Chicago Cubs: July Summary
The tides may have finally turned for the Cubs' 2017 season. Very little good has been tied to the club this season. Week after week fans seemed to have more and more to complain about. This continued into the beginning of July, where they started out 3-5. However, since the All-Star break, a much different vibe has been felt around this team. The Cubs started the 2nd half by winning 6 in a row, scoring 44 runs in that span. But it didn't just stop there like it usually has his season. They have only lost 3 games since the break, and they have won every series, including one in Milwaukee to cap off the month. This combined with the Brewers' mini collapse has launched the Cubs into 1st place with Milwaukee 2.5 games behind.
The biggest, most important turnaround has been the pitching. The Cubs' BAA. of .217 is top of the chart for July, as well as being 4th in the NL in ERA. One very important improvement has been 1st inning runs. For a while it seemed as though we started every game with a handicap. The starters simply couldn't get out unscathed in the 1st. Since the break, we have given up just 1 run to open the game.
Of course we can't mention pitching without addressing the Quintana trade. As I'm sure you already know, the two Chicago ball clubs came together for a blockbuster trade, something most fans wouldn't have even considered as an option. The trade brought the Sox's ace, Jose Quintana, to the North Side in exchange for 4 prospects. This to me was a perfect trade for both sides. The Sox got potential key pieces to their rebuild, while the Cubs got some much needed pitching support. This trade made an immediate impact on the Cubs. Quintana pitched a gem in his 1st outing, and followed it up with another solid performance. If Quintana and the rest of the staff keeps this up, not much will stand in the Cubs' way.
Enough about the pitching. The offense did not disappoint either. In July, the Cubs cracked the top 10 in every major batting stat. Much of this success was due to the power displayed throughout the lineup. No NL team hit more long balls than the Cubs. Some of the most notable performances are those of Contreras and Schwarber. Contreras has been at the top of his game with an OPS of 1.016, 5 HR's, and a whopping 16 RBI's since the break. Schwarber hasn't quite reached that level, but he has shown significant improvement, closely tailing Contreras in both OPS and HR's. Now, that isn't to say he doesn't need more work. Strikouts are still an issue. 17 K's in 42 AB's is not ideal, but let's face it, he's a slugger. He is gonna strikeout from time to time, but if he is still making solid contact, I don't mind it.
Earlier I mentioned the Quintana trade, but that wasn't the only move they made. On the last night before the trade deadline, the Cubs went out and got LHP Justin Wilson and veteran Catcher Alex Avila from the Tigers. In exchange Detroit received two prospects, including Jeimer Candelario, and an option for cash or a player to be named later. This trade makes a lot of sense to me. An experienced Catcher was needed. If Contreras goes down or just needs rest, I feel a lot more comfortable with a vet back there. Justin Wilson was also a nice pickup. Wilson has an ERA of 2.68, WHIP of 0.942, and even 13 saves this season. I see him as a solid setup man for Davis. Although Candelario was a good prospect, the problem is that he was a 1st/3rd baseman. He wasn't going to get much playing time unless he switched positions. Even if he did that, he would still be splitting time with someone. All in all, this trade looks great on paper, now let's just hope it works on the field.
In summary, the past few weeks have been outstanding for this club. Lots of improvements everywhere have made this look an awful lot like last season. The biggest obstacle, however, has not changed. Consistency. The team looks great right now, but if the don't keep the ball rolling, that won't matter. The game has switched from a marathon to a sprint. The Cubs have a 2.5 step lead, but one slip and it's gone. The road ahead may be rough, but just remember, no matter how bad it gets, "We never quit."
