Winners and Losers of the Trade Deadline (So Far)

By: Ryan Bode

The Trade Deadline can make or break teams that are on the fringe of the playoffs around August 1^st.  For instance, the New York Mets made a move to get Yoennis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers last season.  A move that led them to eventually losing to the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 World Series.  A multitude of teams made moves at the Trade Deadline this year, and some teams stayed quieter than a lion stalking its prey.  After two weeks removed from the trade deadline, let’s take a look at some of the winners and some of the losers of the trade deadline so far.

Winner: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs made a series of moves to bolster their struggling bullpen.  Now, with both Rondon and Strop struggling with injuries, the moves look better and better.  The Cubs added reliever Mike Montgomery from the Mariners and Joe Smith from the Angels for relatively low prices.  The top prize for the Cubs though was getting Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees.  While many will say that the price was too steep for Chapman (as the Cubs gave up multiple top level prospects), the Cubs received a pitcher that could come up clutch in close games.  As a result of the bullpen, the Cubs just recently lost three times since the Trade Deadline on August 13^th, but that does not look to derail this freight train of a team.

Loser: New York Mets

The biggest deadline deal that the Mets swung was getting Jay Bruce from the Reds and Jonathan Niese from the Pirates.  At the time, Bruce was one of the leaders in the NL in RBI’s, something that the Mets had struggled with all year.  Niese, on the other hand, was not the top prize for the Mets but still had the potential to spot start for an injury plagued starting rotation.  What has actually happened as a result of these trades has been absolutely dreadful.  Bruce is only hitting .188 with a .268 OBP and a slugging percentage of .313.  Niese has not had much more success for the Mets, a 9.28 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP.  The price the Mets gave up a lot of talent for the little production these two players are posting.

Winner: Washington Nationals

While it was only one move, the Nationals stepped up and went out to get a closer to sure up their bullpen, just like the Cubs.  Mark Melancon was brought in from the Pittsburgh Pirates in order to solidify the closer role.  A role that was once previously held by Jonathan Papelbon, whose inconsistencies and off field antics eventually led him to his departure from the Nationals.  Now Melancon has taken over and has not disappointed.  Since arriving, he has an ERA around 1.00 and 5 saves in as many opportunities.

Loser: Miami Marlins

The biggest splash for the Marlins was Andrew Cashner coming from the Padres.  The Marlins went out for a starter to bolster their rotation as they fight for a wild card spot.  As a result of the trade, Cashner had to lose his beard due to a clean shaven policy the Marlins have in place.  That shave might have also taken some talent with it as well.  At 0-2 with an ERA over 5.00, the Marlins look for him to shape up as the season heats up down the stretch.  If the starting role does not work out, they can always use an extra arm in the bullpen, where he has already come out of once for the Marlins.

Winner: Texas Rangers

The Rangers are not messing around this year.  Their eyes are on the top prizes and their moves have so far helped them come closer to it.  Carlos Beltran is hitting around .290 with 2 home runs while Jonathan Lucroy has already hit 7 home runs for the Rangers.  Adding those extra bats help provide offense for the pitching staff, Lucroy could help rejuvenate the Rangers pitching staff on the defensive side.

While the trade deadline may be over, that does not mean the moves have ceased.  Many teams have big names that they would still like to move and place in a new home.

Trade Talk: Aroldis Chapman

Basic Information:

Another Yankee has been the center of trade talks.  The Flamethrowing 28 year-old closer Aroldis Chapman topped out at 105 MPH over this past series against the Orioles, and not just once but twice.  That puts fear in any hitter who steps into the batter box against him.  The reliever signed a one year deal over this past season to avoid arbitration with them, hoping that the star power that the Yankees already had would give Chapman a chance at the World Series.  Things have not quite turned out the way the Yankees have hoped, and that has led the Yankees to listen to trade discussions for Chapman.  He pairs this fastball with a slider and changeup that ranges in the high 80’s MPH.  With an ERA around 2.22 along with 19 saves on the season, he can be a big upgrade to any bullpen with the right tools around him.

