and re-tool a struggling player development department. This season wasn’t what I wanted, but the investment into the roster (coupled with the development of the farm system) made it feel like a meaningful step forward. In September, I got the call again. I felt that same momentum in 2012 that I do now. I felt I was ready to be involved as a STH again, like a consumer addicted to a single company’s product. I have looked at salary commitments, competitive-balance tax thresholds, free-agent markets, and prospect rankings. I am in on the Cubs being able to flex financial might, along with maintaining a farm system with major league-caliber contributors. The 2024 campaign, therefore, will mark my return as a STH. Now, I expect the Cubs to prove to me that I have invested my money wisely. What are your thoughts on my journey? Do you have a similar story? Next week, look for part two of this new series, “Candid From the Confines,” where I discuss this year’s season ticket holder perks, pricing, and the location of my new seats. View full article

I adore this article's creativity. I will propose one more candy comp: Seiya Suzuki: Sour Patch Kids Sour Patch Kids are a Jekyll/Hyde approach to flavor and fun. This is the perfect comp to Seiya's plate approach in 2023, as fandom soured on him heading into July. After taking a quick reset, the sweetness of his swing won the day. I hope we can think of him as a Gobstopper in 2024: Everlasting sweet flavor.

It has been long enough since the end of the Cubs season to talk about the best pitching performer of 2023. Hint: It was not the bullpen in September. Much like the MVP, the Cubs Pitcher of the Year is obvious... MAN OF STEELE: Justin Steele Stats: 30 G, 16-5, 3.06 ERA, 173 IP, 176 SO In May, I put $5 on Justin Steele to win the Cy Young. I was so close. Steele took the step the Cubs have craved a pitcher from their organization would take. At the end of 2022, Steele showed flashes of being a solid part of this year's rotation. Improved location of the fastball paired with the manipulation of the Slider/Slurve kept hitters off balance most of the season. When he wasn't striking out batters, Steele was able to take advantage of the middle-infield defense with an impressive 50.3% ground ball rate and an elite 5.4% barrel rate. Steele increased his workload from 119 innings in 2022 to 173 this season. If we were being honest with our selves, Steele looked to tire at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see if he can add a pitch to his arsenal to match with his already dominate pair. Who is your Pitcher of the Year? Favorite pitching moments of 2023? Leave your comments below! View full article

It wasn't a storybook ending, but the 2023 Chicago Cubs were a triumph. Image courtesy of Courtesy: CandidCubs Dear 2023 Chicago Cubs, I have spent a few days pinpointing what you were to me. I try to separate logic and love as best as I can, but the fan in me always seems to be the loudest voice. It seems like it was just yesterday that I ran down to Wrigleyville to get a Dansby Swanson jersey to celebrate the signing. I spent the offseason longing for a ray of hope after two years of June swoons and July selloffs. My heart continued to mend as the "Core" donned new colors. The 2016 version of me would shudder thinking of that team ending the way they did. As I peeled my Ernie Banks jersey from over my sweatshirt to replace it with the crisp Swanson Jersey, I looked at the marquee on the corner of Clark and Addison to dream. What if this team played defense like the 2016 squad? What if Cody Bellinger was more than a solid glove in center? The questions filled my head like a beer bat on Opening Day. Time would tell if my January delusions would be validated. The start of the year was not what dreams were made of. Close games were won. Close games were lost. A frustrating weekend in Miami loomed large (and would eventually loom larger). Amongst all the frustration, there was an underlying feeling that this team was much better than the record. The team hung around despite: A shocking lack of production from Jameson Taillon Below-average production from both infield corners No meaningful contribution from Keegan Thompson or Brandon Hughes As July rolled in, another fire sale seemed imminent. Instead, the team got hot. Swanson urged Jed Hoyer that winning isn't a "switch you can turn on and off." With that encouragement, Jed and Carter Hawkins addressed some weaknesses, and the 10-games-under-.500 Cubs were now 10 games over and challenging for the division. Ah, but at what cost? Like a basketball team who fought in the third quarter to erase a big deficit, there was not enough gas in the tank to finish it out. September was filled with painful loss after painful loss. Yet, I can see the forest through the trees. The Cubs went into this season with the intention of putting a potentially competitive roster together, while solidifying their middle-infield defense. What they got was a manager players clearly fight for; an on-field leader who has the ear and respect of the front office; a frontline rotation arm in Justin Steele; and momentum, going into a game-changing offseason. The switch is on. The farm is deep. There are trades that can be made, and unicorn free agents that can be landed for the price of money. This wasn't the perfect baseball season, but it re-introduced the Chicago Cubs to the MLB world. A door is opening, and it is on this front office to blow it open. I will spend this offseason watching every play at shortstop in homage of Jed's diligence last offseason. I will hold onto moments like Gas Money's clutch hits and Christopher Morel's infectious smile. I will love this team for making me remember how precious winning is, and to look at 2016-2020 more fondly. Most of all, I will be thankful that next started here. With all my bleeding blue heart, CandidCubs View full article

August’s Hitter of the Month still raking. Love how his change in aggression has made such a difference!

