In 2004, the Cubs ranked 7th in the National League in runs scored.  This year, they have dropped one slot to 8th through games of July 4, the halfway point of the season for the Cubs.  That is not much of a difference on its face, but unlike last year, this year's Cubs are much closer to the bottom (27 runs above the Houston Astros) than the top (67 runs from the Cardinals).  Compare that to last year, when the Cubs finished 66 runs below St. Louis, but 174 runs above last place Arizona.

This year's #8 ranking comes despite having the league's 4th best team batting average and top team slugging average, aided by Derrek Lee's monster season.  The culprit, as is well know, is the team's poor ability to get on base via the walk.  But it is not just that the Cubs have a collection of players who lack a propensity to walk.  It is also that the Cubs' players have, in some instances, seen their walk rates take a dramatic hit.