Monday, August 31, 2015

CUBS GET SPANKED BY REDS at Cubsquest.com

1 September:

The Jake Arrieta no hitter didn"t have a lot of fallout to it after all.

The Cubs, fresh off of a road trip that Arrieta himself saved from disaster, came in at 6 am Monday morning. Everyone now knows about the "onesies" they wore. Joe Maddon, Zen master he is, knows how to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GET SPANKED BY REDS

CUBS PART WAYS WITH MIKE OLT at Cubsquest.com

1 September:

It ended up with a whimper.

The Cubs announced, almost as an afterthought, that infielder Mike Olt had been designated for assignment as a result of obtaining outfielder Austin Jackson from Seattle for cash considerations and the proverbial player to be named later.

Mike...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PART WAYS WITH MIKE OLT

CUB NEWS AND RUMORS 31 AUGUST at Cubsquest.com

31 August:

In the aftermath of Jake Arrieta"s magnificent performance Sunday night there is the obvious speculation in the media about his future. The media, most of whom have done nothing more than balance a checkbook in their lives, love to see the franchise spend like drunken sailors on...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB NEWS AND RUMORS 31 AUGUST

Sunday, August 30, 2015

ARRIETA THROWS NO HITTER! at Cubsquest.com

31 August:

This was a game the Cubs desperately needed. Having lost four in a row, and with the Giants nipping at their heels that was never in question.

The Cubs had their best pitcher on the mound, too. And he"s been the best pitcher in the majors for the last month; going 5-0 with a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA THROWS NO HITTER!

BEARS LOSE TO BENGALS at Cubsquest.com

30 August:

The Bears had their first reality gut check of the preseason, and it was a mixed bag.

Once again, there were no turnovers. Ball control is being stressed, as is the nascent ground game, and so far so good on that. However, injuries to the wide receiver corps put the team in a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS LOSE TO BENGALS

Saturday, August 29, 2015

CUBS, LESTER LOSE TO DODGERS at Cubsquest.com

30 August:

You never really thought the baseball gods would allow the Cubs to beat the Dodgers at home on a balk, did you?

It is a pretty pathetic way to both win,  and lose, a baseball game. But it did hold up for quite awhile, until the 7th inning when the combination of a pitcher who ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, LESTER LOSE TO DODGERS

Friday, August 28, 2015

CUBS LOSE TO LA; KERSHAW at Cubsquest.com

28 August:

It wasn"t like nobody saw this coming.

In fact, the whole baseball universe thought the Cubs might keep it close, but nary a soul really expected the Cubs and Jason Hammel to beat the just pennies shy of $300 million LA Dodger payroll with ace Clayton Kershaw on the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE TO LA; KERSHAW

Thursday, August 27, 2015

CUBS LOSE TO GIANTS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

28 August:

Did anyone out there really think Dan Haren would beat Madison Bumgarner at home in a do or die game for San Francisco?

Come on. It was always wishful thinking.

Not that it couldn"t happen; the 2015 Cubs are a crazy dangerous team managed by a near genius. No club wants to ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE TO GIANTS AGAIN

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

CUBS FINALLY LOSE TO GIANTS at Cubsquest.com

27 August:

You can"t win them all.

It is the oldest axiom is sports; one can imagine one lion consoling another after a Christian killed one of their mates in the Coliseum several thousand years ago.

"Tough break for old Leo", he purred to the other. "But it was 900 to nothing before...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS FINALLY LOSE TO GIANTS

S. I. COVER "JINX" EXPLAINED at Cubsquest.com

26 August:

Much has been made of something called the "Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx".

It doesn"t take much in the way of critical thinking to expose this as no "jinx" at all. First of all, what they are chronicling is a sporting phenomenon of some sort. It can be anything.

When it"s a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comS. I. COVER "JINX" EXPLAINED

CASTRO, SOLER, BAEZ AND OTHER BITS at Cubsquest.com

26 August:

Some ruminations of the world of Cubdom, which for once is now a pretty good place to be.

Cubsquest weighed in with the observation that the team would not only not miss Jorge Soler but would be better for it. Now, this calculation was not based on his long term promise, which...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCASTRO, SOLER, BAEZ AND OTHER BITS

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

CUBS SPANK GIANTS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

26 August:

It was supposed to be a close game. On paper, anyway.

