The Cubs' best stat in 2024 is laughable confirmation of everything they got wrong

There's not much that has gone right with the Chicago Cubs' 2024 season.

The first season of Craig Counsell being the manager of the Cubs was thought to be the first season that the team reached the postseason with Jed Hoyer as the President of Baseball Operations. Instead, the Cubs' 2024 season has been defined by inconsistent production from the team's offense as well as incosistent success with the relievers that Counsell has trusted in high-leverage situations.

That is why The Athletic's latest exercise, finding each Major League Baseball team's best stat on the season, is a laughing confirmation of how flawed the team's roster construction has been.

The Cubs just don’t lead in a lot of areas. Did I want to resort to how umpires have called balls and strikes with the Cubs at bat? Absolutely not. That means diddly squat. But here it is anyway. The Cubbies keep getting away with watching should-be strikes turn into balls. By Balls Framed (a called ball with at least a 75 percent probability of being a called strike) and Framing Runs Above Average, they’ve got the best eyes in baseball. Don’t even try framing ’em.

Credit to Stephen J. Nesbitt for digging deep in order to find something the Cubs' offense does right. But even in finding the Cubs' offensive stat, it speaks to flawed strategy that Jed Hoyer has when constructing the team's offense.

Hoyer's aversion to pursuing top talent when they become available is what has become frustrating when watching the team's offense. The Cubs' offense has good offensive players as Ian Happ and Seiay Suzuki are the two best hitters they have. But when that is the case, the Cubs can't depend on luck of getting calls from an umpire. And when luck is not on their side, that is when the offensive shortcomings of a player like Dansby Swanson become much more noticeable.

By the Cubs showing a preference to be aggressive when an impact bat becomes available, they wouldn't have to live on the margins of hoping a call goes their way during a plate appearance that can make a difference in a game. But hey, at least there is one thing the Cubs' offense is good at, as insignificant as it may be.