CHICAGO — With about three weeks remaining in the season, the Cubs’ front office faces the task of evaluating the team’s offense. This season has seen significant fluctuations in performance, leaving Chicago’s analysts and decision-makers with much to consider during the offseason.
The Cubs’ recent 2-0 loss to the Yankees highlighted another low point after an impressive 12-0 win and no-hitter earlier in the week. The consecutive shutouts by New York have further diminished Chicago’s already slim playoff chances, now pegged at 0.6% according to FanGraphs.
“It’s been a complex season offensively,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on Friday. “We’ve experienced major highs and lows that have been challenging to understand.”
Hoyer also noted that the performance at Wrigley Field has not been as favorable this season. Statcast shows Wrigley had a ballpark factor of 93 before Saturday’s game, ranking 29th among MLB parks in offensive production, down from last year’s 101 park factor.
Strong winds during the last two games made hitting difficult, with potential home runs by Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge being thwarted. New York’s only runs came from a groundout and a throwing error.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell emphasized that weather conditions should not be used as an excuse. The Cubs have struggled offensively, with minimal success in their recent games. “Creating offense consistently is tough,” Counsell said. “When you don’t score, you have to pitch perfectly.”
Hoyer highlighted a shift in the Cubs’ offensive performance this season compared to last. The team’s OPS is lower at home (.677) than on the road (.738), contrasting with last year’s higher home OPS.
Despite some of the variation being attributed to randomness, it’s a key issue for the front office to address. Most of the Cubs’ position players are under contract or control for 2025, so the core offensive strategy is largely set.
The Cubs have experienced extreme offensive swings this season, from a strong August to a rough patch since then. Hoyer’s task is to decipher which version of the Cubs’ offense is indicative of their true performance.
“We have to account for both our successes and failures,” Hoyer said. “We need to analyze everything and make informed decisions in the offseason.”