Matt Cain, who owned a 4-0 record at home against the Cubs going against Cub ace, and Cy Young front runner Jake Arrieta. Most would have guessed a nail biter.

The only nails being bitten were by Giants manager Bruce...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SPANK GIANTS AGAIN

CUBS VS GIANTS: WHAT TO EXPECT at Cubsquest.com

25 August:

This should be a scary series.

The Cubs going to play the World Champion San Francisco Giants at AT&T park. Easily the most beautiful park in the majors, with an incredible loyal fan base, it is a huge home field advantage.

The Cubs have historically not played very well...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS VS GIANTS: WHAT TO EXPECT

Monday, August 24, 2015

CUBS WIN ON BRYANT WALKOFF HOMER at Cubsquest.com

24 August:

It was a battle between a couple of titans of the mound.

Last year"s AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber against Cub ace Jon Lester. And it was as good as advertised. Kluber pitched the first five innings of perfect baseball with 9 strikeouts. He ended up with 7 2/3 innings of 4...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN ON BRYANT WALKOFF HOMER

SOLER AND MOTTE TO DL; LA STELLA ROSSCUP UP at Cubsquest.com

24 August:

The Cubs announced that both Jorge Soler and Jason Motte will be put on the DL with a strained oblique and strained shoulder, respectively, as per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

Soler could be out a month.

In their place Tommy LaStella makes his long awaited return, and Zac...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comSOLER AND MOTTE TO DL; LA STELLA ROSSCUP UP

Sunday, August 23, 2015

CUBS SWEEP BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

24 August:

You can stop pinching yourself.

It"s the end of August and the Cubs are now 20 games over .500. That"s not just wild card good; that"s division winning good. Maybe not in the National League Central, which sports the best overall winning percentages of any other division in the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP BRAVES

NEW BLOOD, KANE ALLEGATIONS, CLOUD HAWKS PRESEASON at Cubsquest.com

Chicago, IL –On September 22, Chicago will suit up to play the long-time rivals Detroit Red Wings in the preseason opener at the United Center. Though the Hawks still have some last minute adjustments to personnel, the team is ready to brandish its new look.

The team that took the ice against ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comNEW BLOOD, KANE ALLEGATIONS, CLOUD HAWKS PRESEASON

BEARS WIN AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

23 August:

Sure it preseason.

And yes, it"s only 2 games. Small sample size as they say. But an emerging story is now evident; the 2015 Chicago Bears are a different animal from last year.

The soft and cuddly bruins, coddled by a kind but clueless coaching staff played a nice bump and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS WIN AGAIN

Saturday, August 22, 2015

CUBS BEAT BRAVES IN WILD ONE at Cubsquest.com

23 August:

Just as we got done pointing out the "addition through subtraction" argument the benefit makes a stunning display.

Getting Starlin Castro out of the starting lineup was the first accomplishment. They"ve done nothing but win since he has ridden the pines. Before that it was...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BRAVES IN WILD ONE

JUST HOW GOOD ARE THE CUBS? at Cubsquest.com

22 August:

Several things are becoming clear as far as the Chicago Cub baseball franchise goes.

Number one, and most important, is the simple fact that they aren"t going away. Barring any unforeseen misfortunes, this team will stay in the hunt right down to the wire. This is the very best...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comJUST HOW GOOD ARE THE CUBS?

Friday, August 21, 2015

CUBS BEAT BRAVES AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

21 August:

How does the old saying go?

"Id rather be lucky than good"? That could be the Cub mantra right now, particularly after the tornado from Detroit ripped through Wrigley Field leaving a trail of carnage. A perfectly awful Atlanta team was just the tonic the Cubs needed.

The two...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BRAVES AGAIN

WHAT DO THE CUBS NEEDS TO WIN? at Cubsquest.com

21 August:

The truth is out. The Cubs are now for real.

They have just enough talent to keep an extended losing streak at bay. There are just enough weak teams on the rest of the schedule that as long as they more or less hold their own they have an excellent shot at that second wild card...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHAT DO THE CUBS NEEDS TO WIN?

Thursday, August 20, 2015

CUBS, ARRIETA BEAT BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

20 August:

The Cubs needed a tonic, and got one.

