FanPost

Cubs' double plays turned, hit into

Through their first 22 games, the Cubs have grounded into 2 more double plays than they have made, 24 to 22.

(Note that official double play data does not include those on which a runner is doubled off base on a fly ball or line drive, nor strikeout/caught stealing plays.)

MLB's complete double play data goes back to 1933. Before that, the number made by a team is available, but not the number hit into.

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RARELY HIT INTO MORE

In only 8 of the 89 full seasons from 1933 through 2021 did the Cubs ground into more double plays than they made.

Three of those 9 have come since 2000, including the 2 in which they had the largest deficits.

Here are those 8, ranked by deficit:

-19: 2001 (113 made, 132 hit into)

-16: 1998 (107, 123)

-16: 2008 (118, 134)

-13: 2006 (122, 135)

-11: 1946 (119, 130)

-10: 1952 (123, 133)

-6: 1938 (151, 157)

-2: 1997 (117, 119)

Note that in 3 of the 8 seasons, the Cubs made the post season. They won the pennant in 1938, won their division in 2008 and earned a wild card berth in 1998.

They finished third, with an 88-74 record, in 2001, when they had the largest deficit

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BIGGEST SURPLUSES

Twice, the Cubs have made 60 more double plays than they grounded into. They had 51 more in 2 seasons, and at least 40 more in 15 additional seasons, including +48 in 2018 (155, 107) and +43 in 2014 (137, 94).

Here are the top 12 seasons:

60: 1961 (175 made, 115 hit into)

60: 1963 (172, 112)

51: 1965 (166, 115)

51: 1983 (164, 113)

48: 1935 (163, 115)

48: 1948 (152, 104)

48: 2018 (155, 107)

47: 1944 (151, 105)

47: 1950 (169, 122)

46: 1944 (151, 105)

46: 1964 (147, 101)

46: 1968 (149, 103)

...

The Cubs won the pennant in 1935 and lost the wild card game in 2018.

They finished seventh in both 1961 (64-90-2) and 1963 (82-80).

...

In all the seasons since 1933 in which they made more double plays, the Cubs turned an average of 143 and hit into 116, for a surplus of 27.

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ON PACE TO TURN 162

If they maintain their current rate, the Cubs will turn 162 double plays by the end of the season. That would be tied for their 15th most in any season since 1901.

They turned a team-record 176 in 1928, 175 in 1961, 174 in 1926, 172 in 1963 and 171 in 1962.

They made at least 150 in 35 seasons, 27 of them since 1933, but only twice in the 2000s: 157 in 2003 and 155 in 2018.

Their fewest in the Modern Era was 76, in 1908. During the Dead Ball Era, they had 13 other seasons with between 78 and 106.

Their low in a non-strike season of the Live Ball Era was 107, in 1998. They made 110 in 1982 and 113 in 2000.

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ON PACE TO HIT INTO 177

On the other hand, the Cubs are on pace to ground into 177 double plays. That would be 10 percent more than in any previous season going back to 1933.

They grounded into 161 in 1961, surpassing the previous high of 157 in 1938. They had 144 in both 1971 and 1973, 142 in 1977 and 140 in 1953.

Their fewest in a non-strike season was 87, in 1991. They had fewer than 100 in 4 more seasons: 1945 (93), 2014 (94), 1982 (97) and 1956 (99).

They had exactly 100 in 1941 and 1990, and 101 in 1964 and 2015.


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