June Was Just a Fluke

Chicago, IL- This year, it's not the Cubs year. The Front Office has continued to build for the future, as shown in the deal that sent Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland.

Through seventeen starts each in their year with the Cubs, Jeff Samardija was 2-7 with a 2.83 ERA, and Jason Hammel was 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA. Now, the duo has embarked in Oakland, where they are attempting to bring the Athletics to the playoffs.

Since Samardzija and Hammel have left Chicago, the Cubs have gone 2-8. The team has experienced a complete team breakdown in that time-frame. In those ten games combined, the Cubs have been outscored 67-36. Looking at that mark, it looks like the team will remain in the cellar for the rest of the year.

Trying to explain why this problem has endured is simple: the pitching staff has been depleted. Jake Arrieta, who is currently 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 13 starts, is the only pitcher on the team who has remained consistent all year.

Following his breakout 2013 season, Travis Wood has not been the same in 2014. Finishing 9-12 with a 3.11 ERA in 2013, this season he has gone 7-8 with a 4.96 ERA. He is allowing more runners on base, as evident in his 1.491 WHIP. Allowing more runners on the base paths, grants the opposing team the chance to score more runs. If Wood was able to have good command and good control, then he would be able to limit the amount of runners on the base paths.

Looking more at the rotation, another player is limiting the Cubs chances of winning. His name is Edwin Jackson, and he has been a disaster since he put on a Cubs uniform. This season has been no different from last season, as Jackson once again has a high ERA (5.64) and high WHIP (1.576). His last outing proved he is just getting worse, as he went only 3.2 innings, and allowed nine earned runs. Debates have been sparked about Jackson moving to the bullpen, but it's highly unlikely that move will prevail because Jackson is the most expensive Cub on the team at the moment.

Now with the departures of two veteran pitchers, the Cubs have turned to rookies once again. Kyle Hendricks, who was acquired in the Ryan Dempster deal, has been called up along with Dallas Beeler. Kyle Hendricks was having a solid season at Iowa, as he went 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 17 starts. However, he struggled in his Cubs debut, as he gave up four earned runs in six innings pitched. Dallas Beeler has already started two games for the Cubs, and has been solid. Despite the 0-2 record, his ERA is at 3.27.

With Kris Bryant coming up possibly next year, and some solid arms also possibly being acquired before the 2015 season, the Cubs might actually be able to pull off that 2015 World Seires victory predicted in Back To The Future Part Two.

-Daniel (DanielDoreCTC)
-(All stats courtesy of baseball-reference.com)