CubFaninPA

After blowing a five-run lead last night for their fifth straight loss, it's time for the front office to get to work on a line-up for next year. What happened before the All-Star Game was an aberration. What we've seen since is what we have going into the playoffs. Losing two straight and going home looks like a distinct possibility. PCA, Shaw, and Swanson (assuming their under contract for next year) need to spend the off-season learning how to reliably bunt for base hits. Right now, I hate to see any of them come up to bat with runners in scoring position.

He only needs 188 now. I missed seeing it happen but saw it on on a replay. Bunting with two strikes is gutsy, less so when the likely alternative is striking out. He should do this more, especially when they're giving him everything along the third base line.

Bunts put pressure on the defense. Strike outs, weak ground balls, and lazy flies don't. With his speed, he could get on base some of the time and some of those times errant throws could land him on second or third base. With practice, he could get good at it. He can't steal second if he doesn't get on base.

What is it since the All-Star Break?

All the other team has to do so shut out the Cubs is to load the bases each inning. The Cubs surely have the lowest batting average in the majors with the bases loaded. A sacrifice fly is about the best thing that usually happens. Occasionally, a Cub hitter will screw up an hit a homer but that's not often.

It wasn't long after the trading deadline that the front office's not making a big trade for a starter became apparent. Multiple players hit above their career averages in the first have of the season. Historically, when established players have better or worse first halves than their career averages, their second half performance brings their results for the year in line with those averages. This phenomenon is a mathematical concept called Regression to the Mean. Cubs' hitting had already started its slide before the trading deadline and management surely noticed it. Why make a big trade, which would give away the best prospects, when hitting wasn't going to hold up? I, for one, am pleased that Caissie was in the lineup yesterday rather than playing for another team.

Why isn't Swanson bunting with men on base and less than two outs? Strikeouts don't advance runners.