Chicago Cubs - The Covid-19 Years (2020-2029)
 
   
 
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        Yr P W L   Yr P W L   Yr P W L               2020  
        2020 1 34 26   2023 2 83 79                         Decade  
        2021 4 71 91   2024 2 83 79                         Click  
        2022 3 74 88                                   on Logo  
                                                     
                                                       
                                                             
   
  Titles: Top Cubs Players of the Twenty Twenties  
  2020 - Won Division, WC Lost to Miami  
    Pitchers:  
  Ballpark: Kyle Hendricks (3.02) -   24  
  Wrigley Field Justin Steele (8.23) -  18  
    Shota Imanaga (3.1) -  12  
  Team Name: Jameson Taillon (2.1) -  12  
  Cubs    Drew Smyly (1.91) - 11  
    Adbert Alzolay (3.4) - 10  
  Owners:  Marcus Stroman (4.15) -  10  
  Thomas S Ricketts Yu Darvish (2.63) -   8  
    Craig Kimbrel (0.27) -   7  
  General Managers: Keegan Thompson (2) -  6  
  Jed Hoyer (2021-2021 kicked upstairs to President in '22) Alec Mills (0.9) -   6  
  Carter Hawkins (2022-2023) Rowan Wick (0.27) -   5  
    David Robertson (1.94) - 5  
  Managers: Javier Assad (4.83) -  5  
  David Ross  (2020-2023) Hector Neris (0.1) -  5  
  Craig Counsell (2024)    
    Catchers:  
  Hall of Famers: Willson Contreras (9.06) -   24  
  None Yan Gomes (2.47) - 7  
       
  Rookie of the Year:  First Basemen:  
  None Anthony Rizzo (2.36) -   11  
    Michael Busch (2.83) - 7  
  MVP    
  None Second Basemen:  
    Nico Hoerner (14.77) -   31  
  Cy Young:    
  None ShortStop:  
    Dansby Swanson (8.8) -   20  
  No Hitters: Javier Baez (3.5) -    11  
  2020 - Alec Mills (Milwaukee)    
  2021 - (Davies, Tapera, Chafin, Kimbrel)  (LA) Third Base:  
    Patrick Wisdom (3.36) -  12  
  Notable Events: Kris Bryant (2.72) -   9  
       
  2020 -  Chicago extended its above .500 streak to six in '20 with their third  Outfield:  
  Division title during that span. The Cubs lost the Wild Card to Miami. Ian Happ (13.98) -   37  
  Unfortunately, as the decade opens, the Bruins appear to be getting  Seiya Suzuki (8.16) -  23  
  farther and farther away from being the elite team that they  were in the Cody Bellinger (4.4) -  20  
   first four years of the run ('15 thru '18). The pitching is still elite, but the Christopher Morel (2.64) -  13  
   hitters, who are still in their prime in '20, have mysteriously gone from elite  Rafael Ortega (2.3) -  10  
  to below average. What started out looking like a potential dynasty led by Jason Heyward (1.32) -   6  
  a bunch of young talented hitters is slowly fizzling out.   Pete Crow-Armstrong (2.3) - 5  
       
  □  Thomas S Ricketts has owned the club since 2009 and, after a rocky start, Notable Events:  
   has presided over a successful organization. He showed great management    
  savvy in hiring away superb GM Theo Epstein from the Red Sox organization. 2024 - The Cubs sign manager Craig Counsell away from the Brewers.  
   Epstein, who rose to President of the club, was reluctantly let go because Definitely a coup.  
  Theo wanted an ownership stake in the club which Ricketts wasn't interested    
  in providing. Coincidentally or not, the club's good fortunes on the field have 2024 - Chicago underachieved big time in '23 based on their runs totals   
  left right along with Epstein. and based on the fact that they collapsed down at the end.  
  The team definitely is in the hunt for the Division title. The rest of the   
  □  Jed Hoyer was Cubs GM from 2011 thru 2020. He was kicked upstairs Division is competitive, but no standout teams. It should be a close race.  
  to team President when Epstein resigned. Hoyer had previously worked with    
  Epstein in Boston, briefly moved to San Diego and then reunited with Epstein Offense:   
  in Chicago. Now that Epstein is about to depart, we'll get a chance to see how The Cubs were above average offensively in '23 and should be again in '24  
  good Hoyer is, flying solo.  Carter Hawkins took over as GM a year later in '22. Plus there are several intriguing youngsters who could be difference makers  
  . if they break out this season. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong is the best of them  
  □  David Ross took over for legendary Joe Maddon in '20 and the club Also 3B Matt Shea and OF Owen Caissie.  
  improved. An infusion of young blood. That being said, the hitters continued The team has good power with five guys topping 20 homers and     
  to decline which is a problem for Ross moving forward.   2B Nico Hoerner is a force on the basepaths.  
    Ironically, the two weak offensive positions are DH and 1B with the loss  
  2021 - The mini-run is over. The Cubs crash and burn to a 71-91 mark. of FA Jeimer Candelario.  
  The offense, which had been declining from the halcyon days, stayed pretty □ C Yan Gomes, 36,  '23 journeyman FA from A's, 10 63 .267  
  much the same in '21 as it was in '20. However, the pitching went from giving up □ 2B Nico Hoerner, 27, '18 1st round pick, 9 68 .283  
  four runs a game to over five. No bueno.  □ SS Dansby Swanson, 30, '23 star FA from Braves, 22 80 .244  
  The big loss was the Cubs jettisoning ace Yu Darvish's contract, which had □ 3B Christopher Morel, 25, '15 IFA, 26 70 .247   
  two years remaining, in a trade with San Diego for righty Zach Davies □ OF Ian Happ, 29, '15 9th overall pick, 21 84 .248  
  plus others. Starters Adbert Alzolay, Davies and Jake Arietta went a   □ OF Seiya Suzuki 29, '22 FA from Japan, 20 74 .285  
  combined 16-36 with an ERA approaching six.  □ OF Cody Bellinger, 28, '23 star FA from Dodgers, 26 97 .307   
     
  2023 - The Cubs improve nine games in the standings to move to 83-79 What will potentially hold the Cubs back is their pitching. Lefty Justin  
  and above .500. Chicago underachieved in '23 as their runs totals  Steele came out of nowhere last year to be an ace. Can he repeat?  
  indicated a 90-72 mark and a nineteen game improvement runs-wise. They may need righty Cade Horton, 22, the seventh overall pick in the  
  Generally, when that occurs, it's the bullpen that's blowing the close ones and 22 draft to step up this season. Lefty Drew Smyly, 34, Righty Jameson  
   that was the case in '23. The team also faltered, big time, down the stretch. Taillon, 31, and Righty Kyle Hendricks, 34, are not an awe inspiring  
   If they fix the bullpen, they are not far from being a legitimate contender  rest of the rotation. Losing Marcus Stroman to the Yankees hurts.  
  The biggest contributors to the improvement were free agents star shortstop The bullpen was decent last year but not deep.  
  Danby Swanson from the Braves and outfielder Cody Bellinger from    
  the Dodgers and the emergence of Lefty Justin Steele as an ace.