Monday, October 10, 2016

MARQUEE MATCH UP: ARRIETA VS BUMGARNER at Cubsquest.com

10 October:

Baseball fans everywhere are licking their chops over a chance to see Jake Arrieta take on Madison Bumgarner in what is an elimination game for the former 3 time World Champions.

As they should. So far the Cub-Giant series has dwarfed the rest of the field both in quality of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMARQUEE MATCH UP: ARRIETA VS BUMGARNER

Sunday, October 9, 2016

CUBS PLAYOFF TICKET QUANDRY at Cubsquest.com

By Cubsquest Staff

10/8/16

You say you want Cubs Playoff tickets? Doesn"t everyone??

For those of you too timid to tread into the Post Season ticket at Wrigley Field this October, you have every right to be. Cubsquest staff worked the ticket services, brokers, StubHub and even the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PLAYOFF TICKET QUANDRY

CUBS SWEEP GIANTS AT HOME at Cubsquest.com

9 October:

The Chicago Cubs took care of business and swept the San Francisco Giants at home.

It wasn"t as pretty, or dramatic as Friday"s contest, which was admittedly one for the ages. It was a far more prosaic affair. More typical 2016 Cubs style.

Get the early lead, make some big...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP GIANTS AT HOME

Saturday, October 8, 2016

LESTER PITCHES GEM, BAEZ HOMER WINS IT LATE at Cubsquest.com

8 October:

Cub fans can heave a sigh of relief. This team is not only for real, they are good.

Like in damn good. They played the best game in franchise history when they needed it most, and against the best. A skilled, experienced and determined San Francisco Giant club played a superb...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comLESTER PITCHES GEM, BAEZ HOMER WINS IT LATE

Friday, October 7, 2016

at Cubsquest.com

WEEK 5 PREVIEW: BEARS @ COLTS
2 Wins in a Row for Da Bears?

By: Andrew Shipman

Just like that, with one win under his belt and no interceptions, Brian Hoyer is the savior of Chicago football.

At least that’s what several Bears fans might want to tell you right now. I don’t know if I buy...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

CLEVELAND HOMERS KNOCK OFF BOSOX at Cubsquest.com

7 October:

In another typical AL slugfest the Cleveland Indians bested the Boston Red Sox 5-4.

Both teams hit 3 home runs apiece, and so far this postseason has been defined by the tightly wound rabbit ball that allowed more players to hit 20 home runs than any other time in history. To...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCLEVELAND HOMERS KNOCK OFF BOSOX

Thursday, October 6, 2016

BIG AL PLAYOFF DAY TODAY at Cubsquest.com

6 October:

Today is a big day for AL fans as two playoff games occur.

First is the Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Texas Rangers, followed by the Red Sox at Cleveland. Both games are on TBS, and begin at 3:30 Central Time.

Marco Estrada goes against Cole Hamels in the opener, with Rick...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBIG AL PLAYOFF DAY TODAY

BRING ON THE GIANTS! at Cubsquest.com

6 October:

The San Francisco Giants got their nose in the tent, and a spirited Mets team wasn"t enough to stop them as they now travel to Wrigley Field to play the Cubs.

In classic Giant style, they were able to outlast the Mets. Starter Madison Bumgarner was able to keep his pitch count...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBRING ON THE GIANTS!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

METS VS GIANTS: WHICH MATCHUP SUITS CUBS BEST at Cubsquest.com

5 October:

The Cubs anxiously await tonight"s game to see what matchup they get.

 

After Tuesday night"s adult 12 inch softball tourney in Toronto ended with a predictable Blue Jays win, the real stuff starts tonight as Bruce Boche"s San Francisco Giants invade Queens to take on...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMETS VS GIANTS: WHICH MATCHUP SUITS CUBS BEST

TORONTO DRAWS FIRST BLOOD at Cubsquest.com

5 October:

The 2016 MLB Playoffs are now on track, and first blood was drawn by the Toronto Blue Jays.

In an 11 inning affair that featured 33 strikeouts and only 3 walks,  and 6 of the 7 runs scored were all via the home run, any National League aficionado would have been forgiven for ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTORONTO DRAWS FIRST BLOOD

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

MLB PLAYOFFS: LET THE GAMES BEGIN at Cubsquest.com

4 October:

The rallying cry in the Ancient Olympiad was "Let the Games Begin!". So it is with MLB.

This phrase certainly comes to mind today, as the 2016 MLB Postseason begins in earnest. Tonight we are treated to the first contest, as Baltimore travels to the Rogers Center in Toronto to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMLB PLAYOFFS: LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Monday, October 3, 2016

CUBS COME BACK IN STYLE at Cubsquest.com

3 October:

The final game is a Cubs come back win. Very nice, indeed.

It may not have been the way it was scripted, but it was the type of win they needed. Like Saturday"s game, the narrative demanded a certain outcome. That was a dominant Jon Lester victory for his 20th win.

Instead he...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS COME BACK IN STYLE

Sunday, October 2, 2016

END OF SEASON NEW BEGINNING FOR CUBS at Cubsquest.com

2 October:

The Cubs play their final regular season game today. But this represents the beginning, NOT the end.

For Cub fans this is a curiosity; in days past they would occasionally stumble into a post season nod by happy accident. Outside of perhaps 1984, the team was usually unprepared...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEND OF SEASON NEW BEGINNING FOR CUBS

LESTER DENIED 20TH WIN at Cubsquest.com

1 October:

Jon Lester wanted 20 wins but just didn"t have it in him.

The Cub left hander, a strong contender for the Cy Young award had one more personal achievement.

His first 20 win season.

Like a hitter looks forward to that .300 mark, or the 100 RBI"s, or maybe cracking the 40...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comLESTER DENIED 20TH WIN

Saturday, October 1, 2016

ZOBRIST, CUBS POUNDS REDS at Cubsquest.com

1 October:

Ben Zobrist and his Cub teammates pounded the hapless Cincinnati Reds once again.

It"s hard to discern what is worse for the Reds, who"s pitching has been awful at historic levels this year or giving the Cubs a particular, and fairly ugly record. Would you rather have the worst...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comZOBRIST, CUBS POUNDS REDS

Friday, September 30, 2016

KRIS BRYANT AS MVP: COUNT ON IT at Cubsquest.com

30 September:

This should be as big a laugher as the Cub"s runaway division title.

While the country obsesses on the dubious value of polling the political candidates 38 days away (keep in mind Reagan was down 8 points at this juncture in 1980 and you know what happened there) there is one...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comKRIS BRYANT AS MVP: COUNT ON IT

CUBS DO AN NHL WITH A TIE at Cubsquest.com

29 September:

The Cubs and Pirates ended up doing a couple of interesting things tonight with a rare tie game.

One is mimic the upcoming NHL season with their Achilles heel, the dreaded tie. Ties forced them to adopt the shootout format from the minors, and if that doesn"t work than the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DO AN NHL WITH A TIE

Thursday, September 29, 2016

WHAT"S WRONG WITH JAKE? at Cubsquest.com

28 September:

It was as simple as Jake Arrieta was off and John Jaso was on.

Or was it? There is now some concern at the Clark and Addison brain trust as to the true state of their star pitcher. For the creeping reality seems to be that the phenomenon from last season until late May of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHAT"S WRONG WITH JAKE?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

WEEK 4: BEARS HOST LIONS at Cubsquest.com

WEEK 4 PREVIEW: LIONS @ BEARS
By: Andrew Shipman

Rivalry games make or break a season. While Chicago has lost all three of its first games and currently look to be one of the worst teams in the league, you can never truly predict what is going to happen in a division rivalry game.

This...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWEEK 4: BEARS HOST LIONS

CUB SUBS KEY AS TEAM NOTCHES 101 WINS at Cubsquest.com

28 September:

The Chicago Cub express seems in no immediate danger of slowing down any time soon.

That"s good, because in 10 days they have to play for real. No matter how well you do in the regular season means little; outside of home field advantage everyone is created equal under the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB SUBS KEY AS TEAM NOTCHES 101 WINS

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

CUBS; BRYANT JOIN THE "100" CLUB at Cubsquest.com

27 September:

The Chicago Cubs achieved a couple of milestones Monday night at a sparsely attended PNC park.

The team won 100 games for the first time since 1935, which is historically a LONG time ago. The trial of the century -the Lindbergh kidnapping- started.  The board game Monopoly ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS; BRYANT JOIN THE "100" CLUB

Monday, September 26, 2016

CUBS FETE DAVID ROSS WITH BIG WIN at Cubsquest.com

26 September:

There have been a lot of big wins this year; you don"t win 100 games without some stunners in the mix.

Sunday night"s ESPN game might not have been the best, nor the most entertaining. But it was a good, and very important win. The team and the fans had a moving farewell to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS FETE DAVID ROSS WITH BIG WIN

JOSE FERNANDEZ: UPDATE at Cubsquest.com

26 September:

The details of the horrendous accident that killed Marlins ace Jose Fernandez are now public record.

The 24 year old pitching ace was with two friends in the wee hours of Sunday morning on his 32 foot Boston Whaler, an excellent boat for those waters. It has been reported as...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comJOSE FERNANDEZ: UPDATE

Sunday, September 25, 2016

MARLIN STAR KILLED IN BOATING ACCIDENT at Cubsquest.com

25 September:

08:35 AM:

Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez and two others died in a boating accident off of Miami beach early this morning according to the local authorities. Cub fans were aware that the organization was set on acquiring the right handed star this offseason.

This...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMARLIN STAR KILLED IN BOATING ACCIDENT

Friday, September 23, 2016

ARRIETA WINS HIS 18TH; CARDS CHOKE at Cubsquest.com

23 September:

This one was over early.

After Jake Arrieta(W, 18-7) fanned the first three Cardinal batters in the top of the first St Louis played a godawful bottom of the inning bestowing 4 runs on a grateful Cub team and putting a stake in the heart of the Cardinal"s post season...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA WINS HIS 18TH; CARDS CHOKE

WHY CARDINAL SERIES COUNTS at Cubsquest.com

23 September:

The last truly important series for the Cubs starts today.

While it is true they not only have clinched the Division and only have to win two more games to nail down home field advantage throughout the Championship series, they still can have some say about just who they...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHY CARDINAL SERIES COUNTS

Thursday, September 22, 2016

BEARS WEEK 3: PREVIEW at Cubsquest.com

WEEK 3: CHICAGO BEARS VS. DALLAS COWBOYS ON SNF

Can a bruised Bears team save the season?

By: Andrew Shipman

Chicago Football took a hit Monday night didn’t it?

No, we’re not just talking about Jay Cutler, who was hit by an Eagles defender almost every play. We’re not just talking abo...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS WEEK 3: PREVIEW

MONTERO MAKES POSTSEASON ROSTER at Cubsquest.com

22 September:

It looks like the Cubs finally found their left handed bat off the bench for the post season. And it"s been around all season long.

