August 23, 2026
August 23, 2026
Just days after the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, the Chicago Cubs made moves to improve their ballclub, beginning with the hiring of a new manager. On October 17, 2006, the Cubs hired Lou Piniella to be their new manager. On November 14, second baseman Mark DeRosa was signed to a three-year, $13 million contract. On November 20, the Cubs signed left fielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million contract. On December 15, starting pitcher Ted Lilly was signed to a four-year, $40 million contract. On December 19, starting pitcher Jason Marquis was signed to a three-year, $21 million contract.
There was newfound hope surrounding the 2007 Chicago Cubs, and the regular-season results were satisfying. In 2007 the Cubs went 85-77, winning the National League Central division by two games over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs went 9-6 against the Brewers in head-to-head play, and they finished 44-37 at home and 41-40 on the road.
First baseman Derrek Lee batted .317 with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs off 180 hits, 43 doubles and 6 stolen bases. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez batted .310 with 26 home runs and 101 RBIs off 157 hits, 35 doubles and 4 triples. Alfonso Soriano batted .299 with 33 home runs and 70 RBIs off 173 hits, 42 doubles, 5 triples and 19 stolen bases. Mark DeRosa batted .293 with 10 home runs and 72 RBIs off 147 hits and 28 doubles. Center fielder Jacques Jones batted .285 with 129 hits and 33 doubles. Right fielder Cliff Floyd batted .284 with 80 hits and 12 doubles in 108 games. Reserve left fielder Matt Murton batted .281 with 66 hits and 13 doubles in 94 games. Second baseman Mike Fontenot had 65 hits, 12 doubles and 4 triples in 86 games. Shortstop Ryan Theriot had 143 hits, 30 doubles and 28 stolen bases. Catcher Michael Barrett had 9 home runs, 54 hits and 9 doubles in 57 games.
Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano went 18-13 with 177 strikeouts and a 3.95 ERA, recording 1 complete game. Ted Lilly went 15-8 with 174 strikeouts and a 3.83 ERA. Rich Hill went 11-8 with 183 strikeouts and a 3.92 ERA. Jason Marquis went 12-9 with 109 strikeouts, recording 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Sean Marshall recorded a 3.92 ERA despite going 7-8. Closer Ryan Dempster had 28 saves. Relief pitcher Bob Howry had 8 saves, 72 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA. Michael Wuertz had 79 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Carlos Marmol went 5-1 with 1 save, 96 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA. Will Ohman had 1 save.
The regular season didn’t start off so rosy for the Cubs, as they got out to a 22-29 start through April and May. But they played great baseball in June, July and September, going 17-11, 17-9 and 17-12, respectively. In June especially, the Cubs went on a 7-game winning streak that began with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park II on June 22 and ended with a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on June 29.
One of the most impressive wins for the Cubs was a 12-1 pounding of the San Francisco Giants on July 18. Carlos Zambrano had a solid outing on the mound, pitching 5 innings and giving up 2 hits and 2 walks while recording 3 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Jacques Jones had a 2-run single, and catcher Koyie Hill followed with a 2-run double. In the bottom of the 5th, a passed ball scored Alfonso Soriano, Cliff Floyd added an RBI double, and Hill followed with a 3-run double. In the bottom of the 8th, pinch-hitting right fielder Angel Pagan added an RBI double, Mark DeRosa had an RBI single, and Mike Fontenot topped things off with a sacrifice fly.
One of the most exciting regular-season games the Cubs played came against the Giants once more, at AT&T Park on August 20, where the Cubs claimed a close 4-2 victory in 10 innings. Rich Hill pitched 7 innings and gave up 6 hits, 1 walk and 2 runs, but he recorded 10 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning, catcher Bengie Molina got the Giants on the board with an RBI single, and in the bottom of the 3rd, left fielder Barry Bonds added an RBI double. The Cubs responded with a 2-run double by Aramis Ramirez in the top of the 4th to tie the game. In the top of the 10th, catcher Jason Kendall broke the tie for the Cubs by reaching on an error to score outfielder Felix Pie, and catcher Henry Blanco, pinch-hitting in Carlos Marmol’s spot in the lineup, added an RBI bunt groundout.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, they were swept out of the National League Division Series, three games to none, by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs lost Game 1 on October 3 by a score of 3-1. They then lost Game 2 on October 4 by a score of 8-4, and lost Game 3 on October 6 by a score of 5-1.
Despite coming up short in the postseason, the 2007 Chicago Cubs reloaded for the following season, putting themselves back in position to compete for a postseason berth.
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