After getting thoroughly spanked by the Detroit Tigers, who showed the Cubs to be pretty much what they are, they needed a break. The Atlanta Braves, sporting a woeful record of 53-68, turned out to be just the ticket.

They fed a rookie...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, ARRIETA BEAT BRAVES

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

CUBS BEAT UP BY TIGERS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

19 August:

Cub skipper Joe Maddon summed it up succinctly.

"I"m just glad it wasn"t a THREE game series" he said after the Cubs second shellacking at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. The 11 homers they allowed over the last three games were the most since 1955.

That"s a long time ago....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT UP BY TIGERS AGAIN

CUB RUMORS 19 AUGUST at Cubsquest.com

19 August:

The Chase Utley situation has resolved itself; the Dodgers acquired the Phillie second baseman for two prospects and picking up $2 million of his contract. He will get the constant playing time he requested there.

Utley, 36, isn"t ready to be a platoon player yet. He wants a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB RUMORS 19 AUGUST

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

CUBS CRAWL BACK BUT LOSE TO DETROIT at Cubsquest.com

19 August:

Calling Bob Costas.

Supposedly he "misread" Pedro Strop"s performance against St Louis where he blew a game and then pumped his chest, pointed to the sky and whatever other gesticulations he does. He had a similar occurrence in Tuesday"s rain soaked 6 hour affair.

Although to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS CRAWL BACK BUT LOSE TO DETROIT

CUBS TAKE ON DETROIT: PREVIEW at Cubsquest.com

18 August:

The Cubs and Jason Hammel take on the Detroit Tigers Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Weather permitting, of course; there is a 70% chance of rain after 7 pm according to the national weather service.

Expect the game to be played, though. Could be both a wet one and a long...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TAKE ON DETROIT: PREVIEW

Sunday, August 16, 2015

CUBS RUN INTO CHRIS SALE BUZZSAW; STREAK ENDS at Cubsquest.com

16 August:

In gambling they call games like this "ranch plays".

Meaning if you"re down, you can "bet the ranch" on this and pretty much guarantee an outcome. Sox ace Chris Sale, at home, after losing the first two games against their crosstown rivals the Cubs.

Add to it the soft tossing...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS RUN INTO CHRIS SALE BUZZSAW; STREAK ENDS

Saturday, August 15, 2015

CUBS BEAT SOX AGAIN, 9TH IN A ROW at Cubsquest.com

16 August:

It was an ugly game.

But you have to win the ugly ones as well, and the woefully underachieving White Sox franchise simply cannot stop a far more talented bu equally sloppy Cub team.

There was enough bad play from both teams to last a month.

Throwing errors, hit batsmen,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT SOX AGAIN, 9TH IN A ROW

CHICAGO THE BEAUTIFUL at Cubsquest.com

15 August:

This is the weekend of the Chicago Air and Water show, and it"s a terrific summer weekend.

Nice and hot. Good time to be on, or near the water. Particularly the beautiful clean water of Lake Michigan, and after the stirring performance of the US Navy Blue Angels on Friday, the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCHICAGO THE BEAUTIFUL

Friday, August 14, 2015

CUBS BEAT SOX FOR 8TH IN A ROW at Cubsquest.com

14 August:

The trip to the south side of Chicago did nothing to slow down the Cub express, which is not to be confused with the CTA Green Line.

It is now mostly referred to as the "Kyle Schwarber Express", which is fairly accurate. The local media is still obsessed, strangely, with Starlin...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT SOX FOR 8TH IN A ROW

CUBS VS. SOX: WHAT TO EXPECT at Cubsquest.com

14 August:

First of all, one thing is for certain. The Cubs won"t win every game left this season.

The team has 65 wins. They have 48 games left. If they play a tick over .500 they win 90 games. They should play at least that well barring any late season fold. The team is actually pretty...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS VS. SOX: WHAT TO EXPECT

Thursday, August 13, 2015

BEARS SURPRISE DOLPHINS AND CRITICS; WIN BIG at Cubsquest.com

13 August:

The biggest "duh" prediction by anyone who knows anything is that the Bears would be better this year.

Last year was a miserable combination of key injuries, bad coaches making terrible decisions, and players as a result playing well below their skill sets.

