Top 5 Chicago Cubs Moments of 2023 |
The Cubs, of course, missed the playoffs in a fashion that can only be called disappointing. However, they absolutely had some things to celebrate this season. The Cubs finished 83-79, their first finish above .500 in a full season since 2019. Chicago was in second place in the NL Central and held control of playoff position for most of the second half of the season.
The Cubs had a player in MVP conversation, in the short list of Cy Young contenders, three all-stars, and had three players win Gold Gloves. It had an unfortunate ending, but it was a good season, with many ways to build on and improve. Currently, that is everybody’s focus — building and improving this team for 2024. But with the calendar to be soon flipped from 2023 to 2024, we at CubsHQ thought it would be wise this holiday season to reflect on some of the best moments from a fun 2023 season. Here are the top five moments of the season: 5. Nelson Velasquez Grand Slam This was early in the season, but it is a moment that Cubs fans will not soon forget. For me, and I assume for many, it was the first indication of the type of fight and scrap this team was capable of playing with — comparable to the Never Quit attitude of the 2016 World Champions. The Cubs fell behind to the Mariners early, and on Boog Sciambi’s birthday and with Jed Hoyer in the booth, a comeback began. In fact, the Cubs trailed 7-1 but an eight-run third inning tipped the game in the Cubs favor. After a two-run homer from Trey Mancini, and an RBI single from Eric Hosmer, the Cubs loaded the bases for Nelson Velasquez, whom they just called up from triple-A. Velasquez delivered an electrifying grand slam that gave the Cubs the lead, invigorated the April crowd like it was October and set the tone for a fun season.
4. Comeback against the White Sox
Down the road, it was this game that Jed Hoyer officially admitted sold him on the team’s chances to contend, thus convincing the front office to buy and not sell at the trade deadline. It came by vulture of a furious comeback on the road against the rival White Sox. After trailing 2-0 and then 7-2, the Cubs used a massive six-run rally in the fifth to take the lead and win the game. There was not one particular hero, as there were contributions from all over. However, Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger going back-to-back with moonshots gave the Cubs the win — and Hoyer all the confidence in the world to keep Bellinger and add to the team, as opposed to the opposite. This win came in the middle of what would be an eight game win streak.
3. Ian Happ Outfield Assists
The entire month of July on for the Chicago Cubs was high leverage and high intensity. Cody Bellinger was having a resurgent year and Dansby Swanson, Justin Steele and Marcus Stroman were putting together All-Star level campaigns — but the Cubs were not winning enough games for any of it to matter. With the All-Star Break and the Trade Deadline looming, all signs pointed to the Cubs selling for a third straight season.
We addressed the win streak that fully put selling on the barn burner, but this game from Ian Happ got the momentum going. After winning 11-of-13, the Cubs dropped seven of eight before a crucial series with Milwaukee to open up July. The Cubs blew a lead in the series opener and appeared on the verge of doing it again before Ian Happ DEFENSIVE heroics saved the game. In both the 10th and the 11th inning, Happ threw out would-be go-ahead runners at the plate to preserve the tie in the 10th and clinch the win in the 11th. It was as dominant a defensive player has ever been in MLB — he took over the game, defensively.
2. Mike Tauchman Walk-Off Robbery
Like Happ’s defensive heroics, later on in the win streak it was Mike Tauchman who preserved a win over the St. Louis Cardinals with a superb rob of a would-be walk-off home run for the Cardinals. The Cubs won the game 3-2 and it was Tauchman’s robbery that was the story.
The trade deadline was days away, and although the Cubs were looking to add the story of Tauchman was a great one. He quickly became a fan favorite and was a big part of the Cubs’ success in 2023. He was a huge part of the exciting vibe the Cubs fostered throughout the season.
1. Christopher Morel’s walk-off home run
I think many could’ve expected this. Christopher Morel’s electrifying walk-off home run not only clinched the Crosstown Cup over the White Sox, but it also was a crucial win in the middle of the Cubs’ best month of the season during their playoff chase.
The Cubs trailed 3-0 until the eighth inning and then a home run from Nick Madrigal gave the Cubs life. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, a three-run blast to right-center field off the bat of Morel ignited Wrigley and created the Cubs’ best moment of the 2023 season. It even included him whipping off his jersey as he ran the bases to the sound of “Go Cubs Go”.
It was a fun 2023 season. Here’s to hoping the Cubs create even better memories in 2024.
