Covering the Bases: What to expect
In the wake of the news that I will be taking over as the lead writer on Cubs.com, I’m sure there is one very important question on the minds of many Chicago fans:
“Who the heck is this guy?”
I provided some personal background in my introductory piece last week, but today I wanted to give a little more insight into what readers can expect from me as a writer and reporter. Over the years, I have tried to go above and beyond with my coverage. I’m not paid to go home early. I’m paid to write about baseball, break it down and do so to a degree that, when I do pack up, I feel like I covered everything that needed to be covered.
My coverage will not be limited to Cubs.com. I maintain this blog not as a dumping ground, but as a supplement to the MLB.com coverage. You’ll find more of my voice in this space.
In addition to the game coverage on the main site, I often do a “Covering the Bases” postgame analysis post. That is where I can dive a little deeper into singular plays from a game or breakdown trends, or highlight something else that might otherwise find itself on the cutting-room floor.
Here are a few examples of CtB from this past season:
- April 12: On a great Zimmer catch and more
- July 29: On a bizarre Jose Ramirez “slump”
- Aug. 19: Breaking down Mike Clevinger’s pickoff move
- Aug. 30: Ramirez faces an extreme shift
Another item I will post here throughout the year when it makes sense is “pregame minutiae” from the pregame manager session. Indians manager Terry Francona’s sit-downs with reporters were entertaining and insightful. I know the same will hold true with Joe Maddon, so I’d expect to be doing roughly the same thing in Chicago.
Here are two examples…
- Game 3 of the ALDS, as the Tribe was facing elimination vs. Houston
- Sept. 26, when Francona was itching for the end of the regular season
One addition to my coverage over the past two years was lengthy Q&As throughout the season. From players to coaches to execs, if there was a topic worth discussing at length and it was better as a Q&A than a story, I’d post that on here.
A few examples…
- April 5: Trevor Bauer cares. He just doesn’t care what you think.
- July 1: Rajai Davis on Rickey and baserunning.
Sometimes, I’ll write something for the main site and have the blog content as a partner to that story for fans who want to dig a little deeper. The Bauer Q&A noted above is one example. CLICK HERE to see the MLB.com feature that ran as part of that piece.
This past season, the Indians traveled to Puerto Rico for a special two-game series against the Twins. That set the stage for a handful of great stories to tell:
- Feature: Francisco Lindor’s visit to his old grammar school
- Feature: Roberto Perez helping his mom rebuild after Hurricane Maria
- On Lindor’s home run that sent Hiram Bithorn Stadium into a frenzy
- The game story from that Lindor-fueled victory
As you saw in some of those Covering the Bases posts, I do like to dive into the numbers when it helps tell a story or provide context. From time to time, I’ll also do some analytical articles — both on the site and here on the blog — when there is something worth unpacking.
Here’s one I did in 2017 on Yandy Diaz’s unique launch-angle predicament.
And, of course, besides all the day-to-day news and game coverage, there will be features. Some more examples:
- On a unique bond between Bauer and Clevinger
- A Mother’s Day feature on Diaz, whose mom has followed from afar in Cuba
- A profile on Ramirez from October, focusing on a 17-pitch at-bat and how it embodied his story
- That time I rode horses with Cody Anderson and detailed his spring retreat to a local ranch
- A follow-up story on Josh Tomlin’s dad, Jerry, who watched his son pitch in the 2016 World Series from a wheelchair
- On why Will Benson wants nothing more than to make his mom proud
- A tribute to Roy Halladay that MLB.com asked me to write after his death
And one more. Cubs fans obviously remember the final out of the ’16 World Series. Here is a feature I wrote the following spring on utility man Michael Martinez, and why he wound up in the batter’s box for that historic moment.
Beyond the routine game coverage, these are some of the things you can expect from me as I make this move to the Cubs beat. I’m looking forward to the 2019 season already.
— JB