The ownership took...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS SURPRISE DOLPHINS AND CRITICS; WIN BIG

CUBS SWEEP HOMESTAND; TEAM IS ON FIRE at Cubsquest.com

13 August:

Winning is, like losing, contagious.

It is infinitely more pleasurable, however, and the Chicago Cubs and their legion of fans seem to be enjoying it. As they should.

This is the best stretch of baseball they have played since 2001, when people still used DOS on their CRT...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP HOMESTAND; TEAM IS ON FIRE

CUB MINOR LEAGUE HELP: AN ASSESSMENT at Cubsquest.com

13 August:

Let"s take a look at who the Cubs will most likely call up, and how they"ll help. Starting with the most obvious, which is the infield.

Mike Olt:

Being the oldest, most experienced, and ablest defender, he is going to be the first one called.  He, too, has cooled off ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB MINOR LEAGUE HELP: AN ASSESSMENT

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

CUBS WIN 6TH IN A ROW; 16 GAMES OVER at Cubsquest.com

12 August:

Talk about a roll.

6 in a row, 9 out of their last 10, 12 out of the last 13. That"s the textbook definition of "hot", and right now they are scary hot. The feel "unbeatable" as Wednesday night hero Miguel Montero said after his clutch 10th inning walk off homer.

The Cubs...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN 6TH IN A ROW; 16 GAMES OVER

CASTRO CONTROVERSY UPDATED at Cubsquest.com

12 August:

It seems Starlin Castro has seen the handwriting on the wall.

His newly found "display of maturity"; compliment in no small order to agent Paul Kinzer, has him becoming the poster child for the good teammate. He doesn"t care where he plays, he just wants the team to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCASTRO CONTROVERSY UPDATED

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

CUBS BEAT BREWERS; TEAM IS ON A ROLL at Cubsquest.com

11 August:

The baseball gods are now smiling upon the Chicago Cubs.

They are getting the breaks, matching up against teams either out of the race and rebuilding, or not putting their best club out there. The Giants made a rare tactical miscalculation; they didn"t think they needed Madison...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BREWERS; TEAM IS ON A ROLL

CUB RUMORS 11 AUGUST at Cubsquest.com

11 August:

As the Cubs prepare for their series against the Brewers, and Joe Maddon won"t let them look past it in anticipation of the Pirates, either, a few points of interest:

Chase Utley. The Yankees, Giants and Cubs are all interested in the Phillie infielder, and all had scouts at...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB RUMORS 11 AUGUST

Monday, August 10, 2015

PURSUING THE PLAYOFFS: WHAT"S NEXT? at Cubsquest.com

10 August:

The Chicago Cubs are in undiscovered country as far as the current ownership goes.

Ever since the Ricketts family bought the Cubs from Sam Zell and the Tribune Corp., it has been an ugly spectacle with very promising undertones.

The product on the major league field has been...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPURSUING THE PLAYOFFS: WHAT"S NEXT?

Sunday, August 9, 2015

CUBS SWEEP WORLD CHAMPION GIANTS at Cubsquest.com

10 August:

What a difference a week or so can make.

The Cubs, scuffling offensively after the break, seemed to be a day late and a dollar short as far as playoff contenders go. But once again, they went to the Kyle Schwarber bank.

The last explosion of offense was when he was brought up...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP WORLD CHAMPION GIANTS

CASTRO: AN UPDATE at Cubsquest.com

9 August:

The truth is now out there.

In spite of media efforts to soften the blow, the situation between Cub shortstop Starlin Castro and the front office is creeping into acrimony.

The immediate claims that "he understood" his demotion -and it was made clear that this is exactly what...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCASTRO: AN UPDATE

Saturday, August 8, 2015

CUBS WIN AGAIN; 9-1 OUT OF LAST 10 at Cubsquest.com

9 August:

OK. You can now say it. They are officially "hot".

It is mid August and the Cubs are on a roll. The hottest team in the league, having won 9 out of their last 10 games. Against some pretty good teams, too.

They are serious about winning, for the first time of the Theo Epstein...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN AGAIN; 9-1 OUT OF LAST 10

Friday, August 7, 2015

"CRUNCH TIME", INDEED: CUBS BEAT GIANTS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

7 August:

Former Cub reliever Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams had an expression for how he pitched.