Almost given up for dead a month or so ago, Miguel Montero has put on enough of a late season surge to guarantee a spot on the roster. Now,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMONTERO MAKES POSTSEASON ROSTER

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

CUB EXPRESS ROLLS ON at Cubsquest.com

21 September:

It"s hard to feel sorry for the Cincinnati Reds.

Not only were they so good for so long, they also beat the stuffings out of the Cubs every year up until last season. Then, not coincidentally, as soon as the Theo Epstein express train left the station the Reds started...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB EXPRESS ROLLS ON

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

CUB POWER SURGE SHORTS OUT REDS at Cubsquest.com

20 September:

For awhile it appeared as if the recent trend of just about any right handed pitching shutting down the Cubs was going to continue.

A 28 year old rookie named Tim Adleman, who most recently toiled in the unaffiliated minor leagues and had the dubious distinction of being the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB POWER SURGE SHORTS OUT REDS

BEARS DISMAL AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

20 September:

These are really tough times for Bear fans.

Not the franchise itself; they have a license to print money. The players are having trouble staying healthy and on the field, and now according to some former Bear players some are quitting on the field.

They have been an...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS DISMAL AGAIN

BEARS TAKE NOTE OF CUB SUCCESS at Cubsquest.com

19 September:

The Cubs take on the Cincinnati Reds while the Bears square off against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is not lost on the Bears franchise; well aware that the Cubs are close to supplanting the Bears as the city"s favorite team.

This with having the storied White Sox as local...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBEARS TAKE NOTE OF CUB SUCCESS

Sunday, August 28, 2016

DODGERS WIN; EVEN SERIES at Cubsquest.com

28 August:

This is the result that should have happened last night but didn"t. Kris Bryant"s two home runs saw to that. The Saturday affair between the two clubs was similar in all other respects, though.

Los Angeles rode the start of rookie Julio Arias(W, 5-2) who"s last seven starts they...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDODGERS WIN; EVEN SERIES

Saturday, August 27, 2016

BRYANT HOMERS POWER CUBS PAST L.A. at Cubsquest.com

27 August:

This was a game the Cubs would usually lose.

Not just on the road, but at night, in Dodger Stadium, and against a first place club.  They were facing solid right handed pitching, L.A. has an excellent defense as well.

And Cub killer Chase Utley was in the middle of the Dodger ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBRYANT HOMERS POWER CUBS PAST L.A.

THE FINAL PITCH FOR VIN SCULLY at Cubsquest.com

By JO Chids  for Cubsquest   

8/26/16

One of the most annoying aspects of the now established unbalanced schedule - where teams play triple the amount of games versus opponents in their own division than the rest of the league - is the resulting fragmentation of the west coast road trip by ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE FINAL PITCH FOR VIN SCULLY

Friday, August 26, 2016

CUBS, FANS GET A BREAK at Cubsquest.com

26 August:

A baseball season is often referred to a "campaign".

When Caesar took his armies north to conquer Gaul that was a "campaign". When MacArthur and Halsey island hopped the Pacific that was a "campaign".

The current political circus is also a campaign. They all have one thing in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, FANS GET A BREAK

Thursday, August 25, 2016

CUBS BROOM FRIARS at Cubsquest.com

24 August:

The mercy killing by the ocean is over.

The Chicago Cubs swept the hapless Padre club, beating them 6-3 to complete a three game sweep. Once again the Cubs jumped out to an early lead which they never relinquished.

A Ben Zobrist triple drove home Dexter Fowler and Kris...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BROOM FRIARS

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

CUBS CRUISE PAST PADRES at Cubsquest.com

24 August:

Cub fans know more than anyone else out there how much fun it wasn"t to watch them get outclassed by half the teams in the majors on a regular basis. It was no fun at all.

So, with turnabout being fair play, it"s not too hard to feel for the pathetic excuse for a team San Diego...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS CRUISE PAST PADRES

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

CUBS DEFROCK PADRES at Cubsquest.com

23 August:

This was an easy one, and as they say to the victors go the spoils.

San Diego, in yet another rebuild off of a disastrous spending spree boasts a lineup built around Wil Meyers and basically no one else. Myers, currently hitting .267 does have 23 homers, a massive power display...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DEFROCK PADRES

Monday, August 22, 2016

CUBS PROBLEM WITH ROCKIES REMAINS at Cubsquest.com

22 August:

It is true that no matter how good your team there are certain clubs you just don"t match up well against.

Fortunately for the Cubs the Colorado Rockies are A) Not in their division, and B) barring some sore of miracle will not make the post season.  After the debacle at Coors ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PROBLEM WITH ROCKIES REMAINS

Sunday, August 21, 2016

CUBS GET EVEN IN DENVER at Cubsquest.com

21 August:

This one was bound to happen sooner or later.

The Colorado Rockies, who have played the Cubs extremely tough so far this season finally had the tough match up. Jeff Hoffman"s rookie debut was spoiled by a both a relentless Cubs attack and a fine spot start by left hander Mike...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GET EVEN IN DENVER

Saturday, August 20, 2016

CUBS BLOW LEAD, CHAPMAN BLOWS GAME at Cubsquest.com

20 August 1:40 AM Central:

The Cubs might have wished this game to be rained out.

After a 2 hour and 10 minute delay, Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs were seemingly sailing towards a fairly easy, no drama victory.  After the two teams traded leadoff homers, the Cubs kept adding, with the ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BLOW LEAD, CHAPMAN BLOWS GAME

Friday, August 19, 2016

CUBS SWEEP BREW CREW; BRYANT EPIC at Cubsquest.com

18 August:

Kris Bryant was truly epic.

As the poor Milwaukee Brewers gladly board the bus for the land of cheddar and brats the sunset basked Wrigley Field in that late afternoon celestial glow every Cub fan can recall . It is, as Charles Dickens once wrote, certainly "the best of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP BREW CREW; BRYANT EPIC

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

CUBS SWEEP BREW CREW IN NIGHTCAP at Cubsquest.com

16 August:

The Cubs finished off a very successful day with yet another win over a woeful Brewers club, this time 4-1. They were aiming for a historic day; had the game been a shutout it would have been their first sweep of a doubleheader by shutout since 1965.

But that"s one of those...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP BREW CREW IN NIGHTCAP

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

CUBS: WHAT MOVES ARE NEXT? at Cubsquest.com

16 August:

The Chicago Cubs are sitting fat and sassy with a major league best 73 wins, and are the only team playing over .600 ball. 73-43 puts them at .629.

For those mathematically challenged just look at it as winning just about 6 out of every 10 games. Occasionally even 7 out of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS: WHAT MOVES ARE NEXT?

Monday, August 15, 2016

ANOTHER PEN MELTDOWN HURTS CUBS at Cubsquest.com

15 August:

There are games during the course of a season that have consequence.

Not necessarily "must win"; right now no single win or loss is of huge import to the Cubs. The luxury of a large lead means they can marshal their resources best for another day. Getting healthy for the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comANOTHER PEN MELTDOWN HURTS CUBS

Sunday, August 14, 2016

CARDS STAGE COMEBACK; STREAK ENDS at Cubsquest.com

14 August:

"All things must pass" as George Harrison once offered up in song. So true, and particularly with streaks. They are meant to be broken; just a matter of time. Joe DiMaggio"s 56 game hitting streak started on May 15 and ended July 17.

Impressive. But it still ended. The Chicago...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCARDS STAGE COMEBACK; STREAK ENDS

Saturday, August 13, 2016

CUBS PLUCK CARDS FOR 11TH STRAIGHT WIN at Cubsquest.com

13 August:

Times are good on the North Side, there is little doubt of that.

Being 30 games over .500 (make that 31) makes for a cozy, fun atmosphere. Little criticism, almost no second guessing. Big 11 game winning streaks sure don"t hurt. Nor does beating the stuffing out of the feared...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PLUCK CARDS FOR 11TH STRAIGHT WIN

Friday, August 12, 2016

CUBS BEAT CARDS ON WALKOFF WALK at Cubsquest.com

12 August:

It wasn"t particularly pretty, but a win is a win, especially when it"s the St Louis Cardinals you"re beating. And beat them they did, on a Anthony Rizzo bases loaded walk in the 11th off of Zach Duke.

Duke(L, 2-1) turned out to be the weak link in an otherwise excellent 4 2/3...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT CARDS ON WALKOFF WALK

Thursday, August 11, 2016

DESPERATE REDBIRDS FLY INTO WRIGLEY at Cubsquest.com

11 August:

It"s kind of tough to see a real race in the National League Central Division.

Only for a brief period during the Cub"s low point before the All Star break did the rival Cardinals ever get close; you all remember the last game at Pittsburgh.

The Cubs were 6 1/2 games ahead of...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDESPERATE REDBIRDS FLY INTO WRIGLEY

CUBS SWEEP ANGELS at Cubsquest.com

11 August:

Bet the Angels can"t with to get back to Anaheim.

They just could not hang in there with the Cubs, who are a far deeper and more talented club. They kept the games relatively close, but got swept all six contests by the North Siders with their vaunted duo of Mike Trout and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP ANGELS

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

CUBS CLIP ANGELS WINGS; WIN 8TH IN A ROW

9 August:

The Cubs, who should now go on the same sort of binge they did last year at this time, just won their 8th game in a row and easily defeated the Anaheim Angels 5-1 Tuesday night at a warm, cloudy and packed Wrigley Field.

The 41,127 fans -and they now sell out every game; the only...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS CLIP ANGEL"S WINGS; WIN 8TH IN A ROW

Monday, August 8, 2016

"LIGHTS ON" 28 YEARS AGO TODAY at Cubsquest.com

8 August;

28 years ago today the Chicago Cubs joined, or attempted to, the modern era.

When Rick Sutcliffe threw out the first pitch that night the last vestiges of day baseball as the rule ended.  It took a long time after the team"s first attempt at playing night baseball. Few know that ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com"LIGHTS ON" 28 YEARS AGO TODAY

CUBS, HENDRICKS SWEEP A"S at Cubsquest.com

8 August:

The Cubs finished their series sweep much like a python killing it"s prey. Get an early grip on it, slowly suffocate it and then swallow it, slowly, whole. It"s not the most romantic of images, but it does describe their methodical destruction of most of major league...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, HENDRICKS SWEEP A"S

Sunday, August 7, 2016

CUBS, ARRIETA BLANK A"S at Cubsquest.com

7 August:

The score was closer than the game.

4-0 seems like it should be an actual contest; get a couple of men on and a few well placed hits and you"re right back in the middle of it all. Such was not the case Sunday afternoon at Oakland Alameda Coliseum.

