Chicago Cubs: Just how good was that 2003 Cubs team?

Looking back at a team that surprised many, the 2003 Chicago Cubs still lie in the memories of many fans. Does that team compare to many of the recent successful Cubs teams?

An amazing story that ended in heartbreak, the 2003 Chicago Cubs team is still one of the most talked about teams in franchise history. In the first year under veteran skipper Dusty Baker, the squad went from losing 95 games in 2002 to winning the NL Central and going to the NLCS. We all know what happened against the Marlins…so we will not relive those specific moments in detail.

Even with the loss, the 2003 Cubs made it closer to the World Series than any other Cubs team since 1945 (at least to that point). The 1984 (and eventually) 2015 and 2017 teams did not get as close to a pennant than this group did.

How did they reach this point? Pitching. Let’s take a closer look at this team and some of its top performers and moments.

Chicago Cubs: This was not one of the team’s strengths

The bullpen certainly didn’t measure up to the same standards as the rotation, but they had some strong performances, as well. Overall the team’s pen posted a 4.16 ERA (15th), 1.35 WHIP (19th), 1.04 HR/9 (12th highest), second-highest walk rate in baseball (10.8) but also second-highest K-rate (22.7 percent).

The best performers were closer Joe Borowski, who pitched to a 2.63 ERA and converted 33 of 37 saves. Kyle Farnsworth posted a 3.30 ERA and 92 strikeouts. Those were clearly the top performers in the pen, given the struggles of several other guys. Only one reliever who pitched more than 20 innings posted a sub-4.10 FIP (Dave Veres).

It wasn’t the worst bullpen in the world, but it certainly wasn’t the best, either. Borowski had a really good postseason but Farnsworth put up a 10.13 ERA in the NLCS and the pen totaled a 4.20 postseason ERA. The game has changed in the last 15 years, to be sure. Back then, you could win without a super-pen. Now? It’s increasingly difficult to do so.

Chicago Cubs: The team added big bats towards the end of the season

In an era that is usually highlighted by Sammy Sosa, big contributions came from late reinforcements. The additions of Kenny Lofton and Aramis Ramirez in a highway robbery of the Pirates gave the Cubs a huge boost mid-season. As a team, the offense wasn’t eye-popping, but at least they got a legit leadoff man and a power bat to help down the stretch.

Chicago ranked  22nd in average (.259), 23rd in OBP (.323), 19th in slugging (.416), 14th in homers (172), 21st in wRC+ (91), carried the third-highest K% (18.7%) and finished 18th in fWAR (16.8).

Sosa hit 40 homers, but his numbers were beginning to decline. Mark Grudzielanek led the team with a .366 OBP (among batters who played more than 100 games). He was also the only batter to hit above .300 in 100-plus at-bats. Only Moises Alou and Alex Gonzalez reached 20 homers outside Sosa. No other Cubs player hit more than 22 long-balls.

Their OBP was league average and their power production was actually below average. The roster featured a lot of solid names but some of them got hurt, weakening the Cubs’ lineup on a daily basis.

Chicago Cubs: Wrapping it all up

The 2003 Cubs were a team that definitely had plenty of talent but it was nowhere near the likes of the 2008, 2015 or 2016 squads. They spent a good two-thirds of the season hovering around .500 and had everything come together in September. The NL Central was not good at all and the Cubs won some crucial games in the last week as other teams lost critical contests.

Still, you can’t take away what this team accomplished. They came up with big pitching performances and clutch hits en route to an 88-win regular season and deep postseason run. But when it was all said and done, that late-season hot stretch simply came up short in an infamous October collapse.

One important note – even if it matters very little at this point. Six of the top seven bWAR players were pitchers. Arms really did a lot of winning for this team – and without those young studs, the Cubs would’ve never even sniffed October, let alone come within one win of the World Series.

Despite the negatives, the 2003 squad was no doubt entertaining. So much of it thanks to that starting pitching staff. What could have been if they made it to the World Series…we will never know.