Where Could He land?

Again, it is the same teams that are interested in Andrew Miller, along with a couple of others in the mix such as the Washington Nationals.  The asking price for Chapman will be much lower than Miller on the contrary, due to the fact that whatever team that lands him will not control him after this season, since his contract would be up and thus make him a free agent.  He would only be a rental piece to whatever team that picked him up, but that does not mean Chapman would not close the door on coming back to the team that picks him up.

Outlook

Chapman will be traded by the Aug. 1^st trade deadline, and the Yankees have conveyed it to him and the rest of the MLB.  One team that stands out above the rest is the Washington Nationals.  The reason?  A team that has a prolific of an offense as the Nationals due, it does not mean anything if Papelbon cannot close out games, let alone even if he is able to pitch the 9^th due to his recent injuries.  The Nationals would benefit with this trade because they have all the tools to win now.  A solid pitching rotation, a prolific offense, all they need now is someone to shut the door in the ninth inning and seal the win.

Trade Talk: Andrew Miller

Basic Information:

Andrew Miller is one of the premier relievers in all of baseball.  Currently with the Yankees, the All-Star reliever has a 5-1 record with an astounding 1.34 ERA and 70 strikeouts in only 40.1 innings.  This has contributed to one of the lowest WHIP’s in all of baseball, standing at 0.72.  He has a fastball that averages around 95 MPH but loves to intermix his slider at 84 MPH which generates all those strikeouts.

Where Could He Land?

The Yankees are in a precarious situation this year.  The Yankees are not considered contenders at this point in the season and are looking at their first losing season since 1992.  They may wait one more week to see a clearer picture as to where their season is heading, but it looks like they will be sellers at the deadline, and that’s something that baseball fans are not used to.  There have been a number of teams that have inquired about the availability of Miller, such as the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and even the Kansas City Royals, but the asking price for Miller will be sky high.  Miller is playing the best baseball of his career, and thus the Yankees will be asking for the top price for him.  Another interesting characteristic of Miller that contributes to his asking price is his contract.  The team that would land him would not only control him for the rest of this year, but as well as next year.  Thus, since his contract is not expiring, it adds to Miller’s value.  The Yankees could reap the rewards that Miller could bring.

Outlook

It has been known that the Chicago Cubs have been looking for bullpen help, and Andrew Miller looks to be the top priority for the Cubs at the moment.  A name that has been thrown out for Andrew Miller has been Kyle Schwarber, who is currently on the DL for the year with a Torn ACL.  Schwarber would find a perfect home in the AL, as he has been heralded as a great power hitter but only average fielder.  The Yankees could use him as a cornerstone in their retooling, not rebuilding, process that could make them immediately competitive.  Dan Vogelbach, another top Cubs prospect, could also be thrown in the deal with a couple of other pitchers from the system.  If this deal does go through, the Cubs would have a solidified set up man for an erratic bullpen at times.  The question is though, are the Cubs ready to give up the farm system for this one relief pitcher?   If the Cubs want to break the curse this year, throwing everything at the Yankees to get Andrew Miller.  The Indians have recently been in the mix for Miller as well, making it their top priority, but in the end it is probable that Miller will end up with the Cubs since they have more to offer the Yanks.

Mid-Season Awards

By: Ryan Bode

As we end the mid-season break for the MLB, we reflect on the historic moments that have happened and honor the best players so far. Historic moments have happened such as Chris Heston’s no-hitter as a rookie to Brock Holt for the cycle.

Here are some mid-season awards that mean just as much as the ESPY’s.

AL MVP: Mike Trout (.312 BA, 26 HR, 55 RBI, 9 SB, 1.019 OPS)

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

When it is all said and done at the end of the season, the debate will remain the same as to who should win the MVP. Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout have been playing the best baseball (as usual) for each of their respective teams. The reason why Mike Trout beats out Miguel Cabrera for the MVP award is that he means more to his team in comparison to Miguel Cabrera. If Miguel Cabrera goes down with an injury, the Tigers still have enough talent to overcome and make the postseason. The Angels, on the other hand, have only Pujols outside of Trout. Trout leads the Angels in almost every offensive category excerpt RBI’s. The Angels offense would take a massive hit if Trout went down.

Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

NL MVP: Bryce Harper (.339 BA, 26 HR, 61 RBI, 4 SB, 1.168 OPS)

This has been the year of Harper in the National League. The only competition that he faced for this award is Paul Goldschmidt from Arizona who is trying to defend his MVP. He is going to win the NL Crown for home runs due to Giancarlo Stanton’s injury, possibly win the Batting Average title, and come close to the RBI crown as well. Towards the end of the season, fans will be debating as to whether he will win the Triple Crown, the first NL Triple Crown Winner since Joe Medwick in 1937.

AL Cy Young: Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA, 114 K, 1.00 WHIP)

Chris Sale is a very close second for this award as well. Keuchel has come out of nowhere for the Astros and launched them into a playoff contending team. Keuchel is mixing his 5 pitches real well to get more groundballs than other pitchers. He will not overpower hitters since his sinker and fastball range in the high 80’s to low 90’s. I fear that he may fall into a Mark Buehrle-esque type play in the second half of the season. Hitters will start to figure him out and capitalize on his mistakes better than in the first half of the season.

NL Cy Young: Zach Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA, 106 K, 0.84 ERA)

Zach Greinke has been nothing but fantastic this year. He is pitching better than he did when he won the Cy Young with the Royals in 2009. He currently has the longest scoreless inning streak at 35 and 2/3rds innings. His six pitches are keeping the fooling hitters off balance and he is getting outs every way he can. He is making hitters look silly at the plate. Fun Fact: Greinke would have to have an ERA under 2.76 or something along those lines for the second half of the season in order to finish the season with an ERA under 2.00.

AL Rookie of The Year: Billy Burns (.303 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 17 SB, .739 OPS)

With all the rave that is going on about Carlos Correa and how he is the next coming for Houston, people tend to forget about Billy Burns in Oakland. He plays solid outfield for the Athletics, gets on-base and scoring opportunities, and steals bases. He has been the most impressive rookie in the AL but that may not be the case by season end. For now, he deserves this award more than any other rookie.

NL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant (.269 BA, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 8 SB, .848 OPS)

The plethora of young talent is finally coming together for the Chicago Cubs. Kris Bryant has not only been the most impressive out of the Cubs organization, but of all of the NL. He provides the power for the Cubs along with Anthony Rizzo. I look to see him be the front runner for the award when the season concludes.

Biggest Surprise: Houston Astros

If you go down the roster of the Astros, there is not one big name player. (For the record: I consider a big name player a household name that a casual sports fan would no i.e.: Pujols, Cabrera, etc.) For one of the youngest rosters in all of the MLB, they are playing like a squad of veterans. Their pitching staff is not really good as well. Outside of Keuchel, there is no real threat that hitters should be afraid of. Yet they are only a half game out of the AL West that was supposed to be dominated by the likes of the Rangers or Angels.

Biggest Disappointment: San Diego Padres

They broke the bank this off-season. They signed James Shields, traded for Matt Kemp, the Upton brothers, Craig Kimbrel to sure up their back end, and Wil Myers(he has been injured which hasn’t helped). They were supposed to contend with the Dodgers for NL West and a wildcard spot. At 41-49, they are struggling to even get to .500 winning percentage. With the addition of the second wild card, they are still in the hunt, but will need depth at starting pitching in order to compete in the National League.

What To Do With “The Freak”?

By: Ryan Bode

If someone had come up to me in 2007 and said that a 5’11’’ pitcher would not only be a strikeout king for a couple of years, but win back to back Cy Young awards one year after his debuted; I may have sent them to the looney bin.

Now, once that person was out of the looney bin, if that same person said that he would underperform the rest of his career and be plagued with injuries; he might need some “tougher” therapy.

