Chicago Cubs’ offense off to historically-bad start to the season

The Chicago Cubs’ offense has left plenty to be desired so far this season, tallying a grand total of three runs through its first three games. The beginning of the Joe Maddon era has been accompanied by dismal hitting with runners in scoring position – a troubling sign early on for a young team in a competitive division.

Through Friday’s loss to the Colorado Rockies, Chicago is batting .080 with runners in scoring position – thanks to a 2-for-25 mark to open the year. That mark ranks dead last in Major League Baseball, and has Cubs fans nervous.

The result of such dismal hitting with men on base? A grand total of three runs scored. That doesn’t seem too terrible, given the purported ‘lack of offense’ in the game today, but after some digging, I found out it’s been awhile – a long while – since the team’s offensive production has been this poor.

Here’s a look at the past ten seasons – in terms of runs scored and team slash-line through the Cubs’ first three games.

As shown above, in the last decade, the Cubs have scored at least twice as many runs as they have this season throughout the first three contests annually. This time spans the rebuild under Theo Epstein, the Jim Hendry era – that included back-to-back postseason appearances in both 2007 and 2008.

To find a start worse than 2015 – at least in terms of run production – one must go all the way back to 1962, when the Lovable Losers finished 59-103, managing just two runs in the first three games of the year.

That’s not to say – or even suggest – that this year’s Cubs team is destined to lose 100-plus games; we’re three games into a 162-game season and we all know how quickly a team can turn things around – and that’s the belief the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo has reiterated early on (per MLB.com).

"“We keep putting ourselves in position and battling and getting good at-bats,” he said. “We just have to learn to capitalize more on pitchers and when they’re in trouble, not us. We’re not the ones in trouble at that time, that moment. We had the pitcher on the ropes a few times and didn’t come through. If we keep giving ourselves opportunities, good things will happen.”"

On Opening Night, the tense crowd anxiously anticipated the Cubs breaking into the run column against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals – but it was for naught as Chicago was shutout in front of a packed Wrigley Field crowd.

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It’s been much of the same story for the other two games, as well. If not for a stellar outing from right-hander Jake Arrieta, the team would likely be winless heading into Saturday night’s matchup with the Rockies at Coors Field.

One thing is for sure – the Chicago Cubs’ early offensive struggles are of a historic proportion. While it hasn’t necessarily equated to a losing season in the past, it’s been a long time since the team’s offense has been so unproductive through its first three games.

With expectations higher than they’ve been in years, it’s time for the bats to turn things around on the North Side of Chicago.

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