It is June 18. Here are the team batting stats for the Chicago Cubs – who have the seventh highest payroll in baseball – along with the stats of the league leaders.
Runs Scored: 264, second to last in MLB (New York Yankees, 386)
Batting Average: .258, 23rd in MLB (Toronto, .296)
On-Base Percentage: .310, second to last in MLB (New York Yankees, .370)
Home Runs: 53, second to last in MLB (Cincinnati, 102)
Total Bases: 882, second to last in MLB (Toronto, 1155)
Had enough? Okay, how about some pitching stats:
Runs Allowed: 334, 16th most in MLB (Detroit, 263)
ERA: 4.72, 22nd in MLB (Detroit, 3.61)
Walks Allowed: 285, second most in MLB (Minnesota, 157)
Home Runs Allowed: 82, sixth most in MLB (Colorado, 51) (Note: They allowed eight home runs today)
After surveying these numbers, a few small questions spring to mind. A few of you may recognize these from an earlier rant.
– How does hitting coach Gene Clines still have a job?
– How does pitching coach Larry Rothschild still have a job?
– Why does there seem to be no pressure at all on a single member of the Cubs coaching staff?
This team needs to be stripped for parts, a la the Florida Marlins, who, in case you were wondering, have a better record than the Cubs. With a sixth of the payroll.
Free the Cubs.