But that’s the reality of the situation that has become of Tim Lincecum. He has been to the mountain top and he has been at the bottom. The Giants keep hoping and praying Lincecum will become at least a quality starter, but injuries and inconsistent play has sent him from trips to the DL and the bullpen.

Now with him on the DL again as of 7/2 and Cain returning back to the rotation, the Giants face a difficult decision on what to do with “The Freak”.

Here are some possible ways that the Giants can use Tim Lincecum from here and into the future.

Move Him into a Long Reliever Role

Managers forget to realize that once-starters are used to pitching long into the game. Although Lincecum has lost velocity on his fastball, but this just means that he has to mix up his pitches with off-speeds more. He can come into a game where a starter is struggling in the first or second inning and get the Giants deep into the game while keeping them in the game. Lincecum would be happy by this role because he still gets those long innings that starting pitchers love. The Giants already have experimented with this method in the Playoffs last year and look at the results, it definitely didn’t hurt them.

Move Him to the Closer

This would not be a bad idea for the Giants to at least try. Lincecum still wants to contribute to this team and this could be the perfect fit.   Santiago Casilla has not done a bad job by any means in the closer role this season. He has a 3.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 20 saves out of 24 chances. I just do not see him as a long term guy for the Giants since he is going to be turning 35 on July 25^th. Lincecum is used to being in big time situations and is 31 years old, thus giving the Giants a possible closer for the future who will not collapse under the pressure.

Spot Starter or Specialist

Now the reason why I have this in a separate category and not with the long reliever is that this would be his only job on the roster. He would still be in the bullpen for emergency uses but his primary objective would be to start in case someone was struggling, sick, injury, or anything in between. He could also be used as a specialist to get out specific batters. For example, any Padres hitter (since he has two no-hitters against them.

Trade Him Away for Prospects

Some team will be desperate to try to revitalize his career and use Lincecum as a fifth starter. Lincecum is only 31 so a team could possibly get a few good years out of him. Lincecum would give back to the Giants by getting a couple of prospects and setting them up for the future. In addition to this, Lincecum can always come back to San Francisco in order to help mentor these young arms as well. AJ Burnett of the Pirates is a prime example of a person revitalizing their career as a fifth starter. He is now on pace to become an All-Star this year. Tim Lincecum could be next.

On The Block: Ben Revere

By: Ryan Bode

THIS IS WHY JEFF FRANCOEUR HAS NEVER BEEN ON A TEAM VERY LONG!!! The Philadelphia Phillies made a terrible mistake in wasting their money on his services, and his atrocious throw not only sums up the season the Phillies are having, but the way the Phillies have fun the organization for the past couple of years.

Now in an effort to rebuild not only the Phillies, but the whole franchise including the farm system, the front office is starting to sell their players for prospects.

In the On The Block series, I have already delved into Cole Hamels and Johnathan Papelbon as other pieces that the Phillies look to move. Now there are rumors that Phillies are looking to get rid of their one bright spot in the outfield, Ben Revere.

Two of the most enticing attributes about Ben Revere is that he is in the prime of his career at age 27 and also his contract will expire at the end of the year where he will be arbitration eligible for a team.

In addition to having good offensive numbers (.289 BA, 1 HR, .325 OBP, and .704 OPS) he has good speed both in the field and on the base paths. Revere has swiped 18 bases and has only been caught 4 times.

Here are some teams that could use an upgrade in their line-ups heading into the July and the rest of the season.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels have already stated that they will be looking for hitting via trades. The Angels line-up has been abysmal outside of Pujols and Trout. Freese, Iannetta, and Matt Joyce have all been terrible for the Angels. Ben Revere would provide an upgrade that is greatly needed in the line-up. With his .289 BA, he would already be one of the better hitters in the lineup. In addition to this, he would offer a go to guy at the top of the lineup that can get on base for the likes of Trout and Pujols to hit in.