He said, famously, that he "pitched like his hair was on fire". Cub manager Joe Maddon manages the same way. One wonders if he"s heard that phrase.

The Cubs, now officially "hot". Winners of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com"CRUNCH TIME", INDEED: CUBS BEAT GIANTS AGAIN

Thursday, August 6, 2015

CASTRO: HOW MUCH ROPE IS LEFT? at Cubsquest.com

7 August:

Starlin Castro.

How much time is left for him to continue starting at short? He went 0 for 4 Thursday night and stranded 6 runners. He"s hitting .236 with an anemic .271 OBP.

He has only 18 walks in 411 at bats. He has 4 stolen bases, with just as many caught stealing.

He...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCASTRO: HOW MUCH ROPE IS LEFT?

CUBS BEAT GIANTS; LEAD IN WILD CARD RACE at Cubsquest.com

7 August:

The Cubs struck early, and held on for 7 innings to win a 5-4 squeaker over the reigning World Champion Giants. A two run single by Jorge Soler in the first, and a three run homer by Kyle Schwarber in the second was just enough to get it done.

The Giants answered with a pair of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT GIANTS; LEAD IN WILD CARD RACE

CUBS VS GIANTS: WHAT TO EXPECT at Cubsquest.com

6 August:

It"s crunch time for the Cubs.

They have an extended period -19 days- at home, and even with the Giants in town, they will miss Madison Bumgarner for the series, and not have to face all-world catcher Buster Posey Thursday night.

Manager Bruce Bochy plans on resting his...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS VS GIANTS: WHAT TO EXPECT

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

CUBS DROP ONE IN PITTSBURGH at Cubsquest.com

6 August:

It was always going to be a tough game.

The Cubs, winner of 6 in a row, including a rare 4 game sweep of a team on the road, beat a listless Pirate club Tuesday night. You sort of knew that the Bucs would be up for this one.

They certainly were.

The Cubs played OK; new...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP ONE IN PITTSBURGH

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

CUBS BEAT BUCS FOR 6TH IN A ROW at Cubsquest.com

5 August:

It was supposed to be a marquee game; so much on the line for both clubs.

After Monday"s rainout, this series with the Cub"s rivals for the wild card was supposed to be intense. Whatever occurred last evening might have taken some wind out of the sails of the Pirates.

It"s not...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BUCS FOR 6TH IN A ROW

CUBS, BUCS RAINED OUT at Cubsquest.com

4 August:

The "weather gods" decided there would be no baseball at PNC park Monday night.

After 2 lengthy delays, one for 2 hours and another for an hour and twenty minutes. Finally, at midnight Pittsburgh time, crew chief Paul Nauert pulled the plug and the game was called.

During the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, BUCS RAINED OUT

Monday, August 3, 2015

THE BASEBALL GODS EXPLAINED at Cubsquest.com

4 August:

Time for a clarification and a little pop culture history.

You have no doubt heard the term "the baseball gods" referred to from time to time. The players, announcers, your loyal Cubsquest staff, those in the know all mention them.

To clarify, it isn"t "pagan...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE BASEBALL GODS EXPLAINED

BULLS QUIET AND STEADY OFFSEASON at Cubsquest.com

TREVOR BLOCK on the BULLS

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Bulls have not had a very loud offseason compared to their conference opponents. Many teams surrounding them have made significant moves to bolster their competitiveness for the 2015-2016 NBA season.

The Bulls are now surrounded by the E...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBULLS QUIET AND STEADY OFFSEASON

Sunday, August 2, 2015

CUBS SWEEP BREWERS; TIED FOR WILD CARD at Cubsquest.com

3 August:

Guess who is ten games over?

At 57-47, the Chicago Cubs are officially ten games over, which is the rubrick one compares other good teams to. Once you"re there, then you try to play a little over .500 the rest of the way out, picking up a game here or there and finishing with...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP BREWERS; TIED FOR WILD CARD

CUBS BEAT BREWERS FOR 4TH IN A ROW at Cubsquest.com

2 August:

The Cubs have made THE transition.

What was a promising young team with an excellent pitching staff and some troubling holes is now a legitimate playoff contender. The Cubs are one game behind the World Champion San Francisco Giants- let that connection roll around in your head...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BREWERS FOR 4TH IN A ROW