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5 Reasons why you shouldn’t be surprised that the Colorado Rockies beat the Cubs

By Noah Yingling

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates defeating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in thirteen innings to win the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates defeating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in thirteen innings to win the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 02: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after striking out in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies during the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 02: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after striking out in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies during the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The Cubs offense was flat to end the regular season

The Cubs might be vaunted for their offense but the simple fact of the matter is they didn’t show up for August, September, or October.

From March through July 31st, they averaged exactly five runs per game. They allowed 4.1 runs per game.

In August, September, and October, they also averaged 4 runs per game. They allowed 3.9 runs per game

In September and October, the Cubs averaged exactly 4 runs per game. They allowed 3.7 runs per game.

Obviously, with the margins being closer, you can see why the team ended up losing more down the stretch.

They also saw most of their other offensive numbers drop drastically.

Months
Split AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS tOPS+ sOPS+
April/March 912 133 230 51 25 123 89 224 .252 .334 .412 .746 101 108
May 964 144 263 52 36 140 122 211 .273 .356 .457 .814 118 123
June 965 132 259 47 27 130 102 253 .268 .341 .405 .746 101 108
July 859 122 230 50 25 115 98 201 .268 .348 .418 .766 107 107
August 959 113 244 41 32 106 85 240 .254 .320 .408 .728 96 99
Sept/Oct 965 117 227 45 22 108 80 259 .235 .300 .363 .663 79 85

Sure, they did experience injuries to Kris Bryant and others but that isn’t any excuse. The Rockies had two of their best offensive players in Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story go down (and Nolan isn’t fully recovered yet, mind you) and they still prevailed in the game.

Arenado had a sac fly in the first to score the Rockies first run and Trevor Story was the guy who scored on Tony Wolters hit to get the Rockies second run in the 13th. Combined, they went 4-for-11 in the Wild Card game.

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