636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
In a special, Thanksgiving edition of his Stat of the Week, John Dewan chronicles the Cubs' aversion to taking walks from 2003 through '07.
Here is how the Cubs hitters ranked among NL clubs in BB:
2003 14th of 16 teams
2004 14th of 16 teams
2005 16th of 16 teams
2006 16th of 16 teams
2007 15th of 16 teams
Last year was a different story.
The Cubs led the NL with 636 walks--the league average was 551--and, as Dewan points out, "the Cubs increased their run production by over 100 runs...leading the 2008 NL in runs scored with 855."
Based on the individual player stats at FanGraphs, here is how the key figures in the Cub lineup aided the cause and how their willingness to walk in 2008 compared to 2007 and the rest of their careers:
| Player | '08 BB% |
'07 BB % |
Career BB % |
| Jim Edmonds | 13.9% | 10.1% | 12.8% |
| Mark DeRosa | 12.0% | 10.4% | 8.7% |
| Aramis Ramirez | 11.8% | 7.8% | 7.4% |
| Ryan Theriot | 11.2% | 8.4% | 10.0% |
| Derrek Lee | 10.2% | 11.1% | 11.3% |
| Alfonso Soriano | 8.7% | 5.1% | 5.7% |
| Reed Johnson | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
Geovany Soto (just 79 career AB's before last year) and Kosuke Fukudome aren't listed because they had no MLB track record to compare to, but both wore their walking shoes last season: Soto walked 11.2% of the time (2nd among NL catchers) and Fukudome finished at 13.9%, a higher BB rate than all but three other regular NL outfielders, Adam Dunn (19.1%), Pat Burrell (16.0%), and Atlanta's Gregor Blanco (14.7%). As much as Fukudome appeared to be overmatched for much of the season, his patience at the plate, at least early in the year, seemed to set the stage for the Cubs' overall offensive approach in 2008.
- Log in to post comments
Comments
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 12:22am Permalink
some may not miss jim edmonds at all, but the guy's partial production would be a MVP-calibre season over a full year.
hope someone picks up the slack there...at least DLee has room for improvement in that area.
Towers finds a third team for the Peavy deal
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 1:21am Permalink
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-peavycubs...
My guess is the A's, as they are trying to win the division next year, Peavy on the Angels doesnt help that. Also what SD needs OAK has a surplus of (pitching and outfielders).
Re: Towers finds a third team for the Peavy deal
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 3:40am Permalink
It could be our AAAA affiliate in Pittsburgh. I hear that Jack Wilson has been seen on the mound shagging flyballs.
Re: Towers finds a third team for the Peavy deal
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 4:10am Permalink
I have to think that whatever the deal, it wouldn't be a great one for the Cubs. Vitters is a lock to be in it and probably Pie, Marshall, or Castillo as well.
I'd love to have Jake Peavy, but I hope that after signing Dempster, acquiring him doesn't preclude us from getting a solid RFer. Adding Peavy and, say, Dunn or Ibanez to this team make it pretty stout, but are Jim and Lou on the same page?
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 3:38am Permalink
I just can't accept all those numbers, Rob. Do you mean to say that THE MORE BASE RUNNERS WE HAVE, THE MORE RUNS WE SCORE?
Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. That can't be right. Ok I'm gonna go look for witches to burn at the stake now.
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 7:07am Permalink
10man,
The heresy was mine, not Rob's. But enjoy your witch-burning. : )
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 8:06am Permalink
My apologies to you, Cubnut. We all know that Rob is the witch here. hehe
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 10:42am Permalink
Don't forget Chad's foray into Gay Witchcraft!!
Video of Lou Pinella Wind Surfing this past week
on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 1:40pm Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWw46X-83xs
Happy Thanksgiving.
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 8:55am Permalink
Apparently there have been some talks about the Cubs acquiring Peavy from San Diego.
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/padres-work...
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 11:33am Permalink
I am thankful and give credit to Fukudome for showing the way in terms of patience at the plate. I honestly believe he influenced the team in that reguard. I hope the '09 Cubs follow that approach.
Please do not get Adam Dunn, I cannot bare to hear the laughter coming from Cincinnati. Let him go play football in Europe.
Is Ichiro available?
Re: 636 Reasons for Cub Fans to be Thankful in 2008
on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 4:19pm Permalink
Oops I mean, "bear." Go bears.