Same Old, Same Old

The season is about one-fourth finished.  One conclusion you can draw is that the Cubs have no offense whatsoever unless they bring out their right-handed hitting lineup against an inexperienced or indifferent left-hander, in which case they will score ten or twelve runs.

Gordon Wittenmyer makes some observations about the Cubs offense.  In the same article, Renteria makes noise about how the Cubs are battling and there is nothing he can think about doing to remedy their flaws.  Today, Renteria notes in a Tribune article that he plans to stick with the idiotic platoons and matchups:

"We're still mixing and matching, and we'll probably continue to do so until we see where we're all at," Renteria said Tuesday. "The way we balance it out, everyone is getting at-bats. Everyone is playing, so … let them do what they need to do. Besides the practice, they need to play in games to show what they're able to do.''

Not to be too snotty about it, but the Cubs ought to know exactly where they are.  They are in last place in their division and they lose, on average, two of every three games they play.  Their starting pitching is quite good, their bullpen is spotty but reasonably effective.  They lose because they do not score runs and because they often play sloppy baseball in close games.

Now no one expects miracles, but there are things you can do that may or may not work and I do think you owe it to the game to put the best possible lineup on the field and to include on a regular basis players who are of major league caliber or have the potential to achieve that level of merit.  That is not happening right now and it is not just because, by and large, the Cubs do not have a productive major league outfielder on the team.

I think the Cubs need to be brutally honest with themselves this season, and by that I mean they have to demand a certain level of achievement and progress from their young players.  In return, the Cubs need to give these guys a chance to play consistently.

For example, Olt, who has started roughly half the time, leads the team in home runs and has as many RBI as the "cleanup" man Castro.  Sure, he has struck out a lot and has an anemic average, but don't you want to know what he can do day-in, day-out?  Worse case scenario he turns out to be a bust or a flash in the pan.  Luis Valbuena has nearly the same number of plate appearances as Olt and has struck out only four fewer times.  Why is there a virtual platoon here when you know Valbuena's potential (utility man, pinch hitter) and you need to find out Olt's?

Lake is another guy they need to find out about.  When he connects he is great, but he has a lot to learn and maybe he will never learn, but, heck, let him play everyday for a couple of weeks and if he does not respond, send him down to AAA to get straightened out.

On the issue of progress, what is most disappointing is the seeming lack thereof of many of the Cubs youngsters.  This year I assume the Cubs were looking for breakouts from players with some major league experience like Castillo, Rizzo, and Castro.  I think they are getting the kind of play they expected from Castillo and Rizzo.  I've got my doubts about Castro and whether he will ever be the player they have projected him to be.

This is Castro's fifth year.  Everybody says he is having a bounceback year.  However, if you look at the numbers, they mirror almost exactly his numbers from 2012, which was the first of his disappointing seasons.  Yeah, it is a bounceback, but not even to his rookie level.

Also, he has not improved at all in his erratic performance in the field.  He still hurries plays he doesn't need to, botches routine plays, and nonchalants plays he needs to rush.  If you are content with a .280 hitter with occasional power who strikes out a lot and rarely walks, then Castro is your shortstop.  Ordinarily, these are good numbers for his position, but then SS is a defensive position, so if you get good defense, fine, and if you don't, time to move the player either to another spot or another team.

To close the book on Castro, I just do not see him as a #4 hitter, and I rather think the numbers bear out this opinion.  Castro is batting .211 with runners in scoring position.  His average and production batting fourth is pretty much in line with his career production since 2012, which, however, is nowhere near the production you expect from a #4.  Castro should hit #6.

To close the book on Renteria for now, how many times does he need to blow a game with wild relievers who obviously have nothing going for them that night without having someone warming up?  I mean, you announce you have closer by committee so that the presumed closer doesn't have his feelings hurt or lose confidence when you get somebody up when he is in trouble.  Last night was pathetic but this has happened at least four or five times this year.