Cubs Hits Of The Week (4/28 Through 5/4)
The five hits that did the most to enhance the Cubs' chance of winning during the past. not terribly successful week against the teams we'll have to beat if we want to take the division, as measured by FanGraphs' Win Probability Added (WPA):
#5 Big Hit: Tuesday, v. the Brewers, 7th inning — The opener of the Cubs' three-game series with the Brewers is getting out of hand when Mike Fontenot hits a two-out, bases-clearing double that brings the home team to within two runs at 9-7. WPA .133
#4 Big Hit: Sunday, v. the Cardinals, 2nd inning — Reed Johnson gets the Cubs on the board against Todd Wellemeyer by doubling home Geovany Soto, moving Fontenot to third, and setting the Cubs up for a monster inning...that never materializes. WPA .134
#3 Big Hit: Thursday, v. the Brewers, 9th inning — Moments after seeing his team's closer (and I use the word loosely) cough up a 3-1 lead, Ronny Cedeno leads off the last of the ninth by working Eric Gagne for a walk, and with the power-hitting Soto due up, the stage is set for a dramatic resolution. Unfortunately, Soto, who strikes out, and Felix Pie, who raps into a game-ending DP, didn't read the script. WPA .135
#2 Big Hit: Saturday, v. the Cardinals, 4th inning — The Cubs are already leading 1-0 when Soto steps in against Kyle Lohse with the bases loaded, cracks a ground-rule double to extend the Chicago lead to 3-0, and reminds us once again how positively swell it is to have a catcher who can rake. WPA .145
#1 Big Hit: Friday, v. the Cardinals, 9th inning — With a certain segment of the Cub-loving population already planning their "We have to trade Alfonso Soriano!" phone calls to the local sportstalk radio stations, Fonzie does all he can do to make everyone forget what a truly horrific night he was having by sending a laser beam over the leftfield fence and bringing the Cubs even with the Cardinals at 3-3. (We should have just gone into a prevent defense after that and settled for a tie.) WPA .342
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