Chicago Cubs: 2019 letter grades for each player
By Bill Felber
Chicago Cubs: So-So Pitchers
Jon Lester, Grade: C. The Chicago Cubs got what they wanted from Lester’s multi-year deal: a lead role on the 2016 World Series champions. Now, as generally happens with pitchers signed to multi-year deals, they’re paying the price. Lester was only average in 2019, producing a 4.46 ERA in 31 starts. He did deliver a 13-10 record, but as usual, the ERA+ number tells a more objective story. In Lester’s case, that number was 100, identifying him as a consummately average hurler. At age 36, that isn’t likely to improve.
Cole Hamels, Grade: C. This is a composite grade. Hamels was almost never a C pitcher in 2019. During the first half, he held opponents to a .234 batting average, and his OPS+ against was in the 70s, all superb numbers. In the second half, the opponents batting average soared to .315 and the OPS+_ against to around 140. Hamels will be a free agent this winter.
Tyler Chatwood, Grade: C. On the Cubs’ staff, Chatwood was the most improved pitcher, although that’s not saying much. Working mostly out of the bullpen and in non-critical situations, he did enough – a 3.76 ERA and only about a walk every other inning – to raise hope for a higher-profile role in 2020. It was only good compared to his ignominious 2018, but it was more than the Cubs had reason to expect.
Kyle Ryan, Grade: C. Ryan was an unpublicized free-agent pickup who got his chance when the bullpen exploded and made something of it. His 3.54 ERA in 61 relief innings translated to a 126 ERA+, far better than the Cubs had a right to expect. The only downside: Ryan rarely got a chance to do much when a game was on the line.
Jose Quintana, Grade: C-. Like Hamels, Quintana’s grade is a composite. Prior to the All-Star break, he held foes to a .269 batting average, but after the break that rose to .299. His 3.78 ERA on June 1 rose a full point by season’s end. Down the September stretch run, Quintana made five starts, allowing 23 earned runs in just 18 innings, yet somehow managing to get pegged with just a single defeat.