April 2014 Report Card

After a tough 2013 season for Cubs fans, April 2014 looked much the same early on with many of the same struggles the Cubs had throughout 2013, including struggles with runners-in-scoring-position and blown saves by closer Jose Veras. With some fresh young faces joining veterans Jeff Samardzija, Nate Schierholtz, Emilio Bonifacio, and Jose Veras on the team, the early projections for the season ranged from closing in on a 0.500 record to being lucky to lose less than 100. While April finished with a 9-17 record, the Cubs showed a lot of positive steps towards the future and April was a lot better month than the record suggests.

Reds at Cubs (April 18-20, 2014)

I’ve been travelling and on vacation for the past few weeks, so I’m just now catching up on games that I missed. As I watch the games, hopefully all by the end of the week, I’ll post my series recaps on here.

Cincinnati came into Wrigley Field last week having won 12-of-15 in the Friendly Confines. That dominance continued over the weekend with the Reds taking two of three from the Cubs and the offensive struggles for the team continues. When the Cubs lost in Jeff Samardzija’s start on Friday, it looked like the Cubs were asking to be swept, but Edwin Jackson gave one of his better performances in game two and the offense exploded on Tony Cingrani to give the Cubs a win in the series. Then, Carlos Villanueva imploded in the fourth and fifth innings of game three to give the Reds the series.

Cubs at Cardinals (April 11-13, 2014)

Every season for the Cubs is measured against their perennial rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the successes that the opposing team has. Last year, the Cubs went 7-12 against the Cardinals with a -26 run differential. The Cardinals went on to a World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox, while the Cubs finished in the cellar of the NL Central for another frustrating season. The progress of the Chicago Front Office will be measured up against the minor league monster that is the St. Louis Cardinals. If the Cubs farm system can finally start showing some progress with their young prospects on the major league level, then maybe the rivalry will regain some of the fire that Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire brought to the field in the late-1990’s and early 2000’s.