No-Fun Nine: A team of recent Cub tormentors

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article_body => "Great\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cardinals-close-gap-nl-central-acquire-six-time-all-star-paul-goldschmidt-diamondbacks\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Goldschmidt is headed to St. Louis<\/a>. The 88-win Cardinals added an MVP-caliber first baseman. It\u2019s a well-known fact that he has a steady appetite for Cubs pitching. To make matters worse, I\u2019m here today to present an entire team of \u201cCub Killers\u201d \u2013 one at each position (two starting pitchers) that has consistently made life miserable for the Wrigley faithful. I limited the list to those who played the majority of their careers from 1990 on. In an excuse to include Daniel Murphy (*spoiler*), I included playoff games in the \u201cCareer vs Cubs\u201d totals for each player. Here\u2019s the team:<\/p>\nCatcher<\/strong><\/p>\nMike Lieberthal<\/p>\n60 games, .309\/.361\/.512, 7 HR, 32 RBI<\/p>\nI went with Lieberthal because picking Yadier Molina (.297\/.361\/.430, 16 HR, 103 RBI in 209 games) would be so clich\u00e9.<\/p>\nFirst Base<\/strong><\/p>\nPaul Goldschmidt<\/p>\n43 games, .353\/.471\/.699, 14 HR, 39 RBI<\/p>\nYou could argue Mark McGwire was a little better (.272\/.453\/.832, 23 HR, 41 RBI in 42 games), but Goldschmidt was the driving force behind this piece of #content so it would be silly of me not to choose him. Also good: Albert Pujols (.297\/.399\/.613, 56 HR, 144 RBI in 182 games).<\/p>\nSecond Base<\/strong><\/p>\nDaniel Murphy<\/p>\n64 games, .331\/.375\/.595, 14 HR, 30 RBI<\/p>\nBeat \u2018em then join \u2018em I guess\u2026  This includes a .361\/.425\/.833 with 5 HR & 8 RBI in 9 postseason games.<\/p>\nShortstop<\/strong><\/p>\nJeff Blauser<\/p>\n78 games, .351\/.413\/.611, 15 HR, 48 RBI<\/p>\nIn his career he hit .257\/.350\/.393 (regular season) against everyone else. Blauser is the one player on this team whose career started prior to 1990 (1987).<\/p>\nThird Base<\/strong><\/p>\nNolan Arenado<\/p>\n39 games, .305\/.347\/.591, 11 HR, 39 RBI<\/p>\nHad this been an all-time list, it could have been Goldschmidt & Mikeschmidt on the infield corners. But it isn\u2019t, so Arenado is the guy.<\/p>\nLeftfield<\/strong><\/p>\nRyan Braun<\/p>\n172 games, .317\/.394\/.557, 35 HR, 125 RBI<\/p>\nI bet you\u2019re booing as you read this.<\/p>\nCenterfield<\/strong><\/p>\nCarl Everett<\/p>\n44 games, .369\/.421\/.671, 10 HR, 41 RBI<\/p>\nThat\u2019s right.  Carl Everett [insert dinosaur joke here].<\/p>\nRightfield<\/strong><\/p>\nBobby Abreu<\/p>\n66 games, .323\/.432\/.638, 16 HR, 57 RBI<\/p>\nOne of the under-the-radar greats of his time. Did you know he\u2019s one of only 5 players ever with 250 HR, 400 SB & 1,000 Walks? The other four are either in the Hall of Fame or named Barry Bonds.<\/p>\nStarting Pitcher<\/strong><\/p>\nRandy Johnson<\/p>\n15 games\/14 starts, 13-0, 1.91 ERA in 103.2 IP, 143 K, 0.984 WHIP<\/p>\nHe had 10+ strikeouts in 10 of his 14 starts against the Cubs. His team was 14-0 in the 14 games he started\u2026 0-1 in the game he relieved.<\/p>\nStarting Pitcher<\/strong><\/p>\nCole Hamels<\/p>\n9 games\/9 starts, 5-1, 1.74 ERA in 62.0 IP<\/p>\n9 starts\u2026 8 quality starts (including one that ruined the day of @CubsNoHitStreak)\u2026 and one start where he allowed 9 runs.<\/p>\nReliever<\/strong><\/p>\nBilly Wagner<\/p>\n48 games, 1.47 ERA in 55.0 IP, 64 K, 0.836 WHIP<\/p>\nBilly Wagner had 1,196 strikeouts and 601 hits allowed in his career. He just might be the second best reliever of all time, behind Mariano.<\/p>\n"
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Cubs

