Introduction to Coors Field
DENVER — The Cubs-Rockies game Saturday got off to an uncharacteristically low-scoring start at Coors Field. But the baseballs started soaring, at least to the fence, in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 4-3 victory.
The Impact of Coors Field on the Cubs’ Offense
“There’s a lot of grass out there,” Cubs switch hitter Ian Happ said Friday. “I think that’s the biggest thing. People talk about how well it flies — and it does, like there’s some balls that get to the wall that wouldn’t — but there’s just a lot of places to get hits, so mentally, it’s a little bit freeing.” As the Cubs look to finish the season strong, a weekend in mentally freeing conditions for the offense couldn’t hurt.
Anecdotal Evidence of the Cubs’ Slump
Anecdotally, during the Cubs’ recent slump, they weren’t getting the “big hit.” That was reflected in their home runs with runners on base. Through June, the Cubs had the second-most home runs with runners on in the majors (55), trailing only the Dodgers (56). Since the beginning of July, however, the Cubs entered Saturday with the second-fewest multirun home runs (18), tied with the Padres and only better than the Nationals (14).
Analysis of the Dramatic Difference
The dramatic difference is a little misleading. A lack of large leads exacerbated the swing. Early in the season, when the Cubs’ offense established itself as one of the best across the board, it was piling on against mop-up relievers. In close games recently, they’ve had to face some of opposing teams’ best bullpen arms. “Earlier in the year, we did such a good job of scoring in so many different ways,” Happ said Friday. “We were great with two outs, runners in scoring position. We were great with runners in scoring position in general. Great at just having so many guys on the bases and creating that.”
Recent Performance of the Cubs
Overall during the Cubs’ rut, they were underperforming with runners in scoring position, sinking to a .189 batting average in those situations during the first two weeks of August. Only the White Sox (.168) had a worse mark in that span. The Cubs have rebounded in that area lately. So, on Friday as the offense surged to an 11-7 victory to open a three-game series against the Rockies, Happ highlighted the quality of contact. The Cubs’ 15 hits were the most they’d had in a game in two months. They also launched four home runs Friday.
The Role of Coors Field in the Cubs’ Victory
“Everyone knows that with the altitude the way the ballpark plays, that you need to be ready to hit,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said Friday. “Just because it’s hard on pitchers, and it’s easier on hitters. That’s just the way it is; it’s historically proven that. But I just thought guys were really locked in for their at-bats all night just because when you get leads here, they can evaporate quick.” The Cubs took longer to get going Saturday without any home runs. Nico Hoerner’s sacrifice fly in the first inning stood as the team’s only RBI until the fifth.
The Cubs’ Strategy
Kyle Tucker led off the inning with a double off the right-field wall. Seiya Suzuki then drew a walk. And Happ drove a run-scoring double to the warning track in center field, hitting the fence on a bounce. The Rockies then pulled starting pitcher McCade Brown and replaced him with reliever Jimmy Herget, who got Hoerner to pop out and intentionally walked Pete Crow-Armstrong to load the bases. Then Carson Kelly hit a deep sacrifice fly for the last run of the inning. The Cubs, however, kept chipping away with the help of more deep extra-base hits. Michael Busch led off the sixth inning with a triple off the center-field wall. And Tucker drove him in with a low line drive into right field.
The Importance of Consistency
“It’s just the consistency of at-bats,” Busch said after the game. “I felt like today we were just a swing or two away from hanging on to a four- or five-run lead. But it’s part of the game. The more pressure you can put on them, the better shot you have.”
Conclusion
The Cubs’ offense has been struggling lately, but a weekend at Coors Field may be just what they need to get back on track. The ballpark’s unique conditions, including its high altitude and expansive outfield, can be mentally freeing for hitters and allow them to get back to their usual form. With a strong performance on Friday and a close win on Saturday, the Cubs are looking to finish the season strong and make a push for the playoffs.
FAQs
Q: How has Coors Field affected the Cubs’ offense?
A: Coors Field’s unique conditions, including its high altitude and expansive outfield, can be mentally freeing for hitters and allow them to get back to their usual form.
Q: What has been the Cubs’ biggest struggle lately?
A: The Cubs have been struggling to get the "big hit" and have been underperforming with runners in scoring position.
Q: How did the Cubs perform on Friday?
A: The Cubs had 15 hits and launched four home runs on Friday, surging to an 11-7 victory over the Rockies.
Q: What is the key to the Cubs’ success?
A: Consistency of at-bats is crucial for the Cubs, as it allows them to put pressure on their opponents and increase their chances of winning.