I don’t mind playing the match -ups. I would argue using the DH on Tauchman was wise defensively while giving Ross options to play matchup. I would assume changes come for the Giants based on turns through a lineup giving their platoon reputation.

Thanks for the read! This is really a fun team with a wide variety of hitters. The Cubs have done a good job of late picking spots for Wisdom and Morel. I hope it helps them get locked in.

My wife is going into Ahsoka without Rebels and she has enjoyed it so far. I agree. This year has been fun and the cast of characters are so easy to root for.

Both are back! Loose Star Wars puns, tight analysis on the week ahead. Get ready for another important week of Cubs baseball with this primer. Image courtesy of AP Photo/Aaron Doster I love Star Wars. If you have been paying attention, I have titled Episode 2 and Episode 3 of my Playoff edition articles after Episode 2 and 3 of the Star Wars saga. I spent a lot of time this labor Day weekend watching "Rebels" with my son as a way to catch-up on the characters in "Ahsoka." Introducing something you love to your children is pure magic. It immediately transports you to the moment you fell in love with something just by watching the creation of a potential core memory for your kid. It is these types of moments that make being a parent fun. These thoughts have made me strangely nostalgic. I spent sometime reflecting this evening on my Cub-fandom and really found lots of joy for this moment I have enjoyed this playoff chase more than the others after 2016, as I re-learned the feelings of longing to be in this position. As Andy Bernard says on "The Office" series finale: “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” Let's talk about Playoff-Contending Cubs baseball: Record 73-64 3.5 GB of the Brewers in the NLC +3 on Second WC Spot In an extremely important week for the NLC standings, the Cubs put together a 4-3 week, winning/tying both their series. After laying an egg on Monday night, the Cubs won two squeakers on Tuesday and Wednesday with gutsy performances from Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks. They have cemented their status as the 1-2 punch in a short series for the postseason. It unfortunately feels like a missed opportunity to gain on the Phillies/keep pace with the Brewers given the two blown saves in Cincinnati this weekend. As much as the twitter-manager brigade was all over David Ross, it has come to show how much Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr. have been used. The lower scoring nature of games of late have required Ross to repeatedly use his inner circle. Alzolay has his highest workload since 2022. Merryweather is shattering his career high. Leiter is approaching his high as well. The Cubs offense is gong to need to put some crooked numbers up to get these guys some rest. Weekly Positive Ian Happ never leaves Cincinnati with out a homerun. "Happ-Daddy", as dubbed by Boog Sciambi and MLB the Show, had a scorching week. His 1.127 OPS with 2 HRs, 5 RBIs and 198 WRC+ paced the offense. Hot Happ is good for this offense. We will need more than Happ to be clicking to get this offense back on track. Week Ahead Cubs vs Giants Game 1 - Logan Webb vs Justin Steele, 1:20PM Central Time Game 2 - TBD vs Kyle Hendricks, 6:40PM Central Time Game 3 - TBD vs Jordan Wicks, 1:20PM Central Time Another week, another set of major opponents. The Giants are currently 3 games back of the Cubs spot, but tied with the Marlins, Reds, and Diamondback for the final spot. With the Labor day holiday, the Cubs are getting two 1:20 starts. Cubs are 32-29 in day games, while San Francisco is 28-31. What to Watch Logan Webb has been one of my favorite pitchers not on the Cubs. He is the workhorse of the Giants staff as their rotation depth has been tested. Game 1 of this series is a battle of each team's ace. Webb is all about his change-up, with it providing 21 run value this year with 40.1% usage. Where the Cubs will want to pounce is on the sinker, which Webb has allowed .538 SLG to. Currently, Patrick Wisdom has a .692 SLG vs sinkers. Cubs vs DBacks Game 1 - 6:40pm Central Time, Javier Assad (Probable) Game 2 - 1:20PM Central Time, Jameson Taillon (Probable) Game 3 - 1:20PM Central Time, Justin Steele (Probable) Game 4 - 1:20PM Central Time, Kyle Hendricks (Probable) There are no breaks in sight. As mentioned above, the Diamondbacks are tied for the final Wild Card spot with the Giants. Given that Zac Gallen pitched on Sunday, it is very likely the Cubs will run into him this week. Gallen has inserted himself into the Cy Young conversation, posting a 14-6 record with 173.1 IP and 182 SOs. What to Watch The Diamondbacks have a negative run differential and an under .500 expected Win/Loss. Corbin Carroll is a fun, dynamic talent with 23 HRs and 41 SBs. The Cubs will need to be extremely careful with managing the running game. I expect for Yan Gomes to be behind the plate for most of that series. Notes on Other Playoff Teams Braves - The first team in baseball to 90 wins also had Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a baseball at 121.5 MPH. If you have not seen this, you need to: Cubs - The good news is Marcus Stroman threw a bullpen on Sunday. As weirdly silent the usually chatty pitcher has been, I am happy to hear this progress. This would be a nice boost heading into the postseason if he can come back and pitch like Stroman. Brewers - The Brewers are so scrappy. Nothing beyond their bullpen jumps off the page, but they have timely offense, solid defense, and some superb pitching. They made the Phillies look pretty poor this weekend on their home turf. William Contreras and Mark Canha have been sneaky good, with 139 and 118 WRC+ respectively since the All Star Break. Malrins - If the Marlins can score enough runs to support their pitching, they may squeak into the playoffs. Old friend David Robertson was removed from closing duties this week. Robertson's high walk rate has lead to a 7.5 ERA. 7 games on the docket this week against playoff teams, but at the Federal Landmark. I am looking for the Cubs to go at least 4-3 to maintain winning their series. What was your favorite moment of last week? What do you think their record will be this week? View full article

