The Cubs have their computers working overtime trying to figure out why they have the worst home record in the major leagues the past two seasons.
One possibile answer is the abnormally high number of fly balls given up by Cubs pitchers.
“Our fly balls as compared to the league are higher,” said manager Jim Riggleman, who has his pitchers thinking about throwing more ground balls in Wrigley where any ball in the air can be trouble.
The Cubs are 14-23 at home this year after Tuesday’s loss to the Mets. They were 20-39 at home in 1994.
In 37 games at Wrigley this year, the Cubs have been outhomered 47-41 and 31 of the opposition’s homers have come off Kevin Foster and Steve Trachsel.
Both are notorious fly-ball pitchers. Last year, Foster gave up 59 ground balls and 108 fly balls for a ground-ball to fly-ball ratio of 0.55. Trachsel allowed 192 ground balls and 140 fly balls for a 1.37 ratio.
Compare that with three-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux, who give up 335 ground balls and just 128 fly balls last year for a 2.62 ratio. This year his ratio is around 3-to-1.
More Top Picks Best Sauna Blankets For Detox
Riggleman and pitching coach Fergie Jenkins are working with Foster and Trachsel to cut down on the fly balls.
Foster normally throws a four-seam fast ball,meaning his fingers go across the ball’s stitches. He is experimenting with a two-seam fast ball, where his fingers are parallel to the stitches.
“I’ve been using the two-seamer the last few times out because it breaks down and in on the right-handed hitters,” said Foster. “The idea is to go to it when I need a ground-ball out.”
Breakthrough: Cubs catcher Mike Hubbard, playing in his third game, got his first major league hit, one of the few bright spots on an otherwise ugly day. The rookie singled to right with one out in the third off winning pitcher Bobby Jones.