What happened to the Cubs defense?

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Re: What happened to the Cubs defense?

Oct 7, 2019, 5:36 PM

All year I've made comments about fundamental baseball and the Cubs failed miserably in the overall fundamentals of baseball. No one is perfect and errors will be made, but should not happen on a regular basis. Mixing up the daily lineup certainly doesn't help. Fundamentals doesn't only include errors, but also hustling after each hit, looking at 1st and 3rd base coaches rather than watching the ball, when and how to bunt, the importance of situational hitting by giving yourself up by advancing the runner on base. I know this all sounds easy and I understand it doesn't always work out but this is why there are the minors. To be taught how to play the game properly and get ready for the big time. Much of baseball is instinct, athleticism, and your mental approach, three areas that are difficult to teach. You either have it or you don't.

We lost a number of close games by costly errors and poor baserunning and both always seemed to come in a crucial part of the game.

There's nothing more deflating to a team that has come back from a deficit to either tie or take the lead, only to have the pitcher give it right back. We didn't have many shutdown innings. Our bullpen had to lead the league in either walking or hitting the 1st batter they faced out of the bullpen. Maddening to say the least

A team does have to hit to score, but when it's all said and done it really comes down to solid pitching not only from the starters but also the bullpen. We outscored most of the teams we played but when you score 10 runs and lose you have to look at the pitching, and a reliable defense behind the pitcher.

I'm confident these important areas will definitely be addressed in the off season, or at least I surely hope so, or 2020 will be a nightmare and repeat of this year.

I'm already excited about next season because I know there will be some major changes and that in itself is, and should excite any Cubs fan.

The 1st two weeks of the season will tell us a lot. If we can win 9 or 10 games out of the 1st 14 games, I'll really be excited. Early season confidence is extremely important. So we'll see, come this time next April. Go Cubs!

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