Washington Nationals

With Jayson Werth sidelined until at least August and Anthony Rendon on the DL as well, the Nationals are going to be seeking someone to fill those offensive needs. Revere is a possible option for the Nationals in the short term and possibly long term as well. Werth is currently 36 years old and with his recent injury history, it looks like that he is going to be on the downward slope of his career. Revere could fill that hole for the Nationals right now and step into that lineup as well as into the future, being that he is only 27 years old. The Nationals already look like a World Series Contender for the next couple of years and could possibly spare some prospects in order to get Revere and win now.

New York Mets

Although I think that this is a very unlikely place that Revere would go since it’s within the division, but the Mets are desperately looking for hitters. Michael Cuddyer has not reproduced the numbers he has a year ago, Curtis Granderson is not living up to his massive contract, and arguably the best hitter on their staff right now is their rookie pitcher Steven Matz, who went 3-3 with 4 RBI’s in his debut. Once Wright comes back, the Mets could have a fearsome top of the lineup against any pitcher with Revere, Granderson, and Wright. One of the items that the Phillies might ask for is for one of the Mets young arms. The Mets will not deal one of them until they get a clearer picture of whether are contenders or pretenders closer to the deadline.

On The Block: Jeff Samardzija

By: Ryan Bode

All baseball fans cringe when the White Sox come on the TV. Going into the season, the White Sox were primed for a postseason run. They went out and grabbed a solid closer in David Robertson, a solid player to replace Konerko in the line-up, and trading for Jeff Samardzija to pair up with their ace Chris Sale to pair up to make a dynamic duo.

The White Sox are a prime example of why people should not take projections or predictions to seriously. Their offense is one of the worse in the league and their pitching staff does not help them stay in games as well.

With the White Sox sitting comfortably in the basement of the AL Central, they are going to start selling some of their players in order to rebuild their farm system that former GM Kenny Williams destroyed during his tenure.

Jeff Samardzija seems to find himself at the center of trade talks every year. Last year, Samardzija was dealt to the Oakland Athletics along with Jason Hammel for Addison Russell. The year before that his name was being thrown out there around the trade deadline as well. Teams like Samardzija because he has been a solid pitcher that does not get enough run support.

Here are some teams that could use the services of Samardzija as they compete for the playoffs.

Chicago Cubs

This would be some story that would develop if this trade were to go through. Samardzija came through the Chicago Cubs organization as a pitcher, making an All-Star team for the Cubs in 2014. Samardzija currently has a 4-4 with an ERA at 4.67 and 77 strike outs in 94.1 innings pitched. He is a durable arm that can be stretched late into games in order to rest a bullpen on any given night. The Cubs have stated that they are looking for starting pitching for their team Tsuyoshi Wada/Travis Wood experiment is not going too well. What better player to get than a good starting pitcher in Samardzija that has already knows the Cubs organization.   Another interesting storyline is that Samardzija has grown up a White Sox fan and has hinted that he likes the White Sox over the Cubs. What would he say if his beloved White Sox’s traded him back to the Cubs?

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have been in talks around the entire league to acquire a starting pitcher, most recently with Philadelphia about Cole Hamels. I do not see a reason why Texas should not inquire about Samardzija. Samardzija is from the American League already and is comfortable pitching to American League hitters; Samardzija has no long-term/trade clause contract troubles that Hamels contract has; and Samardzija’s asking price is much lower than Hamels while Texas would still receive a quality starter.

Houston Astros

The Astros have proven everyone wrong this year. They are currently in first place of the AL West with a 41-31 record and three games above Texas in second place. The Astros are looking to improve their starting pitching rotation and Samardzija would be a perfect fit for them. While he not only is a valuable play for any pitching rotation, he can also serve as a mentor for one of the youngest teams in the MLB (26.86 years old). At 30 years-old, Samardzija has a wealth of knowledge that he can share with the younger players on the Astros while still being able to contribute to a playoff run. This would be the perfect short term deal for the Astros that could have long term implications attached to it.

On The Block: Tyler Clippard

By: Ryan Bode

The A’s are in full swing to return to the bottom of the AL West. This means that the Athletics will be looking to shop a few key pieces for some high valued prospect from other teams.

