The Year: 2022
W/L Record: 110-52
Run Differential: 929 RS vs. 585 RA +344 Runs
Awards: NL Batting Title: Brian Holloway (.346), NL Stolen Base Leader: Rafael Romero (106), NL ERA Leader: RJ Seidel (1.96), NL Strikeout Leader: Jacob Widdup (253), NL Win Leader: RJ Seidel (23)
All Stars: LF James Aitkenhead, CF Rafael Romero, 3B Starlin Castro, SP RJ Seidel
League Leading Stat Categories: .290 Team Batting Average, 3.01 Bullpen ERA, 61 Home Wins, .365 Team OBP, .361 Opponent Slugging Against, .806 Team OPS, 929 Runs Scored, 179 Stolen Bases.
Lineup/Bench Rotation/Bullpen
CF Rafael Romero RJ Seidel
SS Larry MacPhater Jacob Widdup
C Saruwatari Chiaki Ben Catlin
RF James Aitkenhead Tylan Brown
1B Sandy Tillotson Joe Arnold
3B Starlin Castro CL Reagan Tyler
2B Brian Holloway SU Steve Simon
LF Da'Shon Cooper SR Manny Barbey
SR Cory Bretton
MR Efrain Gutierrez
LR Rob Wardell
C Devon Mesoraco
OF Nomar Pratt
OF Greg Quinmore
IF Dave Hennegan
IF Michael Almanzar
C Derrick Werrett
The Key Players: This Cubs team put up some truly impressive run totals. This was at a time when the NL still had a pitcher bat, so for a team with no DH to put up over 900 runs is extremely impressive. It was one of the most fearsome top to bottom lineups that will be featured on this list and it started at the top with HOFer Rafael Romero. Romero was an elite defensive CFer but what he brought to the lineup was almost unrivaled in FCM history. His 2022 was his biggest breakout year at age 27 and his fifth year in the league. He scored 142 runs, hit 37 doubles, 10 triples, 12 homeruns, and drove in 70. He also managed a 93-130 BB/K ratio to go with a .345 batting average and a .926 OPS. Perhaps, most important of all, was the 106 stolen bases in 120 attempts. It stands as FCM's all-time steals record for a player in any single season.
Supporting Romero's historic season was a balanced lineup with many remarkable contributions. In the middle was another HOF running buddy James Aitkenhead. Aitkenhead put up a 36 home run campaign with 114 runs, 128 RBI, and a 287/374/539 slash line with a .913 OPS. It was the kind of steady production Aitkenhead became known for in his career. Another of the key contributors came in the form of a career year for Starlin Castro. He posted an impressive .337 batting average, 22 home runs, 13 steals, 105 runs, 104 RBI, and a .974 OPS.
The rest of the lineup featured rookie Larry MacPhater at SS who hit .317 with 24 steals and a .368 OBP. Catcher Saruwatari Chiaki hit .277 with 29 homeruns, 12 steals, 107 runs scored, and 114 RBI in what was his careeer year. Sandy Tillotson contributed a .262 batting average, 24 home runs, 87 runs, and 91 RBI. Second baseman Brian Holloway lead the NL in batting average with a .347 effort and a .425 OBP. And the eighth hitter in the lineup was Da'Shon Cooper whose .406 OBP and .918 OPS were incredible out of the bottom of the order.
The team's pitching was the weaker of the two areas for the team but still bolstered by some amazing performances by a few key playes. RJ Seidel keeps appearing on this list and for good reason. For all of his big league success and all the teams he helped lead to elite status, this may have been his best season of them all. He pitched 220 innings, posted a 1.96 ERA, struck out 194 batters, and posted a 23-3 record. He put the cherry on the top of this season with a 9 inning, 2 hitter in the World Series to help his team take the title.
Seidel's right hand man in the rotation was perhaps FCM's best left hander of all time Jacob Widdup. Widdup pitched 207 innings and impressively struck out 253 batters in 2022. He held his opponents to a .230 OBP, posted a 3.61 ERA, and went 18-5 on the season. It wasn't Widdup's finest season but a very impressive effort nonetheless. The rest of the rotation wasn't nearly as impressive, in part because the third starter in this group, Joe Arnold, was knocked out with a torn rotator cuff injury. Arnold's first half performance had lead him to the All-Star game with a 2.49 ERA in 90 innings, but his injury made the rest of the rotation much more vulnerable. Ben Caitlin had an ERA over 4, Tylan Brown over 5, and Rob Wardell struggled through his rise from mop up to rotation. Even still, with the two big dogs at the top of the rotation, the team was able to overcome those struggles.
Another element that helped them overcome the depth issues of their rotation was an excellent bullpen, the best in baseball that season. Close Reagan Tyler was hurt during the year but had posted a very nice 60 innings prior to that, closing out 31 games. Taking his spot in the closer's role was Efrain Gutierrez who had an excellent campaign. He pitched 105 innings with a 3.24 ERA, 64 strikeouts, a 10-4 record, and 12 saves. The rest of the excellent bullpen consisted of Cory Bretton (3.21 ERA and 7 saves), Manny Barbely (3.53 ERA and 9 saves), Ricky Bugler (3.46 ERA), and Steve Simon (1.64 ERA and 4 saves).
Interview with the Owner: None
What Sets Them Apart: This team was the beginning of the end of a long run of success for the Chicago Cubs. It was their last World Series title in FCM and soon after they began a rebuilding and retooling project that dismantled the team's core. This group dominated the competition in 2022 and displayed the talents of several FCM HOFers at their very best. RJ Seidel was dominant. Jacob Widdup K'd people like crazy. James Aitkenhead racked up big numbers. And Rafael Romero had the kind of season that highlighted why he might be FCM's greatest leadoff hitter. All those talents on display and a World Series to match makes this group absolutely belong.
Coming Next: 15th Best Team in FCM History: Gangster of Love
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