Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
July 23, 2008
Cubs Collapse?
Aramis Ramirez

18 July 2008: Aramis Ramirez flies out to center field during a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros.
Photo: Icon SMI

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night 9-2. That takes the Cubs record since the All-Star break to 1-4. They've scored 13 runs in those five games, but only four in the four losses. What happened to the offense?

One thing is that the team appears to be a bit less selective. The leading team in the NL in walks drawn took only nine base on balls in the last five games. They seemed to be getting that back last night, however, as they did collect five against the Diamondbacks.

The biggest factor, however, appears to be a slump by the middle of the lineup. The table setters, the 1-2 hitters, are getting on base quite well. So far there's little offense behind them, however. The 3-4-5- hitters have combined for seven hits in 60 at bats with one double and one home run. This resulted in just five RBI despite the 1-2 hitters reaching 20 times in the five games.

The biggest culprit is Aramis Ramirez in an 0 for 20 slump, but Lee and Soto are also not delivering. Should Cubs fans be worried? Probably not. These are not hitters who have been playing over their heads crashing to earth. These are good hitters going through a slump at the same time. It won't last, but while it does, the NL Central turns into an exciting pennant race.

The Brewers won another from the Cardinals on Tuesday night, moving them just a game behind the Cubs, while the St. Louis remains two back. It's any team's division right now.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:15 AM | Team Evaluation | TrackBack (0)
Comments

That is, if any team is not the Astros, Pirates or Reds.

Posted by: Adam B. at July 23, 2008 08:57 AM

I just happen to catch a few innings on WGN yesterday and they commented that they should be less selective, because that one game they didn't walk they scored 9 runs.

Posted by: David at July 23, 2008 09:32 AM

Collapse? Seriously?

It has been a five game slump for the team, with their top three hitters all falling into a slump at the same time.

Lets not jump to conclusions based on minuscule sample sizes.

Posted by: dave at July 23, 2008 03:23 PM

"These are not hitters who have been playing over their heads crashing to earth. These are good hitters going through a slump at the same time."

Ramierez and Lee, I'll give you, but on what basis have you decided that Soto has not been playing over his head?

Posted by: REL at July 24, 2008 10:31 AM
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