Levine: Cubs Could Set NL Record For Runs Scored
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Now 31 games into the season, the Cubs are on all kinds of record-setting paths. Their 25-6 marks the best start in baseball since 1984, and other projected record-setting numbers will be subplots to watch as this club hits on all cylinders.
Averaging an MLB-best 6.19 runs per game, the Cubs are on pace to score 1,003 runs. The modern National league record for runs is 1,004 by the 1930 St. Louis Cardinals. The 1931 Yankees hold the all-time runs scored record of 1,067 in the post-1900 era.
It's a month-and-a-half into the season, but projecting these crazy numbers may not be so far fetched. The Cubs have only scratched the surface of what could be a murderers' row of contact and power hitters. While some batters have been red hot (Ben Zobrist), others have produced little (Jorge Soler and Jason Heyward) but are expected to rebound.
On Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs offense led the way again in an 8-7 win against the Padres. Chicago left-hander Jon Lester won his fourth game of the season despite one of his least effective outings. Lester went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four. He struggled with his command, as his fastball was really his only functioning pitch.
Lester tipped his hat to his teammates for putting up the crooked numbers to support his victory.
"These guys have done a great job all year," Lester said. "They work pitchers with long at-bats. They foul off a lot of good pitches. It seems like there is somebody new every night. Somebody like Zo (Ben Zobrist) has been doing it for a while for us. His at-bats are just making our lineup longer. You get the luxury of (Javier Baez) and (Addison Russell) down at the end of the lineup. They are hitting the ball hard."
The Cubs have outscored the opposition by 3.3 runs per game for a plus-103 run differential.
"I looked up tonight after three innings, we had five runs," manager Joe Maddon said, expressing awe about the team's consistent production. "It is unusual. They hit a couple of home runs, but you saw us hit line drives and base hits all over the place. That is the difference between last year and this year. Regarding scoring runs, we are really good at moving the baseball right now. I have come to expect good at-bats. The result is runs."
Baez has been the most improved hitter on the club in using the entire field. That was something he hardly ever did in 2014, when he made his big league debut and struck out in 41 percent of his plate appearances.
"When you're doing well and making your adjustments, you see these good results," Baez said. "This new approach motivates me to keep working hard and to believe in everything we are doing."
Baez and the whole lineup are using the entire field and breaking down pitchers early with quality at-bats.
"The residual effect is cumulative," said Zobrist, who continued his hot streak with four hits and two RBIs on Tuesday. "We are getting hits everywhere. Heyward went down third base, (Anthony) Rizzo is going opposite way. I hit one just over a guy's head on the shift. Things are going our way. We are not taking this for granted. We are trying to make the most of it and get all the W's we can right now."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