Jake Arrieta(W, 13-5),...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, ARRIETA BLANK A"S

Saturday, August 6, 2016

CUBS SAIL PAST A"S at Cubsquest.com

6 April:

In a game that was an obvious mismatch, the Cubs easily beat the Oakland A"s Friday night in the city on the other side of the bay. The A"s marched out a starter who has allowed a stunning nine home runs in only 18 innings.

Dillon Overton(L, 1-3) picked up right where he left off...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SAIL PAST A"S

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

CUBS RALLY AGAIN; SWEEP MARLINS at Cubsquest.com

3 August:

The Cubs have solved one nagging situation on this homestand.

The walk off win. One of the leaders in the majors last year, the hadn"t even one of them in 2016. Not until the improbable come from behind win last Sunday versus Seattle, which might also be one of the greatest Cub...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS RALLY AGAIN; SWEEP MARLINS

CUBS WIN; 9 GAME LEAD IN NL CENTRAL at Cubsquest.com

2 July:

Whatever tonic the Cubs took over the All Star break seems to have worked. They"re 11-6, and even better have widened their lead over the rival St Louis Cardinals to nine full games. This season still has almost two more months to go, but that is a historically sizable lead.

You...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN; 9 GAME LEAD IN NL CENTRAL

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

PROFESSOR HENDRICKS SCHOOLS FIGHTING FISH at Cubsquest.com

2 August:

The professor held class, and the students got a lesson.

The "professsor" as he is called by those around him, is Cub starter Kyle Hendricks(W, 10-7). And all he did was throw a 123 pitch complete game, with an impressive 78 of them strikes. The Miami Marlins could only manage 7...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPROFESSOR HENDRICKS SCHOOLS FIGHTING FISH

Monday, August 1, 2016

DEADLINE PAST: WHAT CUBS DID-AND DIDN"T DO at Cubsquest.com

1 August:

The trade deadline passed with a flurry of activity.

The Cubs got more relief pitching, which along with right handed hitters they seem to never have enough of.  They just added Angels reliever Joe Smith to compliment the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, the much unloved two month ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDEADLINE PAST: WHAT CUBS DID-AND DIDN"T DO

CUBS TRADE FOR RELIEVER at Cubsquest.com

1 August:

According to sources including ESPN, the Cubs have acquired reliever Joe Smith from the Anaheim Angels. The players involved on the Cub"s side have not yet been disclosed.

Smith, 32, is right handed. He has a fine career record of 40-27 with an excellent 2.94 ERA. With 205 walks...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TRADE FOR RELIEVER

CUBS STUN MARINERS IN EXTRAS at Cubsquest.com

31 July:

In a stunning comeback full of the type of improbable play that can propel a team to another level, the Cubs beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 in 12 innings at a wild Wrigley Field.

The game started with a recent Cub acquisition being called up to start Sunday, out of nowhere, with...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS STUN MARINERS IN EXTRAS

Sunday, July 31, 2016

CUBS, CHAPMAN BLOW LEAD AND GAME at Cubsquest.com

30 July:

To many this was not supposed to happen this way.

To some others it fit perfectly. The Cubs, who had finally put a run on the board, this time against the great Wade Miley. As opposed to the other starters they haven"t been able to hit for over a week.

One to nothing in the top...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, CHAPMAN BLOW LEAD AND GAME

Saturday, July 30, 2016

CUBS SWAMP MARINERS at Cubsquest.com

29 July:

The Cubs bats and Chicago weather combined to swamp the Seattle Mariners 12-1 in front of 40,951 fans at a rain soaked Wrigley Field. Already ahead 11-0 in the 7th, the heavens opened up and a 1 hour and 14 minute delay ensued.

By the time the game continued it was basically over....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWAMP MARINERS

Friday, July 29, 2016

CUBS BEAT SOX at Cubsquest.com

29 July

The Cubs may not be a better team than they were last week but they are a different one.

They are now a six inning team. That means get a lead, any kind of a lead and you shut down the game after the sixth inning. Kansas City had that game plan last year and won a World...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT SOX

Thursday, July 28, 2016

CUB BATS EXPLODE; CHAPMAN DEBUT at Cubsquest.com

28 July:

I took them a while but they eventually snapped out of it.

Locked in yet another scoreless duel with a no name right handed pitcher, who was not only no hitting them also homered for his first major league hit, the team finally belted their way out of it. A solo shot by Kris...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB BATS EXPLODE; CHAPMAN DEBUT

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

LISTLESS CUBS FALL TO SOUTH SIDERS at Cubsquest.com

27 July:

The Cubs are still 19 games over .500.

But they are 8-13 for the month of July. Worse yet, they are reverting back to the offensively challenged club of yore. They"re still in the middle of the pack average wise; 15th in baseball at .252.

Their on base percentage is still quite...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comLISTLESS CUBS FALL TO SOUTH SIDERS

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

CUBS DROP HEARTBREAKER ON SOUTH SIDE at Cubsquest.com

26 July:

The Cubs, at 59-39 still have one of the best records in baseball.

They have just acquired the premier closer in the game for what was essentially surplus help. It is still only July, and they have a LOT of baseball left.

These are all good things. There is no reason for worry....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP HEARTBREAKER ON SOUTH SIDE

Monday, July 25, 2016

CUBS BREAK MARKET OPEN; WHAT"S NEXT? at Cubsquest.com

25 July:

The gauntlet has been tossed.

Chicago Cub owner and his right hand man Theo Epstein made their first really big trade, the type of bold move that real teams in good organizations make. This is virgin territory for the Cubs, more or less.

They"ve been good sporadically over the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BREAK MARKET OPEN; WHAT"S NEXT?

CHAPMAN TRADE IMMINENT at Cubsquest.com

25 July:

Theo Epstein is serious about a championship at Wrigley Field, and sooner rather than later.

Like this year. According to sources close to both the Cubs and the New York Yankees, closer Aroldis Chapman will be coming to the Cubs for prospect Gleyber Torres. Cubsquest has been on...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCHAPMAN TRADE IMMINENT

CUBS COME BACK AGAINST BREWERS at Cubsquest.com

24 July:

The Cubs played badly but won. That"s the good news.

There"s more good news. That"ll be next. For now it"s smart to focus on the pretty poor play they are starting to show on a more recurring basis. Poor execution with men on base and some spotty defense. Being fooled by slow...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS COME BACK AGAINST BREWERS

Sunday, July 24, 2016

CUBS DROP ONE TO BREWERS at Cubsquest.com

23 July:

The Cubs got "Hendricksed".

For obvious comparison sakes, the success of Kyle Hendricks and his style of pitching has caught on. The Brewers have their own version of the stylish but velocity challenged right hander. Zach Davies(W, 7-4) would be a virtual clone if he wasn"t half...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP ONE TO BREWERS

JASON HEYWARD NEEDS TWO WEEKS IN IOWA at Cubsquest.com

23 July:

First of all, let"s get one thing straight.

Jason Heyward is a fine baseball player. Has been since he first strapped on a pair of spikes. The Cubs" offseason acquisition of him was smart, and will pay huge dividends. He is a good guy and teammate as well.

Under no...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comJASON HEYWARD NEEDS TWO WEEKS IN IOWA

Saturday, July 23, 2016

CUBS BEAT BREWERS; CLOSE ON HELP? at Cubsquest.com

23 July:

The good news:

The Cubs beat a pretty bad Brewer club, who essentially beat themselves with poor defensive play and starter Jimmy Nelson"s(L, 6-8) lack of command. That and the dramatic, and triumphant return of Dexter Fowler to the lineup.

All he did was go 3 out of 4, and on...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BREWERS; CLOSE ON HELP?

Thursday, July 21, 2016

CUBS ADD PITCHER- LEFT HANDED PUNCH NEXT? at Cubsquest.com

21 July:

With newly acquired left handed pitcher Mike Montgomery now in the fold -and from what the buzz is out there he"s pinching himself to make sure he"s not dreaming- the Cubs are beginning to address some of their more pertinent needs.

One is not just adding pitching, but adding...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS ADD PITCHER- LEFT HANDED PUNCH NEXT?

CUBS MAKE FIRST BIG MOVE at Cubsquest.com

21 July:

The Chicago Cubs made their first big move of the 2016 season Wednesday evening. According to sources close to the team, the Cubs and Seattle Mariners made a four player swap with the centerpieces being Seattle left hander Mike Montgomery and Cub AAA prospect Dan Voglebach.

The...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS MAKE FIRST BIG MOVE

CUBS TAKE SERIES FROM METS at Cubsquest.com

21 July:

This was an important game. Illustrative, too.

The Cubs have been one of the best clubs in baseball for over a year. Their winning percentage is .606, identical now to the vaunted SF Giants, who were unbelievably hot while the Cubs cooled.

If you go back to the All Star break...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TAKE SERIES FROM METS

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

CUBS LOSE TOUGH ONE TO METS, at Cubsquest.com

20 July:

This was, by any definition, a very tough loss to take.

For a myriad of reasons. Most notably is you simply MUST find a way to score a run when you have bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th with nobody out. Mets closer Jeurys Familia(S, 33) walked a pair and then poor Met defense...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE TOUGH ONE TO METS,

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

CUBS FINALLY BEAT THE METS at Cubsquest.com

19 July:

OK, so it"s not THAT big a deal.

After all, the hometown heroes had pounded on this team from Flushing Bay, next to LaGuardia and just downstream from Riker"s Island 9 straight games at one point.

That was until, of course, the NLCS last year. Since then these pretenders to the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS FINALLY BEAT THE METS

Monday, July 18, 2016

THEO, CUBS MAKING MOVES SOON? at Cubsquest.com

18 July:

Major league deals are a little bit like childbirth.

There is a realization something"s about to happen. There is a date. Zero sum affair, if you will. The Chicago Cubs, being beyond pregnant with prospects, would love to give birth to a Championship. They are aware of the fact...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHEO, CUBS MAKING MOVES SOON?

CUBS RUN INTO HAMEL BUZZSAW AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

18 July:

What does Meatloaf sing?

"Two out of three ain"t bad"? Hard to argue with that, particularly when you beat a team as loaded as the Texas Rangers two in a row and their ace has to pitch his best game in a month just so they can escape with one win.

Keep in mind last time Cole...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS RUN INTO HAMEL BUZZSAW AGAIN

Saturday, July 16, 2016

CUBS LOOK SHARP BEATING RANGERS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

16 July:

It looks like that time off was just the tonic the Cubs did need.

Limping into the break playing .250 ball with a 21 games in 21 days streak, they were a dead looking team. The final game, a win at Pittsburgh, cannot be discounted. it was extremely important.

They went in the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOOK SHARP BEATING RANGERS AGAIN

CUBS ROAR OUT OF THE BREAK at Cubsquest.com

15 July:

Seems a few days off might actually have been the ticket.

That and another interesting lineup from Joe Maddon. What 41,482 very happy but slightly damp fans saw was a more or less carbon copy of the best of the first half with a distinct improvement.