I received notification about buying into by friday this week to get seats for 2024, and getting access to Playoff tickets this year. I wanted to try to get 4 Seats, as I have 2 kids, but I may start with 2 seats and up when I am a bit more cash-flow positive. Ultimately, I am looking for partner/partners. Anyone have interest, please reach out direct at candidcubs@gmail.com! Would love to talk about it!

We continue handing out proverbial awards for August. Find out which hitters helped lead the Cubs to a solid month on the field. Wow! What a month! The August Chicago Cubs were a team on a mission. Winning 12 of 13 series, this team was a game UNDER .500 on June 10th and after this run, they are nearly a 10 games over .500. As much as there has been some bickering on Cubs-Twitter about lineups, bullpen management, etc. on David Ross, you have to give him credit for cultivating an environment that has produced this turnaround. With Cody Bellinger far and away being the best hitter in July, who were the Cubs hitters that stood out in August? But first, here are some quick notes that are worth mentioning: Jeimer Candelario joined the Cubs at the deadline. In his month in the organization, he has hit .275/.337/.473 (.810) with seven doubles, a triple, and three home runs. He's made a very solid showing. Dansby Swanson his just .184 in August, though he tied for the team lead with six homers during the month. His 21 RBI ranked second. Nico Hoerner's .372 on-base percentage was best on the team in August. He also went 9-for-11 in base stealing attempts. Christopher Morel got off to a fast start after dominating in Iowa the first two months of the season. However, in 22 games in August, he hit just .149 with 30 strikeouts in 81 plate appearances. #3 - OF Ian Happ 27 games, 25-for-105, .238/.316/.505 (.821) with six doubles, two triples, six homers and 18 RBI. There is not much more debate on Cubs twitter than where Ian Happ currently is batting in the lineup. I understand the argument from the arm-chair coaches armed with quick wit and keyboards: Happ’s top skill is getting on-base. His .361 OBP would tie his career-high mark, but the slugging had at times vanished. However, in August, Happ began to slug again, carrying a .503 percentage with six home runs, tied for the monthly lead. The strikeout rate remained strong at 16%, with a drop of his walk rate to 8.1%. It was nice to see him lead the team in hard hit rate. Could we see him carry over this hot stretch into September? The offense is so much deeper when he is locked in. #2 - OF Cody Bellinger 27 games, 34-for-105, .324/.354/.533 (.887) with seven doubles, five homers and 31 RBI. My pick for the July Hitter of the Month almost repeated. Why not? His 53 RBIs since the All-Star Break lead all of baseball. Could you imagine his numbers if he didn’t hurt his knee in Houston? Bellinger had five Home Runs, 31 RBIs while maintaining an .887 OPS. I am out of ways to describe just how important he has been to this team. However, not as big as the return of HITTER OF THE MONTH OF SEIYA SUZUKI 22 games, 25-for-78, .321/.365/.641 (1.006) with six doubles, two triples, five homers, 13 RBI. Most of this season, I could predict his at bats. His timing was clearly off as he struggled at the plate. With an increase in swing rate, and a well timed benching, Suzuki has come back on fire. In August, he led the squad with a 166 WRC+ with a 1.006 OPS. His .321 ISO is an incredible turnaround. This Cub lineup with Suzuki and Happ clicking with Bellin is dangerous. Who else caught your eye in August? View full article

