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2020

1

34

26

2023

2

83

79

Decade

2021

4

71

91

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2022

3

74

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Titles:

Top Cubs Players of the Twenty Twenties

2020 - Won Division, WC Lost to Miami

Pitchers:

Ballpark:

Kyle Hendricks (4.72) - 22

Wrigley Field

Justin Steele (6.33) - 15

Albert Alzolay (3.4) - 10

Team Name:

Drew Smyly (1.91) - 10

Cubs

Marcus Stroman (4.15) - 10

Yu Darvish (2.63) - 8

Owners:

Craig Kimbrel (0.27) - 7

Thomas S Ricketts

Keegan Thompson (2) - 6

Alec Mills (0.9) - 6

General Managers:

Rowan Wick (0.27) - 5

Jed Hoyer (2021-2021 kicked upstairs to President in '22)

David Robertson (1.94) - 5

Carter Hawkins (2022-2023)

Catchers:

Managers:

Wilson Contreras (9.06) - 24

David Ross (2020-2023)

Yan Gomes (2.47) - 7

Craig Counsell (2024)

First Basemen:

Hall of Famers:

Anthony Rizzo (2.36) - 11

None

Frank Schwindel (0.83) - 4

Rookie of the Year:

Second Basemen:

None

Nico Hoerner (11.21) - 23

Nick Madrigal (1.85) - 1

MVP

None

ShortStop:

Dansby Swanson (4.08) - 11

Cy Young:

Javier Baez (3.5) - 11

None

Third Base:

No Hitters:

Patrick Wisdom (3.36) - 12

2020 - Alec Mills (Milwaukee)

Kris Bryant (2.72) - 9

2021 - (Davies, Tapera, Chafin, Kimbrel) (LA)

Outfield:

Notable Events:

Ian Happ (10.34) - 27

Cody Bellinger (4.4) - 13

2020 - Chicago extended its above .500 streak to six in '20 with their third

Seiya Suzuki (4.66) - 13

Division title during that span. The Cubs lost the Wild Card to Miami.

Christopher Morel (2.44) - 12

Unfortunately, as the decade opens, the Bruins appear to be getting

Rafael Ortega (2.3) - 10

farther and farther away from being the elite team that they were in the

Jason Heyward (1.32) - 6

first four years of the run ('15 thru '18). The pitching is still elite, but the

hitters, who are still in their prime in '20, have mysteriously gone from elite

Notable Events:

to below average. What started out looking like a potential dynasty led by

a bunch of young talented hitters is slowly fizzling out.

2024 - The Cubs sign manager Craig Counsell away from the Brewers.

Definitely a coup.

□ Thomas S Ricketts has owned the club since 2009 and, after a rocky start,

has presided over a successful organization. He showed great management

2024 - Chicago underachieved big time in '23 based on their runs totals

savvy in hiring away superb GM Theo Epstein from the Red Sox organization.

and based on the fact that they collapsed down at the end.

Epstein, who rose to President of the club, was reluctantly let go because

The team definitely is in the hunt for the Division title. The rest of the

Theo wanted an ownership stake in the club which Ricketts wasn't interested

Division is competitive, but no standout teams. It should be a close race.

in providing. Coincidentally or not, the club's good fortunes on the field have

left right along with Epstein.

Offense:

The Cubs were above average offensively in '23 and should be again in '24

□ Jed Hoyer was Cubs GM from 2011 thru 2020. He was kicked upstairs

Plus there are several intriguing youngsters who could be difference makers

to team President when Epstein resigned. Hoyer had previously worked with

if they break out this season. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong is the best of them

Epstein in Boston, briefly moved to San Diego and then reunited with Epstein

Also 3B Matt Shea and OF Owen Caissie.

in Chicago. Now that Epstein is about to depart, we'll get a chance to see how

The team has good power with five guys topping 20 homers and

good Hoyer is, flying solo. Carter Hawkins took over as GM a year later in '22.

2B Nico Hoerner is a force on the basepaths.

.

Ironically, the two weak offensive positions are DH and 1B with the loss

□ David Ross took over for legendary Joe Maddon in '20 and the club

of FA Jeimer Candelario.

improved. An infusion of young blood. That being said, the hitters continued

□ C Yan Gomes, 36, '23 journeyman FA from A's, 10 63 .267

to decline which is a problem for Ross moving forward.

□ 2B Nico Hoerner, 27, '18 1st round pick, 9 68 .283

□ SS Dansby Swanson, 30, '23 star FA from Braves, 22 80 .244

2021 - The mini-run is over. The Cubs crash and burn to a 71-91 mark.

□ 3B Christopher Morel, 25, '15 IFA, 26 70 .247

The offense, which had been declining from the halcyon days, stayed pretty

□ OF Ian Happ, 29, '15 9th overall pick, 21 84 .248

much the same in '21 as it was in '20. However, the pitching went from giving up

□ OF Seiya Suzuki 29, '22 FA from Japan, 20 74 .285

four runs a game to over five. No bueno.

□ OF Cody Bellinger, 28, '23 star FA from Dodgers, 26 97 .307

The big loss was the Cubs jettisoning ace Yu Darvish's contract, which had

two years remaining, in a trade with San Diego for righty Zach Davies

What will potentially hold the Cubs back is their pitching. Lefty Justin

plus others. Starters Adbert Alzolay, Davies and Jake Arietta went a

Steele came out of nowhere last year to be an ace. Can he repeat?

combined 16-36 with an ERA approaching six.

They may need righty Cade Horton, 22, the seventh overall pick in the

22 draft to step up this season. Lefty Drew Smyly, 34, Righty Jameson

2023 - The Cubs improve nine games in the standings to move to 83-79

Taillon, 31, and Righty Kyle Hendricks, 34, are not an awe inspiring

and above .500. Chicago underachieved in '23 as their runs totals

rest of the rotation. Losing Marcus Stroman to the Yankees hurts.

indicated a 90-72 mark and a nineteen game improvement runs-wise.

The bullpen was decent last year but not deep.

Generally, when that occurs, it's the bullpen that's blowing the close ones and

that was the case in '23. The team also faltered, big time, down the stretch.

If they fix the bullpen, they are not far from being a legitimate contender

The biggest contributors to the improvement were free agents star shortstop

Danby Swanson from the Braves and outfielder Cody Bellinger from

the Dodgers and the emergence of Lefty Justin Steele as an ace.