One of my less endearing schticks this season is to look at the opposing pitcher’s splits and wonder aloud why the Cubs are fielding a lineup that doesn’t play into those on-paper advantages. I realize the lineup for a given game really shouldn’t make much of a difference, but there’s something to be said for maximizing the potential to win 162 times. There’s also something to be said for closing out, or failing to, series and weekends.
The most glaring example of this is the team’s 3-13 record on Sundays, a trend that has long since become too alarming to chalk up to mere coincidence.