Bleed Cubbie Blue Aug 16, 2019
Kyle Schwarber hit his 100th career home run Thursday. Where does this rank historically?
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports The Cubs slugger is an unusual homer hitter in several ways. Lost in the debris of the Cubs’ defeat Thursday night was this home run [VIDEO]. Your browser does not support HTML5 video. It was Kyle Schwarber’s 28th home run of the season. Among other things, it established a career high in RBI for him, 62, surpassing last year’s total of 61 with 41 games remaining. And, it was the 100th home run of his career. That established a Cubs franchise record for the fastest to 100 homers by a player who began his career with the Cubs: Fewest games to 100...
Cubbies Crib Aug 14, 2019
Chicago Cubs: Don’t look now, but Kyle Schwarber is on a tear
Finally free of the leadoff spot, Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber has become one of the team’s best hitters, leading the club’s powerful offense. All Chicago Cubs fans are well aware of the fact the team has lacked a true leadoff hitter since winning the World Series in 2016. There is no secret to the […] Chicago Cubs: Don’t look now, but Kyle Schwarber is on a tear - Cubbies Crib - Cubbies Crib - A Chicago Cubs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Cubbies Crib Aug 7, 2019
Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber is red-hot at the plate
For years now, Kyle Schwarber has been one of the most polarizing figures of this Chicago Cubs team. The Chicago Cubs Kyle Schwarber immediately asserted his potential as a slugger when he arrived in the major leagues in 2015, clubbing 16 homers in 273 plate appearances and hitting moonshots in the playoffs. Though a torn […] Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber is red-hot at the plate - Cubbies Crib - Cubbies Crib - A Chicago Cubs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Bleed Cubbie Blue Aug 7, 2019
Chicago Cubs vs. Oakland Athletics preview, Wednesday 8/7, 1:20 CT
Kyle Schwarber loves his work | Photo by Stacy Revere/ The Cubs go for the series win. The Cubs had won eight of the 12 games played against the Athletics all-time in interleague play coming into 2019, or two of every three. I don’t see any reason that trend shouldn’t continue. Notes for Wednesday: Duane Underwood Jr. tied the franchise record for consecutive strikeouts by a reliever in a single game, previously done by Juan Cruz (March 31, 2003 at Mets) and Bruce Sutter (September 8, 1977 vs. Montreal Expos). Ian Happ is 4-for-6 with a double and a homer in his last three...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Aug 7, 2019
Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 113
Photo by Quinn Harris/ Heavy sigh. Cubs crushed by A’s to end four game streak Al usually captions these games with “I watched this game so you didn’t have to.” Thing is, I didn’t watch this one. I had an engagement and didn’t watch. The first time I looked at my phone, it was already 11-0. I got on Twitter after the game and saw that the Cubs had scored four, Taylor Davis got to pitch and Kyle Schwarber got to catch. So I’m sure there was some silly time at the game. Silly time doesn’t make up for getting your butt kicked. And let’s make no mistake, that’s what...
Brew Crew Ball Aug 4, 2019
Cubs sweep Brewers with merciless display of hitting, 7-2
Photo by Quinn Harris/ Chicago racked up 14 hits as the Brewers are swept by the Cubs for the first time in more than a year Heading into this weekend, the season series between the Brewers and Cubs was about as close as can be. The Brewers even had the advantage in the season series, taking two series to the Cubs’ one. Last weekend, the Brewers were an absurd offensive outburst by Kyle Schwarber away from possibly sweeping the Cubs. Just a week later, the Brewers themselves were swept, easily and convincingly, at Wrigley Field. The final blow came Sunday, and this time it wasn’t a...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Aug 1, 2019
MLB trade deadline: Grading all the Cubs’ deadline moves
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports The Cubs made four trades before the door slammed shut on trading in 2019. How did they do? The Cubs made a flurry of acquisitions over the past couple of days, hoping to take control of the National League Central. But were the trades favorable for the Cubs? Chicago Cubs acquire OF Nicholas Castellanos from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for RHP Alex Lange and RHP Paul Richan Nicholas Castellanos will be a fine addition for this team — he owns a 106 wRC+ and an fWAR of 1.0 this year, so on paper, he’ll be an upgrade over both Kyle Schwarber and Albert...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 31, 2019
Cardinals 2, Cubs 1: Infuriating
