Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season. |
CHICAGO – As the Cubs head back to Chicago for the first homestand of this season, there is a reality awaiting the team at Wrigley Field. There is just no way to know which version of the Friendly Confines will show up for the North Siders this season. The Cubs’ famous ballpark at the intersection of Clark and Addison can be a horror or haven, depending on which way the flags atop the old scoreboard are rippling. The offense will come and go, but there is one aspect of this season’s group that should remain a constant: aggressiveness on the basepaths. “Most days it goes unnoticed,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But we’re trying to, as a group, make it important.” During Spring Training, the Cubs placed an emphasis behind the scenes on improving their baserunning beyond stolen bases. This iteration of Chicago’s roster is an overall athletic group, from veterans like Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson to youngsters like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw. |
Wrigley Field was great for pitchers in 2024 (91 ballpark factor, per Statcast), but it was more hitter-friendly in ‘23 (101). There will be days when homers or extra-base hits will be harder to come by, making decisions on the bases potentially critical for raising the “W” flag. Under the guidance of new third-base coach Quintin Berry, the team paid extra attention in Spring Training to details to enhance the baserunning results in a variety of ways. Stealing a base is the easiest one for fans to notice, but finding ways to snag an extra 90 feet on a play – whether to score or extend a rally – is the goal. “It’s, ‘Fight for every inch,’” Berry said. “It’s doing things that are selfless and being able to be there for your teammate. Get to that next base. Score from first. Score from second with two outs. Win those moments. Our guys are really trying to take that all in and make that our identity.” The Cubs put this on full display in their 10-6 win over the D-backs in their domestic opener on March 27. Specifically, Crow-Armstrong reached second base safely on a grounder by Shaw. Instead of an inning-ending fielder’s choice, Crow-Armstrong beat the throw, extending the inning and setting up a three-run double for Miguel Amaya. |
“That’s been a big talk during Spring Training – making baserunning a part of this team’s identity,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s just important to be able to take advantage of outs that may not be outs.” Through the Cubs’ first eight games, the ballclub had six players with at least one stolen base. Shaw had scored from first on a double three times (all within the first three games). Crow-Armstrong had another speedy result on Monday, when a replay challenge showed he reached second safely on another would-be fielder’s choice groundout. It set up another run in the Cubs’ 18-3 win over the A’s. |
The Cubs were a good baserunning team a year ago, ranking fourth in the Majors in baserunning runs (10.7) and fifth in steals (143), but the team also was second in baseball in outs on the bases (58). “I think it’s a place where this group can be better than the team we’re playing,” Counsell said. “And we’re going to make outs on the bases, too. There will be a day where we’re upset about that. But I think this group really has the ability. It’s one thing that we can be really good at.” |
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The baseball gods hear and see all. The latest example arrived Monday, when Cubs catcher Carson Kelly hit for the cycle. Now, you may not believe that I played any kind of role in this achievement – I wasn’t even in West Sacramento for the last series – but the baseball gods did their thing again, I swear. Flashback to Saturday in Phoenix. Kyle Tucker finished a triple shy of a cycle against the D-backs, prompting me to do the usual near-cycle research I piece together every season. Since the Cubs had the longest cycle drought in the National League, I’ve kept a log of factoids about close calls since Mark Grace’s cycle on May 9, 1993. I rebuilt a Google doc to once again track this in 2025. |
Now, flash back to Sunday. During Chicago’s game against the D-backs, I wandered into the media dining room to grab a coffee. Who was also in there? None other than the owner of the Cubs’ last cycle. We had a very quick conversation in passing. Me: “Tucker finishing a triple shy yesterday reminded me, did you know you still have the last Cubs cycle?” Grace: “Yep! 1993.” That was that. It was just a very brief exchange as we both headed our separate ways. But that was enough for the baseball gods. One day later, Kelly legged out a triple in the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 18-3 romp over the A’s, completing a cycle to close the book on Chicago’s 32-year drought. The baseball gods heard me. |
There were 342 near-cycles (one required hit short) between Grace’s feat in ‘93 and Kelly’s historic night. Ian Happ leads the current Cubs with 10 near-cycles. Sammy Sosa had 25 near-cycles in his Cubs career, following Grace’s cycle. |
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Thanks to MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa for great coverage of the Cubs during their series against the A’s. Here are some stories from the trip to West Sacramento: • The first cycle of ‘25 belongs to … a catcher! Read more >> • Tucker homers in 4th straight, wowing teammates. Read more >> • Suzuki more aggressive at plate, powers Cubs to sweep of A's. Read more >> |
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“It’s a part of the game that shouldn’t waver too much. And I think when it becomes a part of the culture of the team, it’s not something that needs to be policed from [Counsell] or from up top. It’s something that’s just a part of what you do and part of what it means to be here and be a Cub and be on this team.” – Hoerner, on the Cubs' aggressive baserunning |
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