What’s new with the Chicago Cubs? That’s what this page is all about.
The Team Spirit Extra Innings website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
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Updates
2023 Season
Season Recap:The Cubs were in the hunt for a playoff spot until the final weekend, when the Marlins edged them out by a single game. Chicago started the season slowly but then got white-hot in June and July. Unfortunately, they could not keep up this pace and lost 15 of their final 22 games. It was a disappointing end to a season that saw great performances from newcomer Cody Bellinger, 24-year-old utilityman Christopher Morel, and shortstop Nico Hoerner, who stole a team-high 49 bases. The pitching staff was headed by Justin Steele and Marcus Stroman, who had an All-Star season.
May 23, 2023: Christopher Morel, a minor-leaguer when the season started, hit a home run for the fifth game in a row to tie a team record. It was his 9th home run in only his 12th game of the year.
Season Preview: The Cubs take the field in 2023 with one of the most interesting lineups in baseball. They have bet on several players to bounce back from poor seasons, including Cody Bellinger, Eric Hosmer, Drew Smyly, Tucker Barnhart, and Trey Mancini. Their big move over the winter was the signing of shortstop Dansby Swanson, who brings championship experience to Chicago. He joins Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ at the top of a solid batting order. Newcomers Jameson Taillon and Michael Fulmer improve the Cubs’ pitching staff, but will that be enough to push them into winning territory? The answer could have a major impact on the NL Central this year.
2022 Season
Season Recap: The Cubs started 2022 poorly but finished strong, giving fans hope for a playoff run in 2023. Chicago’s pitchers were among the best in baseball in the second half, with an ERA under 3.00. Patrick Wisdom led the team with 25 homers, Nico Hoerner was tops on the club in batting average and stolen bases, and Ian Happ led Chicago in RBIs and played in his first All-Star Game. The Cubs’ best player, Willson Contreras, is headed for free agency, so the team will have to find a new catcher.
Season Preview: The Cubs cleaned house in 2021 but quickly reloaded their lineup for the future. Newcomer Marcus Stroman joins Kyle Hendricks atop the starting staff, while infielders Frank Schwindel, Nico Hoerner, and Patrick Wisdom will get a chance to show what they’re made of in 2022. The big bat in the lineup may be Seiya Suzuki, a star in Japan who Chicago won in an expensive bidding war. Nick Madrigal, Ian Happ, and Willson Contreras fill out a lineup with lots of potential but many question marks.
2021 Season
Season Recap: The Cubs needed strong pitching to compete in 2021 and just never got it. The team traded many of its high-priced stars in July, including Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Craig Kimbrel. Chicago fans were thrilled in the season’s final months when prospects Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel were given a chance to play and performed brilliantly.
June 24, 2021: Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel teamed up to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the first combined no-hitter since the club began play in 1876.
April 8, 2021: Craig Kimbrel became the 12th player in history to save 350 games when he finished a 4–2 win over the Pirates.
Season Preview: Chicago’s pitching has fans asking a lot of questions, but there is little doubt that Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Anthony Rizzo will lead an offense built to push runs across home plate. Ian Happ and newcomer Joc Pederson add punch to a lineup that should score often enough to give the Cubs a shot at a 90-win season.
2020 Season
Season Recap: The Cubs won the super-competitive NL Central but lost to the Marlins in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks led the pitching staff and Ian Happ led the team in homers. Fans at Wrigley Field were hoping to see the Cubs win the pennant, but several players—including Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber—never got untracked during the short 60-game season.
September 13, 2020: Alec Mills pitched a no-hitter against the Brewers in Milwaukee. It was the 16th no-hitter in team history.
August 30, 2020: Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and Jason Heyward each hit two homers against the Phillies. It was the first time in history that all three outfielders on the same team hit two home runs apiece.
Season Preview: The Cubs look like the team to beat in 2020. Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant rank among the top players in baseball. The pitching staff includes experienced stars Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, and Jon Lester. If new manager David Ross can keep the bullpen in order, the Cubs will be a lock to make the playoffs.
2019 Season
Season Recap: A late-season sweep in Chicago by the Cardinals ruined the Cubs’ chances to return to the playoffs and it cost manager Joe Madden his job. Relief pitching was a huge problem all year long; the team could have finished with 90-plus wins if they had done just an average job closing out games. Great seasons by Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Hendricks, Cole Hamels, and Yu Darvish went to waste because of a poor bullpen. One of the only things that went right in September was the call-up of shortstop Nico Hoerner, who was sensational in 20 games.
Season Preview: Chicago will rely on the “big three” of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez to put runs on the scoreboard—and Jon Lester, Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish to keep runs off. Bryant struggled with a sore shoulder in 2018. If he’s healthy all year in 2019 it will be a game-changer. So will solid years from Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, and Albert Almora.
2018 Season
Season Recap: Fans at Wrigley Field were hoping to watch their team win another pennant. But the pesky Brewers tied them for first place in the NL Central and beat them in a playoff game. The Cubs then lost the Wild Card Game to the Rockies, ending their season with a pair of heartbreaking losses. On the bright side, Javier Baez enjoyed an MVP-quality season with 83 extra-base hits, 101 runs, 21 stolen bases and 101 RBIs. John Lester and midseason pick-up Cole Hamels pitched well for Chicago, but injuries to closer Brandon Morrow and third baseman Kris Bryant prevented the team from finishing strong.