Not sure whether it"s...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS ROAR OUT OF THE BREAK

Friday, July 15, 2016

REST OVER; AL"S BEST COMES TO WRIGLEY at Cubsquest.com

15 July:

With the All Star break in the rear view mirror, the Cubs have to improve on their recent play.

The schedule is tough. Texas rides into town with a near identical record; after that the Mets come in. And anyone who thinks the White Sox, or even Milwaukee will be lay downs has...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comREST OVER; AL"S BEST COMES TO WRIGLEY

Thursday, July 14, 2016

WHAT WILL THEO DO? at Cubsquest.com

14 July:

With the All Star game in the rear view mirror, and another full day until the Texas Rangers ride into Wrigley, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been busy fellows.

Tasked with the Herculean notion of bringing the perennial losers to the Promised Land, he has already achieved some...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHAT WILL THEO DO?

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

AL WINS, NO HOME ADVANTAGE FOR NL IN SERIES at Cubsquest.com

12 July:

It wasn"t a very good game, at least from a National League point of view.

Once again Ned Yost and his Royals managed to win; they attacked Jonny Cueto early in the count and hit two home runs off of him. Once they had the lead it was a matter of getting the superb AL closers in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comAL WINS, NO HOME ADVANTAGE FOR NL IN SERIES

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

CUBS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SAN DIEGO at Cubsquest.com

12 July:

While the Chicago Cubs and their fans take a needed time out from a very rough month of June, the media spotlight, and attention of baseball fans worldwide, will be on their young, dynamic core.

The entire infield will be Cubs. Sure, the fans voted. But the voting was worldwide,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SAN DIEGO

Monday, July 11, 2016

RELAX AND TAKE AN ALL STAR BREAK! at Cubsquest.com

11 July:

The month long ordeal is over.

Cub fans, and fans nationwide of their talented young core of players can sit back and enjoy the game for the fun it still represents. Gone is the agonizing post mortems of how they lost, and who was responsible.

You have four days off. A home run...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comRELAX AND TAKE AN ALL STAR BREAK!

CUBS TAKE HUGE WIN TO ALL STAR BREAK at Cubsquest.com

11 July:

With their backs literally to the wall, the Chicago Cubs delivered their biggest win of the year. After leading the Known Universe with a .710 winning percentage coming into June, they proceeded to win only 6 of their next 22 contests.

That"s roughly .250 ball. That isn"t a slump;...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TAKE HUGE WIN TO ALL STAR BREAK

Sunday, July 10, 2016

CUB TAILSPIN CONTINUES at Cubsquest.com

10 July:

Over the past couple of weeks the Chicago Cubs, earlier lauded as not only the best team in baseball, but a lead pipe cinch to win 116 games, has shown the absolute other side of the equation.

They have done nothing but lose, and in every respect imaginable.

Their starting...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB TAILSPIN CONTINUES

Saturday, July 9, 2016

CUB STRUGGLES CONTINUE at Cubsquest.com

9 July:

This wasn"t any fun to watch. It mustn"t have been much fun to play, either.

The Chicago Cub 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh was kind of a highlight ("lowlight" might be more appropriate) reel of their recent struggles. It  had issues with the starting pitching, bullpen, defense and ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB STRUGGLES CONTINUE

Friday, July 8, 2016

CUBS NOW FIND WAYS TO LOSE at Cubsquest.com

8 July:

Another game the Cubs could have, and should have won, down the drain.

There is a saying in sports: "Good teams find a way to win, bad teams find a way to lose". Right now, this moment, the Chicago Cubs are a bad baseball team. It"s as devastating a turnaround as seen in some...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS NOW FIND WAYS TO LOSE

CUB NOTES: HAMMEL, WARREN AND THE UPCOMING TRADE at Cubsquest.com

7 July:

The talks between the Cubs and Yankees have gotten serious.

Just since the last post Cubsquest put up the other day, the Yankee brass are admitting, albeit reluctantly, that they need to get younger and more athletic, and must rebuild.

On the fly, of course. They"re still the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB NOTES: HAMMEL, WARREN AND THE UPCOMING TRADE

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

CUBS OFFICIALLY IN TAILSPIN at Cubsquest.com

6 July:

The news is getting ugly.

The Cubs, sitting at one point on top of the baseball world with a record setting first 10 weeks, are now in a complete reversal of fortune. The team that found a way to win no matter what now finds ways to LOSE.

They are losing early in the games, in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS OFFICIALLY IN TAILSPIN

REDS FINALLY EXTRACT REVENGE; OUTSLUG CUBS at Cubsquest.com

5 July:

This, like many other baseball outcomes, was due to occur at some point.

The Cubs came in with a 10-1 edge against them, and the domination has been all but complete. The only other win they got was a bullpen meltdown in Cincinnati but they were still tied after 6 in that affair....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comREDS FINALLY EXTRACT REVENGE; OUTSLUG CUBS

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

RICH HILL COMING BACK TO CUBS? at Cubsquest.com

4 July:

As the break nears and the pressing needs of the club become front and center some of the possible moves are now coming somewhat apparent. One is the most hyped and expensive, the other a marriage -or should one say a reunion- made in baseball heaven.

You all have heard about the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comRICH HILL COMING BACK TO CUBS?

TERRIBLE REDS JUST THE TONIC CUBS NEED at Cubsquest.com

4 July:

Nothing like the Cincinnati Reds with their major league worst 5.53 team ERA to solve the Cubs short term hitting woes. That"s right, 5.53.

That"s not just ONE player. That"s a team aggregate. They have FIFTEEN pitchers over 5.00. Even in a bandbox like the Great America Ballpark,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTERRIBLE REDS JUST THE TONIC CUBS NEED

Monday, July 4, 2016

CUBS NEED ALL STAR BREAK BADLY at Cubsquest.com

4 July:

This may be a National Holiday.

And being on Monday, many people have been celebrating it, more or less, since Thursday. Yes, many are celebrating the fruits of freedom (without understanding any of it, of course) and today will feature many burgers downed and beers tossed.

Not...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS NEED ALL STAR BREAK BADLY

Sunday, July 3, 2016

CUBS DROP ANOTHER TO METS at Cubsquest.com

3 July:

This has not been a weekend of cookouts and fireworks for the Chicago Cubs.

They are now in the worst moment of this season, and it has a historical precedent, too. What promised to be a very tough road trip has turned out to be exactly that; with a sidebar trip to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP ANOTHER TO METS

Saturday, July 2, 2016

CUBS, HAMMEL GET LIT UP BY METS at Cubsquest.com

1 July:

If the series with the Cincinnati Reds proved one thing, it"s that the Cubs are not "all better". That was an outlier, a break for Chicago in between other clubs who are, quite frankly, playing better baseball than they are.

St Louis, Miami, and now New York. All playing better...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, HAMMEL GET LIT UP BY METS

Friday, July 1, 2016

CUBS BLOW LATE LEAD, LOSE TO METS at Cubsquest.com

1 July:

This was a game the Cubs could have, and should have won.

Of all the games this year, it is the first one that they both lost, and were beaten as well. The Mets outplayed them, certainly outpitched what is now becoming a very suspect bullpen, and the Cubs beat themselves by showing...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BLOW LATE LEAD, LOSE TO METS

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

CUBS FIND TONIC FOR LOSING IN CINCINNATI at Cubsquest.com

29 June:

This was just what the Cubs needed.

A three game extended batting practice session with live pitching solved their offensive woes, at least in the short run, and made this trip a possible success. So far, they are 4-3, with a four game set in New York starting tomorrow.

That is...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS FIND TONIC FOR LOSING IN CINCINNATI

JOE"S SECRET WEAPON: TRAVIS WOOD at Cubsquest.com

29 June:

There is a veritable plethora of MVP"s on the 2016 Chicago Cubs.

The most obvious being Mr All American Kris Bryant, who could just as easily grace the cover of "Teen Beat" as Sports Illustrated.  Then there"s Anthony Rizzo, who not only beats NL pitching but cancer as ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comJOE"S SECRET WEAPON: TRAVIS WOOD

CUBS BEAT REDS IN 15 at Cubsquest.com

28 June:

If nothing else, the Cubs-Reds series is extremely entertaining so far.

Monday night"s game featured Kris Bryant"s quest for baseball immortality; his bat is headed for Cooperstown and maybe even the torn pants. Tuesday"s game had, let"s say an entirely different vibe.

A...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT REDS IN 15

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

BRYANT BREAKS REDS AND RECORDS AS WELL at Cubsquest.com

27 June:

It was a bizarre, but entertaining evening at a sultry Great American Ballpark on the shores of the Ohio river. Not to mention the fact that most find this trifle of a baseball park to be more bandbox than ballpark yet with the majestic moniker of "Great American Ballpark".

There...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBRYANT BREAKS REDS AND RECORDS AS WELL

Monday, June 27, 2016

CUBS IN TAILSPIN; LOSE SERIES TO MARLINS at Cubsquest.com

27 June:

The shoe is officially now on the other foot.

The spectacle of a dominant right handed pitcher mowing the opposition, striking out batters in double figures and waiting for the other team to self destruct is now visited ON the Cubs, as opposed to by them.

The absolute...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS IN TAILSPIN; LOSE SERIES TO MARLINS

Sunday, June 26, 2016

CUBS WOES CONTINUE; MARLINS COME BACK at Cubsquest.com

26 June:

Now the all hands on deck approach to winning the Marlins opener makes sense.

Manager Joe Maddon knew just HOW important nailing that 5-4 squeaker down really was. He only used Travis Wood and Hector Rondon to save the game; combining for 3 innings. They both pitched masterfully,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WOES CONTINUE; MARLINS COME BACK

Saturday, June 25, 2016

CUBS BREAK STREAK; BEAT MARLINS at Cubsquest.com

24 June:

The streak, thankfully, is over.

In a game that was notable for being, well, somewhat strange, the Cubs held on to win a 5-4 squeaker at Marlins Park in sunny Miami. Sunny and hot, though so with the roof closed it was a balmy 78.

It may have been balmy inside but the teams...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BREAK STREAK; BEAT MARLINS

Friday, June 24, 2016

CUBS SLIDE CONTINUES; LOSE TO MARLINS at Cubsquest.com

24 June:

They were bound to hit a rough stretch. Nobody just sails through a seven month 162 game season without a hiccup or two. That, and serious analysts never thought this team would actually win the 114 games they were trending towards.

Last year"s 97 wins were a bit of a freak, too....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SLIDE CONTINUES; LOSE TO MARLINS

Thursday, June 23, 2016

BATTERED CUBS HIT THE ROAD at Cubsquest.com

23 June:

You just can"t beat a good start in baseball.