Tyler Clippard was sent to the Athletics from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Yunel Escobar. He was expected to be the much needed set-up man that Oakland desired, but those plans changed when Athletics closer Sean Doolittle started the year on the DL.

Clippard’s pitching arsenal is a pretty simple one, but devastating for hitters nonetheless. His motion is a bit peculiar, making it difficult for hitters to see the ball from his hand. He has a fastball that ranges in the low to mid 90’s along with a change up in the low 80’s. His curveball keeps hitters honest on him as well, ranging in the high 70’s. A combination of these pitches along with his windup makes his strikeout ratio really high.

Currently sitting with 2.96 ERA and a WHIP at around 1.24, Clippard is not having one of his best years by far.   His opponent’s batting average is around .194 and has 10 saves out of 12 opportunities. The problem with Clippard being on the Athletics is that he does not get a lot of opportunities to showcase his skills.

At age 30, Tyler Clippard still has some potential left in him. Look for teams to try to get him for a bargain from the Athletics since he does not have a long term future if dealt. Here are some teams that are interested in acquiring the closer.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are going to be interested in every closer that is available on the market. Having no definitive closer at the moment, the Blue Jays have been rotating pitchers at the end of games. Clippard would give them a guy at the end of games that they can go to.   This move could possibly launch Toronto right back into the race to win the AL East. Even though his contract is one of the more expensive ones, Clippard looks to be a good move for the Blue Jays.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers look to catch up to the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central. Clippard would be some added security blanket for the Tigers when going into late innings. He could be used as a set-up man, as he has had experience in that role. Late game losses are always the worst to be dealt. Clippard can help reduce that number and secure more wins for the Tigers.

Boston Red Sox

Boston keeps claiming that they are still in the hunt for the AL East, even though their chances are fading fast. Boston also says they will be looking to pick up some pieces in order to make this run. Tyler Clippard would be a perfect piece, as Koji Uehara has not been his usual self. Clippard gives them another option at closer in case Koji keeps blowing saves.

On The Block: Cole Hamels

By: Ryan Bode

With the Phillies looking to rebuild their farm system, Cole Hamels is another piece that can be moved for some prospects.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike Papelbon, Hamels can provide more for a team. He can become the ace of any staff as soon as he arrives. He has proven time and time again that he can handle the pressure of all the attention an Ace receives. For example, he won the World Series MVP along with the NLCS MVP in 2008 when the Phillies won the World Series.

Hamels is known as a groundball pitcher that has one of the best changeups in the game. His primary pitches that he relies on to get out of jams is a four-seam fastball that averages in the low 90’s interchanged with his “devastating” change-up (averages 85 mph) according to Chipper Jones, all-time great former third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. He also uses a sinker, cutter and curveball with his curveball being the worse pitch in his repertoire. His curveball is sometimes is loopy and sometimes is sharp and averages in the mid 70’s, making it the easiest pitch to hit. His cutter is also one of his pitches that he likes to use to get people out. In 2011, one year after he debuted his cutter, his groundball rate was over 50 percent (according to Bill Baer of Crashburn Alley).

Cole Hamels is 31 years-old and looks like he is going to lose his velocity going into the future. Hamels is having another good year, posting a 5-5 record with a 2.96 ERA and over 100 strikeouts already. His WHIP is at an all-time low in three years as well, proving that he is still fooling hitters. This is a primetime for the Phillies to sell for the highest price. Here are some teams that are willing to give up their top prospects for Hamels service.

The Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore is still in the thick of the race for the AL East. They are two games back of the leading Tampa Bay Rays and one game back of the New York Yankees in second place. Mike Wright and Miguel Gonzalez are battling injuries right now for the Orioles, making the fifth spot of the rotation up for grabs. Cole Hamels would fit perfectly into the rotation, controlling the game for the Orioles. He would lower the team ERA along with providing someone that the young pitchers can look up to (the average age is 28.6 years old). Hamels would get back to the AL and return his focus to pitching, which could lead to more innings pitched.

