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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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