PCA’s breakout, Tucker’s impact have Cubs dreaming big |
With the second half of the season officially getting kicked off on Friday, let's take a look at the first half, which has your Chicago Cubs sitting in first place in the NL Central with a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. For much of the first half, the Cubs have been sitting in first place, and to keep that spot, they will need to play even better than in the first half. The Boston Red Sox come into Wrigley hot off a ten-game winning streak. Let's take a look at what went right for the Cubs during the first half.
Offensively, the Cubs have been raking and sit in 4th place in batting average, 2nd in runs scored, 3rd in home runs, 8th in on-base percentage, and 2nd in slugging percentage. The offense has been pretty consistent so far, and it's led by a surprise power threat in Pete Crow-Armstrong. Everyone knew of PCA’s speed on the basepaths, so leading the team in stolen bases is not a surprise; however, the fact that he leads the team in home runs with 25 certainly is. If PCA can continue this type of offensive production for the rest of the season, then the Cubs will know they have a certified all-around ballplayer that they can invest in with a big contract at the appropriate time. Kyle Tucker has been everything advertised and has been a steady presence in the lineup, sitting in the two-spot. Michael Busch, known for his power, has been hitting the ball over the field and leads the team in batting average, sitting at .290. Seiya Suzuki has been the man you want up at the plate with runners on base as he leads the team with 77 RBIs. The pitching side is what needs to improve for the rest of the season, so there will be baseball played at Wrigley this October. The Cubs sit at 14th in ERA, 21st in home runs allowed, 20th in opposing batting average, and 7th in walks and hits per inning pitched. Defensively, they have been stellar, boasting a fielding percentage of .989 and ranking second in defensive runs saved. Pitching is always going to be the key to a team's success, and if the Cubs can get improvement from the rotation, then the offense should keep pounding opponents with their relentless attack. I believe most thought the Cubs would be a better team than last year's, but I don't think many predicted a first-place finish and a hopeful championship team. This team can be a championship-caliber team, and all it needs to do is get into the playoffs, where anything can happen. The trade deadline will be interesting to see what the Cubs pull off, as they are undoubtedly buyers. Much of the talk around contracts has been about Kyle Tucker, and while that has not been settled, it’s a safe bet to assume that Jed Hoyer and company will be looking to add impact pieces that will help the team this year and worry about the future later. Ending the first half of your season in first place is always a goal a team wants to achieve. The fact is that the Cubs have not yet reached their full potential, and if they do, the rest of baseball will need to look out. It's great to see Wrigley rocking again, and it's been exciting to see a future superstar emerge in PCA. Sammy Sosa's return to Wrigley was a heartfelt moment sure to not be forgotten. It has been quite the season so far on the North Side. Let's see if the ride can get even more magical.