The New York Yankees

Another AL East team is looking for the services of Hamels. One of the reasons that so many teams have shied away from making a deal with the Phillies is that they are asking a team to take on the majority of Hamels remaining 88.55 million dollar salary. The Yankees are never afraid of spending money or purging their farm system for another run at the World Series. Most likely he would take over for Adam Warren, whose ERA is just under 4.00 with only 43 strikeouts this year. He would provide a massive improvement into a rotation that is primed for a resurgence going into the rest of the season with Pineda, Tanaka, Eovaldi, Nova (currently on DL), and even with a shadow of his former self Sabathia.

St. Louis Cardinals

This is the best place for Hamels to fit right in. The Cardinals lost their ace Wainwright early in the season to a left Achilles tear, so he could slide right in and fill that hole. In addition, he would be joining an already World Series favorite team. Michael Wacha has shined for the Cardinals, going 9-2 with 2.48 ERA with a WHIP hovering around 1.07. John Lackey, Lance Lynn, and Carlos Martinez all have been solid for the Cardinals as well, and with Cole Hamels this rotation could possibly be the best in the National League.

You Ain’t Seen Anything Yet!

By: Ryan Bode

Chicago has an argument when people ask, “Which city has had the best year in sports?” The Blackhawks just won the Stanley Cup, the Bulls made a playoff run, and even the Chicago Fire look to make some noise in the MLS.

But now the focal point of Chicago will turn to baseball. I’m not talking about the pitiful excuse they call baseball on the south side; I am talking about the Chicago Cubs on the north side.

Currently sitting at 34-27 and only seven games behind the Cardinals in first place (currently in the second wild card position), the Cubs look like a team prime for postseason hope.

I figure towards the beginning of August and throughout the rest of the MLB season, the people who have been following the Cubs through the ups and downs of the season, through the 2007 and 2008 postseasons, and even the dreaded 2003 Championship Series, will start to see more and more “cubs fans” sightings on social media. People will start to notice and jump on the bandwagon just to get the taste of another postseason, just for another sweet taste of victory without the struggles of defeat.

I am getting sidetracked; let us focus on the facts of the Cubs.

Fact: Cubs are clutch

This is one of the years that Cubs fans do not feel stressed going into tight games. They are currently 17-11 in games decided by one run, and lead the league with eight walk-off wins. Starlin Castro is finding his form that Cubs fans are used to seeing; having back to back walk-off hits against the Reds this past week. Once the bullpen starts to get it together, Cubs fans can expect more late inning heroics from these Cubs.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Fact: Joe Maddon is everything and more

Nobody could have expected Maddon to get this team to believe in themselves this quickly. Every player believes in what Maddon is doing, only saying praises for the man behind the spectacles. Part of this is his mentality to win now, as can be seen with his rotation of pitchers at the end of the game. He also is doing this with a young team (Soler, Bryant, Castro, Schwarber as of June 16^th), making it all the more impressive. Maddon knows how to use his players along with how much he should push them, which is resulting in wins while having well rested players.

Fact: Studs can come from nowhere

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-171032

Jason Hammel was signed this off season with the intention to be a role player on the pitching staff. The Cubs loved what they saw from him last year before they traded him, and signed him this year in return. Hammel has exceeded expectations for the Cubs, playing better than even the staff ace(Jon Lester). He has gone 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 80 strikeouts, ranking second on the team. He has an absolute gem for the Cubs and looks to continue his success. Kyle Hendricks has also turned into quite a surprise for the Cubs as well, churning out more quality starts than expect for the Cubs. These two cases along with many other on the roster show that big money does not mean big talent.

Fact: The scoreboard in left field is an upgrade

People were against it at first, but in the end the scoreboard out in left field is a major upgrade for Wrigley. It upgrades the field while making it look modern for the fans. Although I do love those roof tops and the history of the field, Wrigley needed an upgrade to get new fans interested. So to speak, the Cubs hit a home run with the scoreboard

Get ready, Cubs fans. Chicago is going to start to take notice. Be prepared.