Chicago Cubs: Things that get forgotten about the 2015 season

Chicago Cubs: The 2015 bullpen was a revolving door of veteran relievers. Some worked and some did not.

It is kind of fun looking back at some of the names that helped the Cubs out of the bullpen in 2015 including the likes of Fernando Rodney, Clayton Richard, Jason Motte and Trevor Cahill. However not all experiments worked out and their time in Chicago was incredibly brief it can be forgotten about. This is a case with Rafael Soriano.

Soriano overall had a very successful career and was one of the better relievers in baseball for a number of years. He was an All Star with Tampa Bay in 2010 and finished his career with a 2.89 ERA and 1.1 WHIP in 591 appearances. His final six appearances of his 14-year career were with the Cubs in 2015 at age 35, and it was not pretty.

After bringing him in via free agency late July, he was hoped to help solidify the back end of the pen. In fact, he was made room for on the roster after Edwin Jackson was designated for assignment on July 19. However in six games he pitched to a 6.35 ERA and 1.6 WHIP in 5 2/3 innings. In one of his appearances he gave up the go-ahead Carlos Gonzalez in the game eventually won on Kris Bryant’s famed walkoff homer.

Why mention Soriano? Well, he was a notable name in baseball and his resume was very impressive. His time was just so brief it can be easy for fans to forget a guy of his caliber was here. Kind of like Joe Nathan on the 2016 team.

Chicago Cubs: The first person to record a walk-off hit in 2015 was someone that is mainly remembered for his stint in 2014.

It was early in the season on April 13. The bleachers still were not built yet and the Cubs were only in game six of the season. Facing the division foe Reds, the Cubs rallied from a deficit late to tie the game in the eighth inning on a Jorge Soler two-run shot. It remained tied in the 10th when the Cubs loaded the bases. Who stepped up and recorded the game-winning hit up the middle? Arismendy Alcantara.

Fans will likely remember Alcantara for his stint in 2014 when he started off real hot before cooling drastically. He finished 2014 with 10 homers and a .205/.254/.367 in 70 games. He did play 11 games in 2015 before being sent down. He was with the organization until 2016 until he was traded to Oakland to get Chris Coghlan back. Though he never saw the majors after those brief 11 games in 2015.

It is just kind of funny to look back and realize a dude who faded fast the season before when they were still rebuilding recorded the first walkoff win of the season. After his Cubs tenure he has played a total of 86 games in the majors since. Might as well mention Junior Lake, who had kind of a similar stint with the Cubs, also played a brief 21 games in 2015. Easy to forget that as well.

Chicago Cubs: Bringing in veteran defenders is what good teams do.

This is not exactly an, “I totally forgot he was a Cub,” type of guy…but one of those, “Ah now that you reminded me!” types.

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In late August when rosters were ready to expand in September the Cubs brought in veteran outfielder Austin Jackson. This was a guy who gave you a respectable bat and very good glove in the outfield. His main role was to start in certain pitching match ups or come in late for defense. He played in 29 games in the regular season, hitting .236/.304/.375 and also made the postseason roster.

Jackson participated in five of the Cubs postseason games that year, including starting game two of the NLDS against the Cardinals. He came in for the eighth inning and played right field in games three and four of the NLDS. Jackson was one of the nine guys to be playing the field when the Cubs clinched their first ever postseason series win at Wrigley Field. A fun little trivia question for Cubs history.

Jackson’s career has kind of fizzled out since then. He was an established regular in Detroit from his rookie year in 2010 through mid-2014 when he was traded to Seattle. Since his Cubs days he’s bounced around playing with four other MLB clubs (White Sox, Indians, Mets, Giants) and did not participate in an MLB game in 2019.

Chicago Cubs: Carrying more than two catchers is truly a Joe Maddon tradition.

Easy to forget the Cubs carrying three catchers goes back to the start of Joe Maddon’s tenure in 2015 and not 2016. Most games were obviously caught by Miguel Montero and David Ross, but there were others who caught behind the dish.

The 2015 Opening Day roster had Montero, Ross and Wellington Castillo. Cubs fans will have plenty of memories of Castillo when he was the main backstop in 2013-2014 after taking over later in 2012. When Montero and Ross were brought in, it spelled the end for his tenure in Chicago, but he still did play in 24 games with the 2015 Cubs. This can be easily forgotten with the new tandem they rode the next two season. Castillo hit .163/.234/.349 with two homers before being shipped off to Seattle.

At least Castillo had enough time in Chicago and was a decently productive hitter to be remembered as a Cub, but another man who caught for the 2015 Cubs is a very obscure name in Taylor Teagarden. The then-31 year old catcher (who was originally a 22nd rounder by the Cubs in 2002) was brought in during the offseason and was called up to play eight games in July. He hit just .200, but he did record an epic game-winning hit in Cincinnati on July 22nd off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.

Of course we cannot fail to mention Kyle Schwarber playing in 21 games as a catcher, but I think most Cubs fans remember that well.

How many of these did your forget? Or, did you not forget any of these? Every fan remembers things differently, so this list does not apply to everyone. It is still fun to look back at some of the small details of that magical season.