The saying goes you can"t win a pennant in April but you can lose one in September. That is true to an extent. But you sure can put one away by mid June, and unless the Cubs have an absolutely epic fail, they are a lead pipe cinch for...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBATTERED CUBS HIT THE ROAD

CUBS GET WAKE UP CALL FROM CARDS at Cubsquest.com

22 June:

This was bound to happen at some point.

The Cubs, owner of the best record in the major leagues, was spoiling their fan base by making this whole thing look TOO easy.  They were routinely beating some pretty good teams and making some damn good players looking skyward in ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GET WAKE UP CALL FROM CARDS

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

CUBS DROP ANOTHER TO CARDS at Cubsquest.com

22 June:

The Cubs were bound to hit a rough spot or two.

And dropping two more or less identical losses to the Cardinals is not a major surprise. And that rookie mistakes would be at the heart of them isn"t, either. When you add to the equation that the Cardinals came into town being swept...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP ANOTHER TO CARDS

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

CUBS LOSE SQUEAKER TO CARDS at Cubsquest.com

21 June:

Even when the Cubs lose, they play well. The only real stinker they"ve been in was the big loss to Cincinnati, and that was close until a bullpen fade in the 7th. The Cubs record when they score 3 runs or more is 42-26.

They only scored 2 runs Monday night. So, they lost....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE SQUEAKER TO CARDS

Monday, June 20, 2016

CUBS SWEEP PIRATES at Cubsquest.com

20 June:

The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn"t get out of town fast enough.

Already in somewhat of a tailspin, they had the type of series that can give an organization a collective nightmare. Outpitched, outhit, outslugged and outmanuevered, the one game they could have won they blew.

Sunday...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP PIRATES

Sunday, June 19, 2016

PIRATES STUMBLE AGAIN; CUBS WIN at Cubsquest.com

19 June:

This one had to give Pirate manager Clint Hurdle -and his Pirate club- nightmares.

Cubs starter Jon Lester had a dismal beginning to his game; allowing a leadoff home to Jordy Mercer and then giving an uncharacteristic three walks in the first inning. The Pirates were off and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPIRATES STUMBLE AGAIN; CUBS WIN

Saturday, June 18, 2016

CUBS, ARRIETA BEAT PIRATES at Cubsquest.com

17 June:

How"s that song go?

"Train kept a rollin" all night long, train kept a rollin" all night long, with a heave, and a ho, and I just couldn"t let her go".

With apologies to Tiny Bradshaw who wrote it in 1951, and Jeff Beck and Aerosmith, who had hits with it, it somehow seems...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, ARRIETA BEAT PIRATES

Friday, June 17, 2016

CONTRERAS ERA TO BEGIN TODAY at Cubsquest.com

17 June:

Last season it was another young, heralded catching prospect.

A kid who could just flat out rake. He helped propel an upstart Cub squad to a NL pennant race where he absolutely tore up opposition pitching. His playoff home run that lodged in a crevice of the scoreboard is saved...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCONTRERAS ERA TO BEGIN TODAY

Thursday, June 16, 2016

THE AMAZING ART OF STRICTLY WRIGLEY at Cubsquest.com

CUBSQUEST STAFF 6/16/16

Michael Meade is a Cubs fan. He is also an amazing photographer, who translates his lifelong passion with his beloved team and the historic confines they occupy into unique and beautiful art. Mike has been documenting his Chicago baseball experiences for decades and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE AMAZING ART OF STRICTLY WRIGLEY

CUB BULLPEN WOES EXAMINED at Cubsquest.com

16 June:

The one thing Wednesday"s epochal game revealed is the true competitive heart of the Chicago Cubs and the sheer genius level on field ability of Joe Maddon. They may have lost the skirmish but hey won the battle.

This team stands on the edge of greatness. Not just as a collection...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB BULLPEN WOES EXAMINED

CUBS LOSE SERIES TO NATS at Cubsquest.com

15 June:

There are games that you win that mean little.

While winning is everything, losing happens and must be taken in context. The game at Arena Stadium Wednesday afternoon is a case in point. If losing is part of the game (as it is in life) there are losses you can afford, and those...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE SERIES TO NATS

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

CUBS WIN BIG ONE IN D.C. at Cubsquest.com

14 June:

There are, during the course of the season, certain games that have the tag "must win" on them.

For the Washington Nationals that was Monday night"s affair, a blistering performance by Matt Scherzer. Tuesday night in the nation"s capital was the Chicago Cubs" turn. This was a must...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN BIG ONE IN D.C.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

CUBS NEXT BIG MOVE? at Cubsquest.com

14 June:

The Chicago Cubs are running away with the NL Central.

They have, as of today, and 8 1/2 game lead over the St Louis Cardinals, with the Pirates being 11 1/2 back. Their starting pitching, which was supposed to be questionable has turned out to be superb.

Offensively they...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS NEXT BIG MOVE?

CUBS DROP OPENER TO NATS at Cubsquest.com

13 June:

This was bound to happen.

If Cubsquest were of the gambling variety (not saying no, just not saying at all) this would have been what hard liner"s call a "ranch play".

Scherzer. At home. Hendricks, on the road. The Cubs have already not only swept them, but spanked Scherzer...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP OPENER TO NATS

Monday, June 13, 2016

CUBS - NATS SHOWDOWN IN D.C. at Cubsquest.com

Series Preview: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals
By Will Kubzansky  @WKSideofNats on Jun 13, 2016, 4:03p +







Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images



Washington and Chicago play a three-game set in the nation"s capital starting with tonight"s matchup between Nationals" st...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS - NATS SHOWDOWN IN D.C.

CUBS TAKE SERIES FROM BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

13 June:

It wasn"t a particularly nice day, and that was reflected in the onfield play. Six errors were made in the stultifying 90+ degree heat and humidity at Turner Field. It was apparent that this was a game not to be enjoyed but survived.

Of the miscues the Cubs made FIVE of them.  Yet ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TAKE SERIES FROM BRAVES

BRITS ROMP ON DAY 3 AT THE RACES at Cubsquest.com

Windy day makes for perfect racing in America"s Cup qualifiers at Navy Pier











Images of the sailing competition from June 11-12, 2016, at Navy Pier.







Michal DwojakChicago Tribune

Sailing fans at Navy Pier finally got their chance to see live, high-speed...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBRITS ROMP ON DAY 3 AT THE RACES

Sunday, June 12, 2016

AMERICA"S CUP AT NAVY PIER DAY TWO at Cubsquest.com

11 June:

The second day of the America"s Cup yacht race -more properly known as the Louis Vuitton America"s Cup; they paid a lot for the naming rights after all- was completed on Saturday. But it really wasn"t.

For as beautiful as the day was, and it was every part of that, it was just too...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comAMERICA"S CUP AT NAVY PIER DAY TWO

CUBS BACK ON TRACK; POUND BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

11 June:

It didn"t take long.

Just a day after being soundly defeated by the basement dwelling Atlanta Braves, the Cubs came back and pounded the stuffing out of the team from the Peach State. Not to mention the poor sods had to face Jake Arrieta as well.

The result? An 8-2 triumph that...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BACK ON TRACK; POUND BRAVES

Saturday, June 11, 2016

AMERICA"S CUP TODAY IN CHICAGO at Cubsquest.com

11 June:

In a historic move, the America"s Cup comes to Chicago this weekend.

In an attempt to broaden the appeal of this prestigious, and undoubtedly elite sport, organizers have decided to bring the event close to shore. This began last month in New York, where they staged it on the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comAMERICA"S CUP TODAY IN CHICAGO

CUBS LOSE TO BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

10 June:

The team with the best record in baseball played the team with the worst. In fact, their records were almost exactly reversed. The mighty Cubs came in at 41-18, and the misbegotten Brave squad sports a meek 18 up and 42 down.

OK, so they don"t have the worst record in the league;...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE TO BRAVES

CUB NEWS at Cubsquest.com

10 June:

As the Cubs go into Atlanta to face a pretty hapless Braves club, a few items of note:

One, is of course the injury bug. Theo was smart enough to know this would be a concern this season and loaded up on bench talent,  not to mention hanging on to valuable pieces like Matt Szczur ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB NEWS

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

CUBS WIN SERIES FROM PHILS at Cubsquest.com

8 June:

It was close for a while.

Even after the Phillies suffered the loss of their starter Vince Velasquez (biceps tenderness; day to day) after only two pitches, the Phils marched their bullpen out there and gave it their best.  Brett Olberholtzer(L, 2-1) deserved a better fate; he came ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN SERIES FROM PHILS

PHILS BEAT CUBS at Cubsquest.com

8 June:

Once again, like all the Cub losses so far this year, the saying "it was bound to occur" applies.

The Cubs lost to the Phillies Tuesday night. But they had already beaten them the first five contests, and the Phils were at home. The last handful of Cub losses were to teams who"s...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPHILS BEAT CUBS

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

CUBS GET BACK ON TRACK; BEAT PHILS at Cubsquest.com

7 June:

It was back to the Cub machine. For 8 innings, anyway.

Starter Jon Lester(W, 7-3) extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings and became the first pitcher since Rich Harden to record consecutive nine strikeout/zero walk starts in a row. The Cub offense was precision perfect as...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GET BACK ON TRACK; BEAT PHILS

WHY JUNE 6TH STILL RESONATES at Cubsquest.com

6 June:

72 years ago the largest invasion force in modern history took place on the shores of France.

Normandy, to be exact.  "D-Day" as it is now commonly referred to, was actually called "Operation Neptune"; the seaborne arm of "Operation Overlord" which was the battle for Normandy ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHY JUNE 6TH STILL RESONATES

Monday, June 6, 2016

DIAMONDBACKS END CUBS, ARRIETA STREAKS at Cubsquest.com

5 June:

Let"s get one thing straight. No whining. This was bound to happen.

There is an old saying about major league talent. The difference between a solid player and a marginal one is sometimes very little. It"s at the margins, and this is where most wins and losses come. A very poor...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDIAMONDBACKS END CUBS, ARRIETA STREAKS

Sunday, June 5, 2016

CUBS , HAMMEL WIN at Cubsquest.com

4 June:

As the saying goes, good teams find ways to win and bad teams find ways to lose.

That was once again on display at Wrigley Field Saturday as the Cubs won their ninth out of the last ten games; beating a hapless Arizona Diamondback team 5-3. For the second day in a row, abysmal...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS , HAMMEL WIN

Saturday, June 4, 2016

CUBS, LACKEY BEAT D"BACKS at Cubsquest.com

4 June:

It was John Lackey and six doubles.

Once again, the Cubs waited out a solid starter, this time Archie Bradley(L, 2-1) who went six solid only allowing a run.  But Cub starter John Lackey was better.

He went 6 2/3 without a run, and the Cub bullpen held on while the offense ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, LACKEY BEAT D"BACKS

ALI "THE GREATEST" PASSES at Cubsquest.com

Muhammad Ali, the silver-tongued boxer and civil rights champion who famously proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and then spent a lifetime living up to the billing, is dead.
Ali died Friday at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comALI "THE GREATEST" PASSES

Friday, June 3, 2016

CUBS TURN ON POWER; BLAST DODGERS at Cubsquest.com

3 June:

Well, it was a tight series for three games, anyway.

