Not a June Swoon, but Troubling Play

Before we get into any commentary, here's a not so pleasant piece of nostalgia from 1969, courtesy of the Tribune.



Not that there are any serious parallels here, but the Cubs have been playing bad baseball for a couple of weeks now with a few good days tossed in.  Fortunately, the other division contenders are just about as bad and in their head-to-heads on the last home stand, the Cubs split, sweeping the Pirates and being swept by the Cardinals.  So the Cubs have managed to stay nine or ten games up throughout the stretch.

There are probably two reasons for the slump, maybe three, the most obvious being key injuries.  The offense has suffered a lot since Soler and then LaStella and finally Fowler went down.  Mixed in, they have had a few day-to-days with Rizzo and Zobrist and Montero.

Despite bringing up some promising AAA talent in the person of Contreras and Almora, the Cubs have had a hard time crafting a lineup that is likely to score runs on a consistent basis.  Which brings up the  maybe three issue.  I find it hard to understand some of these lineups even in the light of Maddon having to cope with playing guys out of position on a daily basis.

Specifically, the Cubs are going to need to recognize that Heyward needs to be dropped down in the order so that he stops killing rallies.  Sure he hits the ball hard and he has been unlucky so far, but hard ground balls are double plays and the #2 hitter frequently bats with men on base.

Another issue has to be Montero, who is having a down season hitting and behind the plate.  Watching some of the recent games makes you realize just what a weak defensive catcher Montero has become.  I kind of think the Cubs recognize this fact as well, which is why they have brought up Contreras somewhat earlier than planned.

The second real reason for the semi-swoon is the bullpen.  The Cubs starters have continued to dominate most of the time, but it has become clear the Cubs have only four reliable relievers, Wood, Cahill, Strop, and Rondon.  Everyone else is a big question mark, made even bigger by the decision to send Warren to AAA and DL Richard.  It's obvious that Conception and Patton and Edwards are not up to it right now and Grimm is currently in an extended slump.

This situation is made more complicated by Maddon's consistent use of the second string bullpen when the Cubs are behind by only a run or two and by the Cubs having limited flexibility on the bench because they are carrying thirteen pitchers.

Short term the Cubs need to fatten up against weak opponents like the Reds until they can get their regulars back before or near the All-Star Break.  Somewhat longer term, the Cubs need to add a reliable left-hander to the bullpen and get back to a normal roster of twelve relievers.  Probably the best target is Miller of the Yankees, though Chapman has been mentioned as well.

I'm not a big fan of Chapman.  He carries a lot of baggage and he is strictly a rental for whom teams are going to overpay.  Also, his presence more or less supplants any team's current closer, which is going to affect team chemistry is a bad way.  By all accounts, the Cubs are not offering any regulars, preferring to rely upon farm system depth to bargain at the trade deadline.  The Yanks are inching back into the Wild Card race, so you wonder if they will be sellers after all.