Great… Paul Goldschmidt is headed to St. Louis. The 88-win Cardinals added an MVP-caliber first baseman. It’s a well-known fact that he has a steady appetite for Cubs pitching. To make matters worse, I’m here today to present an entire team of “Cub Killers” – one at each position (two starting pitchers) that has consistently made life miserable for the Wrigley faithful. I limited the list to those who played the majority of their careers from 1990 on. In an excuse to include Daniel Murphy (*spoiler*), I included playoff games in the “Career vs Cubs” totals for each player. Here’s the team:

Catcher

Mike Lieberthal

60 games, .309/.361/.512, 7 HR, 32 RBI

I went with Lieberthal because picking Yadier Molina (.297/.361/.430, 16 HR, 103 RBI in 209 games) would be so cliché.

First Base

Paul Goldschmidt

43 games, .353/.471/.699, 14 HR, 39 RBI

You could argue Mark McGwire was a little better (.272/.453/.832, 23 HR, 41 RBI in 42 games), but Goldschmidt was the driving force behind this piece of #content so it would be silly of me not to choose him. Also good: Albert Pujols (.297/.399/.613, 56 HR, 144 RBI in 182 games).

Second Base

Daniel Murphy

64 games, .331/.375/.595, 14 HR, 30 RBI

Beat ‘em then join ‘em I guess… This includes a .361/.425/.833 with 5 HR & 8 RBI in 9 postseason games.

Shortstop

Jeff Blauser

78 games, .351/.413/.611, 15 HR, 48 RBI

In his career he hit .257/.350/.393 (regular season) against everyone else. Blauser is the one player on this team whose career started prior to 1990 (1987).

Third Base

Nolan Arenado

39 games, .305/.347/.591, 11 HR, 39 RBI

Had this been an all-time list, it could have been Goldschmidt & Mikeschmidt on the infield corners. But it isn’t, so Arenado is the guy.

Leftfield

Ryan Braun

172 games, .317/.394/.557, 35 HR, 125 RBI

I bet you’re booing as you read this.

Centerfield

Carl Everett

44 games, .369/.421/.671, 10 HR, 41 RBI

That’s right. Carl Everett [insert dinosaur joke here].

Rightfield

Bobby Abreu

66 games, .323/.432/.638, 16 HR, 57 RBI

One of the under-the-radar greats of his time. Did you know he’s one of only 5 players ever with 250 HR, 400 SB & 1,000 Walks? The other four are either in the Hall of Fame or named Barry Bonds.

Starting Pitcher

Randy Johnson

15 games/14 starts, 13-0, 1.91 ERA in 103.2 IP, 143 K, 0.984 WHIP

He had 10+ strikeouts in 10 of his 14 starts against the Cubs. His team was 14-0 in the 14 games he started… 0-1 in the game he relieved.

Starting Pitcher

Cole Hamels

9 games/9 starts, 5-1, 1.74 ERA in 62.0 IP

9 starts… 8 quality starts (including one that ruined the day of @CubsNoHitStreak)… and one start where he allowed 9 runs.

Reliever

Billy Wagner

48 games, 1.47 ERA in 55.0 IP, 64 K, 0.836 WHIP

Billy Wagner had 1,196 strikeouts and 601 hits allowed in his career. He just might be the second best reliever of all time, behind Mariano.