But the vaunted, $237 million dollar payroll Los Angeles Dodgers proved themselves not deep enough to take on the $113 million dollar Cub team.

To put a dollar figure on success. Donald Trump era, remember.

The first three...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS TURN ON POWER; BLAST DODGERS

Thursday, June 2, 2016

JON LESTER TOSSES MASTERPIECE at Cubsquest.com

2 June:

This Cub team is becoming amazing to watch.

The changes Theo Epstein and company have brought are so vast, and all encompassing, that to say Cub followers (and even analysts, to an extent) are getting a little spoiled would be somewhat of an understatement.

Not with winning,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comJON LESTER TOSSES MASTERPIECE

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

CUBS BLANKED BY DODGERS at Cubsquest.com

1 June:

As the saying goes, "payback is a bitch".

And payback is exactly what the Cubs received Tuesday night in front of 34,000 fans at a cloudy Wrigley Field.  Three Dodger pitchers combined to one hit the Cubs, just as they did on Monday.

Jake Arrieta avoided the loss with 7 innings ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BLANKED BY DODGERS

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

CUBS SHUT OUT DODGERS at Cubsquest.com

30 May:

OK, you know the Cubs are good.

So, too, does most of the Known Universe at this point. A trip to the NLCS (after a 73-89 previous season) and a 20-6 start has put them on even the most distant of radars.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, of the shiny Tinsletown heritage and the $227...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SHUT OUT DODGERS

Monday, May 30, 2016

DODGERS COME TO TOWN at Cubsquest.com

30 May:

In what is being billed as a battle of the titans,  Magic Johnson"s LA Dodgers come to Wrigley for a four game series, starting Memorial Day.

Which, of course, should NOT be forgotten. This isn"t just a day off work to cook out and watch baseball. It is also a day to remember and ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDODGERS COME TO TOWN

CUBS, ZOBRIST SWEEP PHILS AWAY at Cubsquest.com

HOW BEN ZOBRIST IS FINDING THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH WITH CUBS
By Patrick Mooney May 29, 2016 4:45 PM

Joe Maddon laughed when a reporter mentioned the sense of renewal the older Cubs players are feeling now after signing as free agents, enjoying life on a young team with the best record in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, ZOBRIST SWEEP PHILS AWAY

Sunday, May 29, 2016

CUBS GO FOR SERIES SWEEP at Cubsquest.com

29 May:

Make no doubt about it, the Philadelphia Phillies are a remarkably improved club.

But improving over a 99 loss season, and improving to a level where one can compete with the Chicago Cubs are two different things, as they found out again Saturday afternoon. This time against the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GO FOR SERIES SWEEP

Saturday, May 28, 2016

CUBS SOCK PHILLIES at Cubsquest.com

28 May:

The Cubs, who"s home run bats have been silent as of late, erupted against the Phillies and starter Adam Morgan Friday in a rain delayed affair in front of an announced crowd of 38,941.

By the time Hector Rondon nailed the game down there may have been 5500 or so people left; like...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SOCK PHILLIES

Friday, May 27, 2016

HERE COME THE PHILLIES at Cubsquest.com

27 May:

While the Cubs sit pretty on top of the NL Central with their still gaudy 31-14 (.689 pct) record, the surprising Philadelphia Phillies invade Wrigley Field for the Memorial Day weekend.

This was a dead last place team in 2015. They lost 99 games, and had an abysmal .389 winning...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHERE COME THE PHILLIES

Thursday, May 26, 2016

DESHAIES TURNING OUT TO BE GEM IN THE BOOTH at Cubsquest.com

By J.O. Chids  (Exclusive for Cubsquest) ....   5/26/16

During the 4th inning of yesterday"s marathon Cubs win at St. Louis, Jake Arrieta darts an 0-2 fastball on the black and home plate umpire CB Buckner doesn"t flinch. The scorn of Arrieta, Catcher Miguel Montero and the scores of viewers t...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDESHAIES TURNING OUT TO BE GEM IN THE BOOTH

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

CUBS HANG ON TO BEAT CARDS at Cubsquest.com

25 May:

In a wild affair under the arches on the banks of the Mississippi, the Cubs hung on to beat the Cards 9-8.

The game featured four homers, and although once again the Cubs got out homered (3-1) the combined 7 rbi"s by Kris Bryant (3 run homer) and a pair each by Ben Zobrist and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS HANG ON TO BEAT CARDS

CUBS EXTRACT REVENGE ON WACHA, CARDS at Cubsquest.com

25 May:

Nothing like getting Michael Wacha to cure the Cubs" hitting woes.

Wacha, the hard throwing right hander, continues to challenge the fastball intensive Cub offense; he did this last year with the dame results. Meaning him getting torched.

To beat the Cubs you have to change...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS EXTRACT REVENGE ON WACHA, CARDS

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

CUBS LOSE ON WALK OFF HOMER at Cubsquest.com

24 May:

It was a stunning loss; easily the worst of this young season.

Now, Cubsquest has been warning the faithful that their historic run, which culminated in a 20-6 record and a run differential that set records dating back 100 years, would not only end, but some of this would be given...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE ON WALK OFF HOMER

at Cubsquest.com

St. Louis Post-Dispatch  5/23/16
Randal Grichuk hit a two-out, solo walk-off home run into the bullpen in right field Monday night to give the Cardinals a 4-3 win over the Cubs in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals rallied from a 3-1 deficit on a two-run homer by ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

Monday, May 23, 2016

CUBS GO TO ST LOUIS at Cubsquest.com

23 May:

In what is shaping up to be a pretty important series, the Cubs head to Missouri to play the Cardinals. Now, it"s always an event of note, and usually pretty important.

This series is key.

The Cubs have been struggling for the last week or so; they are 4-6 in their last ten but...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GO TO ST LOUIS

BUMGARNER BEATS CUBS IN FINALE" at Cubsquest.com

After a 28 pitch first inning that saw them fill the bases without scoring, Giants ace Madison Bumgarner shut the Cubs down for a 1-0 victory in the series rubber game.

As par for the course with Bumgarner, he also provided the entire Giants offense with a 6th inning double driving in the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBUMGARNER BEATS CUBS IN FINALE"

Saturday, May 21, 2016

HEYWARD SUFFERS ABDOMINAL INJURY at Cubsquest.com

21 May:

In breaking news, Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward"s injury has been revealed.

Heyward, 26, suffered an abdominal injury -whether it is a strain or worse will be revealed by the MRI scheduled later today. But he said in an interview that his rib cage had impacted his abdomen when...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHEYWARD SUFFERS ABDOMINAL INJURY

at Cubsquest.com

CHICAGO TRIBUNE  5/18/16

Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney wants the Cubs" owners to be allowed to sell only beer and wine on the outdoor plaza they"re building next to the ballpark while restricting sales to ticket holders on game and concert days, along with up to eight special events.

The ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

RIP ALAN YOUNG - MR. ED STAR , PASSES AT 96 at Cubsquest.com

From VARIETY 5/21/16

Alan Young, who gamely played straight man to a talking horse for five years in classic sitcom “Mr. Ed,” died Thursday at the Motion Picture and Television Home in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 96.

On the series, which ran from 1961-66 on CBS, Young played architect Wil...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comRIP ALAN YOUNG - MR. ED STAR , PASSES AT 96

ARRIETA, CUBS DOMINATE GIANTS at Cubsquest.com

CUBSQUEST STAFF  5/20/16

Coming off three excruciating games in Milwaukee which resulted in losing 2 of 3 to the lowly Brewers, the Cubs did what they"ve done best this season; Kick ass on a formidable opponent.

Jake Arrieta was his usual dominant self, tossing 7 solid innings to notch his ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA, CUBS DOMINATE GIANTS

Friday, May 20, 2016

CUBS GO WEST at Cubsquest.com

20 May:

Yes, the Cubs lost 2 out of 3 to the Brewers.

And they could have been swept. Not to mention the loss to the Pirates. 3 out of the last 4 games all losses. Yes, correct on all counts.

They were playing .800 ball. That is unsustainable; they were bound to give some of it back. It...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GO WEST

Thursday, May 19, 2016

HARD-NOSE MCCRAE SPECIALIZED IN HARD SLIDES at Cubsquest.com

Let us celebrate the takeout slides of Hal McRae

By Dayn Perry | Baseball Writer


March 8, 2016 4:44 pm ET














Takeout slides! They have been rather drastically redefined in advance of the upcoming season, you know. Such structural changes may have you...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHARD-NOSE MCCRAE SPECIALIZED IN HARD SLIDES

CUBS BEAT BREW CREW IN 13 at Cubsquest.com

19 May:

In what was easily their best, and most important, game of the year the Cubs emerged triumphant.

Why was it the most important? It was only the struggling Brewers. The reason is simple:

The Cubs have had issues, and they are historical, with playing -and winning- close, tightly...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BREW CREW IN 13

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

at Cubsquest.com

8 May:

OK, so they are on a losing streak.

And they have already lost two series; something they didn’t do at all in 1984. They aren’t hitting much, either. True on all counts.

But they are still 27-10, which translates to .730 ball, and have the best record in the majors. They’re just r...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

Sunday, May 15, 2016

CUBS BEAT PIRATES AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

14 May:

The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing a crossroads.

This is not the 98 game winning team of last season, and they are on the precipice of losing both Andrew McCutchen and Gerritt Cole, neither of whom they can afford to sign. Meanwhile, the 97 game winning Chicago Cubs of last year are...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT PIRATES AGAIN

Friday, May 13, 2016

PIRATES COME TO TOWN at Cubsquest.com

12 May:

The Cubs, facing their first little "mini slump" of the season, have a Pittsburgh Pirate club coming to town and set on revenge. The Cubs didn"t just beat them in PNC park, they pretty much humiliated them. To the point that manager Clint Hurdle said this:

"We got outhit,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPIRATES COME TO TOWN

Thursday, May 12, 2016

CUBS DROP PAIR TO PADRES at Cubsquest.com

12 May:

It"s too early to say "tailspin".

While there is little doubt that for a late inning double by Addison Russell on Monday that seemed superfluous at the time they would have been swept at home by a 16-20 team.

Let"s not spend too much time on the negatives. This team has started...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP PAIR TO PADRES

CUBS LOSE FIRST OF DAY/NIGHT TWIN BILL at Cubsquest.com

11 May:

The Cubs lost.

That"s a headline now; this makes them 25-7, which still ain"t too shabby. And they have yet to lose back to back games this season. The series loss to Colorado had them win the middle game of the three.