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports The Cubs had ample opportunities to win this game. But they didn’t. You knew it, didn’t you. You knew, as soon as you saw this play [VIDEO], that this game was probably over. Your browser does not support HTML5 video. That’s Kyle Schwarber, in the top of the sixth inning, batting with the bases loaded and two out. He hit a fly ball to deep left field — you can see him, briefly, slam his bat down in frustration — and the inning was over, about 50 feet from that hit being a grand slam. And then Paul Goldschmidt, a tormentor of the Cubs from his...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 30, 2019
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals preview, Tuesday 7/30, 7:15 CT
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Here we go! News of the day links! Pedro Strop to IL, Duane Underwood Jr. recalled: Here RHP David Phelps acquired from Blue Jays: Here The Cubs scored 11 runs Sunday, but in their previous six games (of which they lost five), they scored just 18 total runs. Nevertheless, there are some Cubs hitters who are hot right now. Anthony Rizzo, last 18 games: .369/.455/.600 (24-for-65) with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 15 RBI, 12 runs Kris Bryant, last 18 games: .333/.425/.638 (23-for-69) with six doubles, five home runs and 16 runs Kyle Schwarber,...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 30, 2019
Does anyone have the scheduling edge in the N.L. Central for the rest of the season?
Kyle Schwarber hits a grand slam in Milwaukee | Photo by Dylan Buell/ A look at the remaining strength of schedule in the Cubs Last year around this time I looked into the remaining strength of schedule to see if anyone in the N.L. Central had an edge for the rest of the season. To do that, I invented my own methodology for characterizing series as hard/moderate/easy (more on that below) and then tallied up the number of games left. With the division race tighter than ever I decided to update those charts and see if they tell us anything interesting about 2019. I also decided to take a...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 29, 2019
2019 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 105
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Cubs win 11-4 behind monster game from Kyle Schwarber The Cubs started their three-city, nine-game road trip by losing four of the first five games. After losing their last game of the preceding homestand, the Cubs came into Sunday’s game with five losses in six games. The warm and fuzzy feelings engendered by winning seven of eight following the All-Star break were becoming a distant memory. Then Sunday’s game happened. Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam in the second inning. Just two innings later, he followed that up with a three-run homer. Seven RBI...
Brew Crew Ball Jul 28, 2019
Walks, home runs kill Brewers in 11-4 loss to Cubs
Photo by Dylan Buell/ Kyle Schwarber hits 2 home runs off of Zach Davies, totaling 7 RBI WP: Brad Brach (4-3)LP: Zach Davies (8-4)HR: CHC - Kyle Schwarber 2 (23, 24), Victor Caratini (5); MIL - None The Brewers helped themselves in the playoff race quite a bit over the weekend, but were unable to finish off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs, losing the series finale 11-4. The short and simple recap of this game: walks and home runs killed Zach Davies. The right-hander turned in his second straight rough start, fighting his command for much of the afternoon, allowing 7 runs in 5 innings despite...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 28, 2019
Cubs 11, Brewers 4: The Kyle Schwarber game
Photo by Dylan Buell/ A couple of Schwarbombs helped put this game in the “W” column. Well, that was better. Much better. Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, setting a career high with seven RBI, and the Cubs demolished the Brewers 11-4 at Miller Park Sunday afternoon. Feel better now? Even a little? Of course you do. The first inning of this game went scoreless, and then the Cubs loaded the bases on singles by Javier Baez and Jason Heyward, and a walk drawn by Ian Happ. Schwarbomb No. 1! [VIDEO] Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Holy... #Cubs 4 @...
Bleed Cubbie Blue Jul 27, 2019
Brewers 3, Cubs 2: Bullpen meltdown
Write your own caption | Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports This is going to have to stop, or the Cubs are going to sit at home in October. When the Cubs sent Kyle Schwarber up to bat for Kyle Hendricks with two out, nobody on and a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth, my first thought was “Uh-oh, now the bullpen is going to have to finish this game?” I thought Hendricks, even at 90 pitches, could have gone one more inning. Schwarber struck out (Hendricks could have done that) and the bullpen’s performance was... bad. In three innings, Kyle Ryan, Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler, Pedro Strop...