Season Preview: Chicago fans are still wondering how the pennant slipped away in 2017. The players vow they won’t let that happen again. Chicago has the most talented roster in the NL, with Kris Bryant leading the offense and newcomer Yu Darvish leading the pitching. The team’s projected eighth-place hitter, Javier Baez, could probably bat cleanup for many teams. Despite playing in the competitive NL Central, the Cubs could easily win 100-plus games.
2017 Season
Season Recap: Chicago went through plenty of ups and downs after winning the 2016 World Series, but pulled it together in August and September to win the NL Central. Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez had great years, supported by solid seasons from Kris Bryant Kyle Schwarber, and rookie Ian Happ. The team’s pitching began showing its age at the wrong time, as the Cubs fell to the Dodgers in the NLCS, 4 games to 1.
June 13, 2017: Jon Lester collected his 150th career victory in a game against the Mets.
2016 Season
November 1, 2016: The Cubs were big favorites to win it all in 2016 and they did not disappoint their fans. They led the majors with 103 victories, and Kris Bryant was named NL MVP. Chicago’s offense was hard to stop thanks to Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and Addison Russell. The pitching staff was solid all year and every player on the roster contributed in the regular season and postseason. In the playoffs, Chicago defeated the Giants and Dodgers to win the pennant. The young Cubs were over-anxious in the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, but came back from a 3–1 deficit to win the championship in seven games. It was the team’s first championship since 1908!
June 27, 2016: Kris Bryant became the first player to hit three homers and two doubles in the same game.
April 21, 2016: Jake Arrieta no-hit the Reds 16–0. The Cubs’ 16 runs was the most for a team in a no-hitter since 1884.
2015 Season
Season Roundup: The Cubs celebrated their 100th season at Wrigley Field by winning 97 games and defeating the Pirates in the Wild Card game and the Cardinals in the NL Division Series. The team’s young hitters came through with big years and Jake Arrieta won 22 games and led the league with a 1.77 ERA. The Cubs hoped to reach their first World Series since 1945, but they could not solve the pitching of the Mets, who took the pennant in the NL Championship Series, 4 games to 0.
October 12, 2015: The Cubs slammed six homers in their playoff victory against the Cardinals. It was the most ever by a team in a postseason game. Kris Bryant, Starlin Castro, Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Jose Soler all cleared the fence.
April 5, 2015: Chicago fans have been waiting a long time for the team’s young hitting prospects to come to Wrigley Field. This year, the wait should pay off. Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, and Arismendy Alcantara will play their first full seasons in the majors, while Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Albert Almora aren’t far behind.
2014 Season
November 1, 2014: The Cubs’ plan in 2014 was to see which of their young players were ready to take the next step toward stardom. That plan produced four top young players—Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara, Jorge Soler, Kyle Hendricks—and gave the team the confidence to trade away pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija. Jake Arrieta was the Cubs’ most dependable pitcher, while young stars Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro led the offense.
September 1, 2014: Jorge Soler doubled against the Brewers to become the third player since 1938 to get extra-base hits in each of his first five games.
March 31, 2014: The Cubs may have the best young talent in the NL, but most of their future stars won’t be ready to contribute in 2014. While the fans at Wrigley Field wait for that day, they can enjoy watching Starlin Castro, Mike Rizzo, Junior Lake and Jeff Samardjiza play.
2013 Season
October 1, 2013: Chicago fans suffered through a summer of frustration, as the Cubs’ bats never woke up. Not that the team’s pitching was much better. The lone standouts in 2013 were strikeout artist Jeff Samardzija, 35-year-old reliever Kevin Gregg and late-season call-up Junior Lake. The team’s 96 losses sent them to the NL Central cellar.
May 30, 2013: Cubs pitchers drove in 19 runs during the month. No NL team’s pitching staff had ever had that many RBIs in a month.
March 30, 2013: The Cubs are getting better, but they still have a long way to go. In 2013, the fans at Wrigley Field will be cheering for young stars Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Jeff Samardzija, and Travis Wood—while waiting for more help to arrive from the minors.
2012 Season
October 3, 2012: Chicago fans did not see the team win many games in 2012, but they got a look at things to come. Young stars Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro had great seasons, while top prospects Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters got a taste of the big leagues for the first time.
April, 2012: It looks like the Cubs will be relying on several young hitters to help them before the summer is over, including Brian LaHair, Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, and Anthony Rizzo. In the meantime, they added veterans David DeJesus and Ian Stewart to their everyday lineup.
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League Leaders
Playing for the Championship
YEAR | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1906 | Chicago White Sox | Lost 4–2 |
1907 | Detroit Tigers | Won 4–0 |
1908 | Detroit Tigers | Won 4–1 |
1910 | Philadelphia A’s | Lost 4–1 |
1918 | Boston Red Sox | Lost 4–2 |
1929 | Philadelphia A’s | Lost 4–2 |
1932 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–0 |
1935 | Detroit Tigers | Lost 4–2 |
1938 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–0 |
1945 | Detroit Tigers | Lost 4–3 |