One sort of suspected that the lowly Padres (14-20) just...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE FIRST OF DAY/NIGHT TWIN BILL

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

CUBS SQUELCH LATE INNING RALLY TO BEAT SD 8-7 at Cubsquest.com

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E




SD
0
0
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0
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CHC
0
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1
0
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-
8
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1






W: Lester (4-1)

L: Vargas (0-2)

S: Rondon (7)

CHICAGO -- Looking quite comfortable in the middle of the order, Ben...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SQUELCH LATE INNING RALLY TO BEAT SD 8-7

Monday, May 9, 2016

THE AMAZING COMEBACK OF RYAN KALISH at Cubsquest.com

By  Stephen Edelson  (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)



It’s hard to imagine anyone fortunate enough to play major league baseball taking the experience for granted.

But I think it’s safe to say every blade of grass at Wrigley Field is just a little greener, each at bat a bit more memor...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE AMAZING COMEBACK OF RYAN KALISH

CUBS WALK OFF IN 13; SWEEP NATIONALS at Cubsquest.com

9 May:

What was merely spooky is now downright scary.

The Chicago Cubs swept the first place Nationals four games in a row, allowing the New York Mets to take over sole possession of first. The four game loss dropped them to a 19-12 record.

Meanwhile the Cubs went to 24-6, which for the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WALK OFF IN 13; SWEEP NATIONALS

Sunday, May 8, 2016

KALISH, CUBS STEAL ONE FROM NATS at Cubsquest.com

8 May:

The Nationals and Dusty Baker really wanted this game.

This is a team that came to Chicago with the second best record in the league, a true MVP in Bryce Harper, serious pitching and a deep and talented team. But they weren"t really in the first two games.

The scores were closer...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comKALISH, CUBS STEAL ONE FROM NATS

Saturday, May 7, 2016

CUBS WIN WILD ONE FOR LACKEY at Cubsquest.com

7 May:

The Washington Nationals were expecting to have their hands full.

The Cubs were sporting a pretty gaudy 20-6 record. But they were no slouch at 18-8. And they had their top pitchers going against the bottom of the Cub rotation. But both Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey posted wins....
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN WILD ONE FOR LACKEY

Friday, May 6, 2016

20 YEARS AGO TODAY KID K STRUCK OUT 20 at Cubsquest.com

David SchoenfieldESPN Senior Writer









Email
print

comment

I"ll never forget walking into the office that May afternoon in 1998 and having excited co-workers ask, "Did you see what just happened?"

Kerry Wood had struck out 20 batters.

He was...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com20 YEARS AGO TODAY KID K STRUCK OUT 20

Thursday, May 5, 2016

NATIONALS IN TOWN-1ST BIG TEST FOR CUBS at Cubsquest.com

Cinco de Mayo:

Everybody over the age of 21 knows what that means.

And the Cub are home, with (reasonably) nice weather playing the Washington Nationals, owner"s of the second best record in baseball. OK, so they are tied with the White Sox at 19-8.

So, if you think the bars in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comNATIONALS IN TOWN-1ST BIG TEST FOR CUBS

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

CUBS CONTINUE ROLL; SWEEP PIRATES at Cubsquest.com

4 May:

20-6.

A .769 winning percentage. Best record in the Majors. Best for the Cubs in 100 years.

Once again, they cruised past the 98 game winning Pittsburgh Pirates of last season, sweeping a 3 game set in which they were only behind once. The Bucs led 1-0 into the 3rd inning of game...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS CONTINUE ROLL; SWEEP PIRATES

ARRIETA, CUBS BEAT BUCS AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

4 May:

The Cubs, behind All Universe Ace Jake Arrieta, cruised to a 7-1 victory at PNC park Tuesday night.

Starter Jon Niese (L, 3-1) went 5 innings, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits. The relentless Cub offense just continued to peck away at the the Pirates, scoring a pair in the second, four...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA, CUBS BEAT BUCS AGAIN

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

CUBS REVISIT WILD CARD; SAME RESULT at Cubsquest.com

3 May:

It was a repeat -almost- of last year"s Wild Card playoff.

Gerritt Cole was again on the mound for the Pirates, but Jason Hammel drew the assignment over Jake Arrieta, and he pitched just well enough to notch his 4th win. 5 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs allowed, including a first inning...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS REVISIT WILD CARD; SAME RESULT

Monday, May 2, 2016

CUBS LOSE IN EXTRAS at Cubsquest.com

2 April:

These are the type of games that will give the present machine that is the Chicago Cubs fits.

The Atlanta Braves took a page from the Colorado Rockies and played a tough ball game in front of 40,164 (announced) fans in 44 degree weather at Wrigley on Sunday.

A great start by...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE IN EXTRAS

Sunday, May 1, 2016

CUBS AND DUCKS PLAY TODAY at Cubsquest.com

1 May:

Yes, this has been far more fitting weather for our feathered friends quacking happily on the various rivers and streams. All is good in Duck World now; after all duck season doesn"t start until fall.

It"s also supposedly baseball season.

The Chicago Cubs, owners of the best...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS AND DUCKS PLAY TODAY

Saturday, April 30, 2016

SZCZUR SLAM SCALPS BAVES at Cubsquest.com

30 April:

It was a game for awhile.

Braves starter Aaron Blair matched Jon Lester pitch for pitch for six innings. But the Braves, arguably the worst team in baseball, fell apart late. A succession of relievers, all pretty much stringers, coughed up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th as the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comSZCZUR SLAM SCALPS BAVES

Friday, April 29, 2016

HAWKS EARLY PLAYOFF EXIT "DOESN"T FEEL RIGHT" at Cubsquest.com

Chicago, IL – A first round exit from the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs wasn’t something the Chicago Blackhawks fans planned for. It certainly wasn’t something the players planned for.

“It just doesn’t feel right,” said Patrick Kane after his team’s Game 7 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Three Sta...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHAWKS EARLY PLAYOFF EXIT "DOESN"T FEEL RIGHT"

CUBS, ARRIETA BEAT BREW CREW at Cubsquest.com

29 April:

Despite not having his best command, Jake Arrieta (W, 5-0. 1.00 era) and the Cubs sailed to a 7-2 victory over Milwaukee in front of 32,000 fans at a chilly Wrigley Field.

The win is tempered by another injury, though.

This time it"s Kris Bryant. He was pulled after four...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, ARRIETA BEAT BREW CREW

Thursday, April 28, 2016

MONTERO TO DL at Cubsquest.com

28 April:

In breaking news, the Cubs announced today that catcher Miguel Montero has been put on the DL for what is called a "lower back strain". It is presumed to be the 15 day but that has not been announced yet.

Catcher Tim Federowicz has been recalled from AAA Iowa.

Catcher Wilson...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMONTERO TO DL

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

CUBS RALLY TO BEAT BREW CREW; GO 15-5 at Cubsquest.com

27 April:

The 15-5 Cubs are off to their best start since 1907, where that team went 16-4.

This was, of course, 5 years before the Titanic sunk. Just to give you perspective on just HOW long ago that was. But no matter; this is the Chicago Cubs of the New Age, and what is past is...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS RALLY TO BEAT BREW CREW; GO 15-5

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

HAWKS LOSE HEARTBREAKER IN ST. LOUIS at Cubsquest.com

Blues end string of 1-and-dones by beating Blackhawks in 7












St. Louis Blues" Jori Lehtera, left, of Finland, celebrates along side teammate Vladimir Tarasenko (91), of Russia, after scoring bast Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, right, during the first period in...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHAWKS LOSE HEARTBREAKER IN ST. LOUIS

Monday, April 25, 2016

1ST PLACE CUBS ENJOY DAY OFF at Cubsquest.com

25 April:

As the first place Cubs, off to their best start since cars had hard rubber tires, rest a bit a little analysis is warranted. There is a lot to like about this 14-5 team playing .737 ball.

Only the Washington Nationals have a better record at 14-4/.778.

And that"s largely...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com1ST PLACE CUBS ENJOY DAY OFF

Friday, April 22, 2016

KANE CARRIES HAWKS TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY at Cubsquest.com

TREVOR BLOCK on the HAWKS

Thank you, Patrick Kane.

A resounding message from a Chicago fan base sitting on pins and needles.

Kane’s game-winning goal in Game 5 of the first round series against the St. Louis Blues came just three minutes into the second overtime and in spectacular f...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comKANE CARRIES HAWKS TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

PRINCE DEAD AT 57 at Cubsquest.com

22 April:

In what is turning out to be a pretty deadly year for music, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, or Prince Rogers Nelson, died in his Minneapolis home Thursday.

He was 57.

The exact cause is still under investigation; the autopsy is scheduled for Friday afternoon. His plane...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPRINCE DEAD AT 57

ARRIETA TOSSES ANOTHER NO HITTER at Cubsquest.com

22 April:

It was, admittedly, a big night in Chicago sports.

As the Black Hawks won a backs to the wall elimination game in overtime, Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs took the Cincinnati Reds apart piece by piece.

They scored 16 runs on 18 hits, hit five home runs, 2 by Kris Bryant,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA TOSSES ANOTHER NO HITTER

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

CUBS DROP FINALE TO CARDS at Cubsquest.com

20 April:

The Cubs dropped the series finale to the Cardinals in a rain delayed affair at Busch stadium in front of a near capacity crowd of 43,000 fans.

The St Louis crowd was treated to a first inning homer off of Kyle Hendricks (L, 1-2) and had a 4-1 lead going into the 8th.  Carlos ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DROP FINALE TO CARDS

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

CUBS, LACKEY ROAST REDBIRDS at Cubsquest.com

19 April:

Talk about a man on a mission.

Cub starter John Lackey (W, 3-0) came in with 2 wins under his belt but an inflated era after a couple of admittedly palooka starts. He took care of that Monday night in St Louis.

All he did is throw 7 innings of 4 hit, shutout baseball with 11...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, LACKEY ROAST REDBIRDS

Monday, April 18, 2016

CUBS LOSE GAME; SERIES at Cubsquest.com

18 April:

This Cub team assembled by Theo Epstein is a machine.

You have seen them steamroll the opposition so far. But like all machines, it has a weakness. If you pitch them well, play small ball and have a tight defense you can get them in a game of fundamentals.

You saw last...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE GAME; SERIES

Saturday, April 16, 2016

CUBS BACK ON TRACK at Cubsquest.com

16 April:

What a difference a day -and Jake Arrieta- makes.

The Cubs beat the Rockies 6-2, and it was only a 2 run homer in the 9th off of Travis Wood that allowed any scoring for the Coloradans.

Arrieta (W, 3-0) shut them out for 8 innings on 5 hits with 8 k"s, dropping his era to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BACK ON TRACK

CUBS PLAY, LOSE UGLY at Cubsquest.com

16 April:

It was bound to happen.

People were talking coronation after only 8 games. Impressive, but still only a handful of contests under the belt. This is still a young team, and the organization"s desire to have players man multiple positions has it"s downside.