The Cubs are about to begin the most important week of the season thus far. Let's look at what's coming. Image courtesy of © Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports Running up to the 2016 Championship, and even shortly after, the Chicago Cubs had received nearly no innings pitched from arms internally developed. As of 2018, Sahadev Sharma had researched, showing only 30 total! This weekend was such a breath of fresh air. Jordan Wicks turned in a needed left-handed start on Saturday, making history along the way. Javier Assad has been a breath of fresh air as Marcus Stroman works his way back. This might be the biggest week of Cubs baseball in a very long time. It is nice to enjoy September baseball again. Record 69-61 4 GB of NLC Currently Hold the 2nd WC Spot A lighter stretch gave the Cubs a solid 5-2 week. I wouldn't describe this week as the easiest-looking wins, but good teams can win when they are not firing on all cylinders. Weekly Positive Jordan Wicks. Holy Moly. Drew Smyly did not help the Cubs in his one start this week. A fiery post-game comment by David Ross stating Drew Smyly was “his guy” led us down a primrose path. As Sahadev Sharma, Brett Taylor, and Patrick Mooney discussed on “Onto Waveland,” Ross tends to stand behind his guys and can be testy after losses. However, after a healthy scratch on Wednesday, it felt inevitable. AND HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. 5 IP, 9Ks, First Major League Win. I hope he gets another start in the series coming up with the Reds. Week Ahead Cubs vs Brewers Game 1 - Jameson Taillon vs. Wade Miley, 7:05 PM CT Game 2 - Justin Steele vs. Corbin Burnes, 7:05 PM CT Game 3 - Kyle Hendricks vs. Brandon Woodroof, 1:20 PM CT This might be the biggest series at Wrigley in a number of years. I am recalling a division-clinching run vs. the Cardinals in 2003 in which the Cubs took 3 of 4 in early September. Leave comments if you can think of some others! What to Watch Both teams are coming in pretty hot since the All-Star Break. Take a look at these numbers: Record: Cubs 27-14; Brewers 24-15 FIP: Cubs 4.48, Brewers 3.99 WRC+: Cubs 104, Milwaukee 90 Defensive Runs Saved: Cubs 33, Brewers 49 The Cubs are 3-4 vs. the Brewers this season, with 5 of the contests being decided by two runs or less. They last matched up on July 4th-6th, with the Cubs taking 2 of 3. These two teams have two different identities, with the Brewer’s pitching and defense leading the way. The Cubs will need to continue their deep production up and down the lineup in order to take advantage of the seldom situations in which the Brewers allow multiple base runners. The last two nights in Pittsburgh are hopefully the sign of an offense on the rise again. The Cubs should have a potential advantage playing in front of what I expect a raucous crowd at Wrigley, where the Cubs pound 111 WRC+. The Brewers, by comparison, struggle offensively a bit more on the road, posting an 82 WRC+. BRING THE NOISE, WRIGLEY. Cubs at Reds Double Header (Makeup of April 5th) Game 1 at 1:10 PM ET, Game 2 at 6:40 PM ET Game 3 at 1:10 PM ET Game 4 at 12:10 PM ET At this time, it is hard to sort out who will be pitching with the double header on Friday. The off day implies they could go Assad/Wicks on Friday, with Taillon on normal rest Saturday, then Steele on Sunday. The Reds are very much in play for both the playoffs and this division. That story shifts dramatically based on the results of the 1st series of the week. What to Watch Kyle Schwarber once told Ian Happ, “Don’t leave Cincy without a Homer.” He has taken that lesson to heart with an absolutely ridiculous .327 batting average with 16 Home Runs, 38 RBIs, and 31 runs in 46 games vs. the Reds. Look to him to continue to get back on track in Cincy this weekend. Having Happ and Seiya clicking on top of Belli would be great for the Cubs going forward. What does a “successful week” look like for the Cubs? Where will they be in regard to the division by the end of the week? How much pressure are you putting on how you feel about this team on such a small sample size? Looking forward to playoff-like baseball this week. Until next week, Go Cubs, Go! Ian Happ has a .327 batting average with 51 hits, 16 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 31 runs scored in 46 games versus the Reds on the road in his career. View full article