Commentary: Time is running out for the Cubs |
It has been a tumultuous season for the Cubs, to say the least. The last few months have featured many ups and downs, including some great efforts and just as many puzzling losses.
After a strong start to the season, the Cubs took a step back after April. David Ross’ squad was 10-17 May, highlighted by bullpen woes and a lack of depth offensively. The beginning of June was much of the same — including starting June on a sour note with a sweep at the hand of the Angels. At this point in the season, a lot of the media and the fans began to wonder which of their favorite players would be shipped out in the middle of the season, as a third consecutive Trade Deadline sell-off appeared imminent. The futures of players like Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman began to be questioned, and injuries and various call-ups and DFAs left the Cubs with an altered roster from the beginning of the year. But then the Cubs rattled off 11 wins out of 13 games, including two sweeps of the Pirates, series wins over the Giants and Orioles, and a win in London over the Cardinals. The Cubs moved all the way up to second in the NL Central, and we’re chomping at the bit to overtake the division. The only issue with those ambitions was the fact that the Reds were hotter than the Cubs, with a 12-game winning streak during that span. But since then, the Reds have stayed scorching, and the Cubs have dropped 7 of 9 and have fallen back in the division. And these losses have been painful. The Cubs blew a 4-0 lead, we’re swept by the Phillies in a series where they never had a lead for a single inning, had what should have been a season-altering four-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth against the Guardians just to lose the game in the 10th. The Cubs certainly gave away some winnable games during this stretch. Then the Cubs entered their pivotal series against the Brewers — as speculation went from contention back to a big sell-off again — the Cubs knew they needed to take at least 3-of-4 from the division leaders to stand a chance at lasting through the deadline with a chance to compete. Chicago jumped out to a 3-0 lead and added three more runs, and then blew a 6-0 lead against Milwaukee, allowing eight unanswered runs to lose the ballgame. At this point, the Cubs' hopes to make it through the trade deadline in buy mode are as bleak as they’ve been in a month — with seven games separating the Cubs and the top of the division and a team that feels dead in the water. The offense brought the boom on the Fourth of July — but late game, the Cubs once again blew a lead and we’re forced to go to extras in what has been the closest thing to a must-win game the Cubs have faced this season. The Cubs brought in flamethrower Daniel Palencia who earned his first win of his career in his MLB debut, and gold glover Ian Happ saved the day, starting two double plays with outfield assists and giving the Cubs some momentum as the series rolls along. You would think a team with three All-Stars, the best starting pitching duo in the MLB, the highest middle infield WAR in the majors, and a positive run differential, all while playing in a bad division, would leave the Cubs with a look to the postseason, not starting at a seven-game deficit in the division. But some injuries, untimely pitching meltdowns, some poor managerial decisions, and an inconsistent lineup leaves the Cubs needing another hot streak to not only look to contend but also avoid their third consecutive trade-deadline selloff. The Cubs finish this series with the Brewers and play the Yankees before the All-Star break, and there are certainly some winnable games coming up after the All-Star game with series against the Cardinals, Nationals, Red Sox, and White Sox. It starts tonight with Justin Steele on the mound, followed by Marcus Stroman tomorrow — and time is running out quickly. For a multitude of reasons, you’ve got to win now.