Four errors,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PLAY, LOSE UGLY

Friday, April 15, 2016

HAWKS PLAYOFF OUTLOOK at Cubsquest.com

TREVOR STORY on the Hawks

Chicago, IL – Most matchup previews take place before a game has already been played, I realize this. But think of Game 1 as a preview in and of itself. I mean, honestly, did Game 1 tell us anything we already didn’t know?

St. Louis came out on top in Game 1 and ne...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHAWKS PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

Thursday, April 14, 2016

CUBS OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1969 at Cubsquest.com

16 April:

This is getting ridiculous.

The Cubs are now 8-1, their best start since 1969.

That is, of course, the year of the black cat, Don Young, the Amazing Mets, and a September choke for the ages. The day Phil Regan gave up the homer to Willie Stargell in September that basically...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1969

CUBS BLOW OUT REDS, GO 7-1 at Cubsquest.com

14 April:

So far this 2016 season has been pretty easy cheese for the Cubs.

Outside of losing Kyle Schwarber, and arguably becoming a better team in the process, all they"ve done is win 7 out of 8 games in fairly convincing fashion. The one loss was a come from behind victory that...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BLOW OUT REDS, GO 7-1

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

CUBS ON FIRE; 6-1 START at Cubsquest.com

12 April:

So, let"s get this straight.

The Cubs open -on the road- lose a premiere left handed power bat, and after 7 games are a very tidy six and one. And the one loss was a late inning comeback victory at home by the Diamondbacks to prevent a four game sweep.

One the Cubs, could...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS ON FIRE; 6-1 START

Monday, April 11, 2016

HOME OPENER VERSUS REDS at Cubsquest.com

11 April:

Coming off of a very successful 5-1 road trip against some pretty good teams, the Cubs and Jon Lester take on the Cincinnati Reds and Brandon Finnegan at 7:05 Monday night. WGN TV; 670 The Score radio.

It will be quite a zoo there. Much traffic, tons of delays, and long lines...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHOME OPENER VERSUS REDS

Sunday, April 10, 2016

CUBS BEAT D"BACKS; GO 4-1 at Cubsquest.com

10 April:

The new, patient and smart Cubs offense presented itself again Saturday night.

The first five batters walked 5 times and scored 4 runs. Disciplined at bats by Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist once again set the table. These players, with the inclusion of Anthony Rizzo and Kris...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT D"BACKS; GO 4-1

Friday, April 8, 2016

SCHWARBER OUT FOR SEASON at Cubsquest.com

8 April:

It didn"t take long.

The injury bug, which has been kind to the Chicago Cubs for some time now bit them hard yesterday. In what is unquestionably a terrible turn of events, Kyle Schwarber will be out for the entire 2016 season due to torn ligaments in the knee.

Cubsquest is...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comSCHWARBER OUT FOR SEASON

MAKE THAT 3-0 FOR 2016 at Cubsquest.com

8 April:

This isn"t your father"s Cub team.

Not is your older brother or sister"s, and not even your"s of a few years back. Forget the two wins in Anaheim for a moment. If the Cubs would have gone to Arizona in the first week of the season and fell behind 3 zip in the first inning they...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMAKE THAT 3-0 FOR 2016

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

CUBS SWEEP ANGELS at Cubsquest.com

6 April:

OK, so it"s only two games.

But when was the last time you ever saw the Cubs open on the road, in an unfamiliar setting -the AL- and against a pretty good team like the Angels and not only win, but dominate a two game series?

The answer is easy. Never, not in our...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEEP ANGELS

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

CUBS WIN BIG OVER ANGELS at Cubsquest.com

5 April:

It was close for a while.

The Angels, clearly outmanned, hung in there. It was 3-0 Cubs after 5 innings. But the stacked lineup proved too much for the Halos pitching staff, and the continuous offensive pressure broke the game open, with reserve outfielder Matt Szczur doubling...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN BIG OVER ANGELS

Saturday, April 2, 2016

TWO MORE DAYS... at Cubsquest.com

2 April:

In spite of what your eyes are seeing- snowfall in the Chicago area- opening day is just a little more than 48 hours away. Thankfully in the sunny climes of Southern California, where Monday is predicted to be 81 and sunny, with a low of 55.

As opposed to whatever we"ll be lucky...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTWO MORE DAYS...

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

CUBS ANNOUNCE 1ST MAJOR CUTS at Cubsquest.com

29 March:

You know it"s close. It got even closer today.

A very deep Cub team cut outfielder Shane Victorino, infielder Munenori Kawasaki, and reliever Manny Parra Tuesday. Of these cuts only Victorino still has a shot at the team.

He will report to AAA Des Moines to rehab his calf...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS ANNOUNCE 1ST MAJOR CUTS

Monday, March 28, 2016

BULLS SPUTTERING TOWARDS PLAYOFFS at Cubsquest.com

Chicago, IL – After a tumultuous week featuring back-to-back-to-back losses, the Chicago Bulls came into the last week of March looking for answers, and fast.

The Bulls kicked off an especially important week, seeing as how only 10 regular season games remained before the Monday night matchup ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBULLS SPUTTERING TOWARDS PLAYOFFS

Sunday, March 27, 2016

HUEY LEWIS TAKES BP WITH CUBS at Cubsquest.com

By Chris Haft and Carrie Muskat




MESA, Ariz. -- Accustomed to being on stage, renowned pop music star Huey Lewis passed on an opportunity to coach first base for the San Francisco Giants in their Cactus League game Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

Lewis, dressed in a full Giants...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHUEY LEWIS TAKES BP WITH CUBS

Thursday, March 24, 2016

10 MORE DAYS at Cubsquest.com

24 March:

You wouldn"t think so to look outside.

Cold rain, turning to the dreaded "wintry mix" with a low of 25 degrees in Chicagoland this evening. But that all changes next Monday. OK, maybe the weather won"t change a whole lot. One can always dream.

But next Monday?

The Cubs will...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com10 MORE DAYS

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

at Cubsquest.com

TREVOR BLOCK on the Blackhawks

Chicago, IL – For the better part of the NHL regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks looked primed to secure the top spot in the Western Conference.

Dallas had begun to slide a bit and St. Louis remained inconsistent while Chicago kept their foot on the gas. U...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

DIARY OF CHICAGO SPORTS FAN at Cubsquest.com

 Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan 3/22/16 .... By Larry Lambert



 After A nice game Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blackhawks looked somewhat lackadaisical against the Minnesota Wild Sunday night.  The result was a 3-2 shootout loss for the Hawks.  The Hawks best player Sun...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDIARY OF CHICAGO SPORTS FAN

Monday, March 21, 2016

THE CUBS HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED at Cubsquest.com

21 March:

Three years ago Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said this about Theo and his Chicago Cub franchise:

"There will come a time, soon when the Cubs will have their "Jason Werth signing".

What he meant, of course, is that like the Nats, who signed the former Phillie free agent,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE CUBS HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Diary of A Chicago Sports Fan at Cubsquest.com

Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan 3/20/16
The Chicago White Sox/Adam Laroche situation finally seems to be quieting down.  Club owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, has said the team is through talking about the situation.  I don’t blame them.  It was a messy situation that could have been handled better, but it...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDiary of A Chicago Sports Fan

Friday, March 18, 2016

Diary of A Chicago Sports Fan at Cubsquest.com

Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan 1/25/16 by Larry Lambert

Peyton Manning apparently doubled up on his Geritol and had enough left in his tank to lead the Denver Broncos to a 20-18 win over the New England Patriots.  Manning wasn’t the Manning of old but was better than the Old Manning we’ve seen ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDiary of A Chicago Sports Fan

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Diary of A Chicago Sports Fan at Cubsquest.com

 Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan 3/18/16  by Larry Lambert

 Controversy continues to swirl around White Sox DH/First baseman Adam LaRoche.  It looks like LaRoche may indeed retire and walk away from 13 million dollars because he was asked not to bring his kid to the ballpark every day.  Since La...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDiary of A Chicago Sports Fan

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan at Cubsquest.com

Diary of a Chicago Sports Fan .......  3/17/16  By Larry Lambert

 It turns out there was more to Adam LaRoche’s retirement than his back.  White Sox President, Kenny Williams asked LaRoche to stop bring his son to the ballpark all the time.  Apparently, LaRoche was upset enough to retire...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDiary of a Chicago Sports Fan

EAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING at Cubsquest.com

16 March:

Does it really do any good to report that the World Champion Kansas City Royals beat the snot out of the Cubs in Surprise, Az?

10-0.

But it was only 2-0 after 6 innings. Starter (and loser) John Lackey went 5 strong, only allowing the pair of runs. Then the wheels came...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

EAR TO THE GROUND: SO FAR SO GOOD at Cubsquest.com

15 March:

The Cubs are right in the middle of training camp. Time for an assessment.

First of all, let"s get rid of one stat that is ugly but means little: The won/loss record. Currently they are an underwhelming 3-10. But this is, of course, misleading. While it is nice to get off to a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND: SO FAR SO GOOD

Sunday, March 13, 2016

EAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING at Cubsquest.com

13 March:

Cub fans got an unexpected treat yesterday.

WGN picked up the first game of a split squad schedule; the Cubs playing the White Sox at Sloan Park which the Cubs won handily 9-2. Unfortunately since it was unannounced many either missed it or tuned in late.

But those who did got...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING

Saturday, March 12, 2016

EAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING at Cubsquest.com

12 March:

John Lackey pitched his first game as a Cub.

He got cuffed around a bit; 3 runs on 5 hits over 3 innings. But the key is the 3 inning stint; this is going deeper in a first start than usual; most guys only go 2.

Joe Maddon was suitably impressed. So, too is...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING

Friday, March 11, 2016

EAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING at Cubsquest.com

11 March:

Had enough of the political debates now?

Way too many. But the Trump ascendancy has provided an incredible ratings boon for these things, which cost nothing to produce and generate millions in revenue and the cable networks love them.

The GOP ones. The Democrat versions draw...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

EAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING at Cubsquest.com

9 March:

Before we get into the day"s baseball news the passing of George Martin -the third in the line for dead pool fans; George Kennedy and Nancy Reagan the first two- is more important than you might think.

First of all, Martin was more than a veteran EMI producer who produced Beatle...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comEAR TO THE GROUND SPRING TRAINING

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

THE TRUE 5TH BEATLE GEORGE MARTIN PASSES AT 90 at Cubsquest.com

THE GUARDIAN 3/9/16  by Adam Sweeny

The death of George Martin at the age of 90 is not only a sad blow to Beatles fans of all generations, but it also draws a line under a vanished age of the entertainment business. Martin’s work as The Beatles’ producer, overseeing such landmarks of popular m...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTHE TRUE 5TH BEATLE GEORGE MARTIN PASSES AT 90