Jed Hoyer is scheduled to supply the autopsy on the Chicago Cubs year Monday at Wrigley Field. But if you’ve been paying out consideration, you presently understood the staff was not created to gain in the first position in the rebuild that cannot be referred to as a rebuild.
However, Chairman Tom Ricketts previously declared 2022 a “success” regardless of the 88 losses and most affordable attendance in a non-pandemic-afflicted season considering that 1997, when the Cubs started out with a National League record 14 straight losses.
In this article are 12 thoughts on what we observed and listened to in 2022.
1. As a person Cubs worker told me final week, the drone movie of Wrigley Subject that went viral was the season’s major emphasize.
The drone went via Murphy’s Bleachers, a fire truck and the centre-area scoreboard. It was seamlessly spliced with GoPro video clip from the clubhouse and followed Seiya Suzuki to correct industry.
Even the ballhawks on Kenmore and Waveland avenues cooperated by pretending to battle for a home run ball that was staged, with an worker tossing a baseball from the bleachers.
Wrigley traditions make the Cubs the Cubs, a lesson learned when once more.
2. The Cubs received 16 of their last 22 online games to stay clear of a 90-loss period and make some good vibes for winter.
Marquee Sports broadcaster Pat Hughes requested analyst Jim Deshaies in the course of Sunday’s telecast if the team’s late-season surge means anything for 2023.
“Not really,” Deshaies replied, noting there will be lots of new players and a carryover result will be negligent.
As awesome as it was to see the Cubs turn issues around, Deshaies is totally proper. If you are obtaining year tickets based mostly on the September general performance, you are worthy of what you get.
3. Cubs pitching vastly improved this year.
That happened underneath pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, but bullpen coach Chris Youthful warrants credit for finding potent performances out of a youthful and revamped reduction corps following several key veterans remaining at the trade deadline.
Even now, the Cubs concluded 19th in pitching (4.00 Era) and runs scored (657), so a great deal of advancement is wanted to be competitive in 2023.
4. The offense was a bottom-feeder that faced a few of base feeders, so even ending 19th in runs is misleading.
The numbers have been skewed by playing 38 game titles towards rebuilding division foes: the Pittsburgh Pirates (98 operates) and Cincinnati Reds (115 runs). That signifies virtually 1-third (32.4%) of their runs scored came against people two 100-reduction teams.
The great news is neither the Pirates nor Reds figures to shell out any funds to improve. So just by standing still, the Cubs pretty much are assured of no worse than one more 3rd-position finish.
Cubs, Woo!
5. Nick Madrigal was supposed to be the regular second baseman soon after arriving at the 2021 deadline in the Craig Kimbrel trade.
Madrigal showed flashes of his White Sox progress in August, hitting .300 with a .378 OBP for the month. But injuries constrained him to 59 game titles.
His status for 2023 is up in the air as the Cubs ponder signing a likely cost-free-agent shortstop these types of as Trea Turner or Xander Bogaerts, which probable would transfer Nico Hoerner to 2nd. Madrigal understands it is doable he could be a role participant.
“I don’t know what is heading to occur but I want the greatest players in this group no make a difference if they are at my position or any placement,” he explained just before struggling a period-ending groin pressure in September. “That’s eventually what produces a successful atmosphere and profitable groups, and that’s a thing I want to be a aspect of.”
6. Christopher Morel’s serial hugging of everybody in sight was credited with bringing electricity to the dugout.
The Morel-infused vitality was much less visible as the season wore on, and the rookie struggled to hit for ordinary, slipping to .235, like .190 from still left-handers.
But Morel claimed he will continue to be a hugger in 2023 — and over and above.
“I’ve been accomplishing it given that I arrived up, constantly hugging gamers, and I’m satisfied to be in this article and am not heading to modify,” he mentioned. “I do it for myself and the rest of the gamers.”
7. One of the few traditions remaining at Wrigley Area is the singing of Steve Goodman’s ‘Go, Cubs, Go’ just after wins, which commenced in the 1980s.
Instead of allowing viewers hear to Cubs admirers sing their anthem, Marquee Sporting activities now opts to make the music the background new music to dialogue of the Binny’s-sponsored “Toast of the Game” highlight. Then it’s back again to the studio for constructive postgame evaluation.
It’s yet another case in point of leading-amount executives building Cubs telecasts as generic as feasible to appease sponsors — and the Rickettses.
8. Patrick Knowledge finished with 183 strikeouts, giving him 336 in 909 plate appearances in excess of the past 2 seasons — a 37% strikeout amount.
That would common out to 227 strikeouts in a 162-activity time. That is a large amount, even by today’s specifications.
The one-period report is 223, established by the Arizona Diamondback’s Mark Reynolds in 2009. But Reynolds had an .892 OPS that year. Wisdom’s OPS as a Cub is .764.
9. The seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Area seemed to aspect much more taped Harry Caray video clips than at any time.
That could imply there is a scarcity of movie star Cubs fans coming to games for the duration of the rebuild that is not at all a rebuild, or the staff has drawn a pink line and no more time invites any one under a B-listing celeb.
10. Just after all the Willson Contreras goodbyes, Hoyer never has indicated why the Cubs do not feel the catcher deserves a multiyear contract.
Is it the funds? The a long time? The put on and tear? His age?
Contreras, 30, generally was client with the media asking the exact questions throughout his several goodbyes.
He caught only 72 video games this calendar year, his lowest full in a non-pandemic season given that his rookie campaign in 2016. Probably the Cubs think he’s mostly a selected hitter, which are normally accessible on the open marketplace.
Why it has to end continues to be one of the biggest unanswered inquiries of 2022.
11. The late Les Grobstein no doubt would have pointed out that Andrelton Simmons had less RBIs (7) than Contreras experienced goodbyes.
Simmons gained $4 million and commenced in 22 online games, hitting .173 right before remaining introduced.
Manager David Ross, Jason Heyward and Simmons ended up lockermates with the Atlanta Braves in 2012. When Simmons signed with the Cubs in March, Ross stated he texted the information to Heyward.
“He’s like, ‘I got my two lockermates again,’ ” Ross claimed.
Occasionally it’s superior not to get the band back collectively.
12. José Cardenal was a favorite of Mike Royko, Michelle Obama, Eddie Vedder, Billy Corgan and lots of newborn boomer Cubs fans, and not just for the neat Afro (however it helped).
Just after remaining inducted into the Cubs Corridor of Fame last thirty day period, Cardenal was asked why Cubs lovers became so connected to him. He informed a tale of being booed on opening day in 1972 right after getting rid of a ball in the sun.
“I went to the lovers and said: ‘What do you want me to do?’ ” Cardenal stated. “From that working day, they approved me, and I was confident the enthusiasts have been powering me now. That was it.”
You never have to be a superstar to grow to be a legend at Wrigley. Which is a custom that won’t quickly end.
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