The Cubs took off on the road trip having played 62 games. So they had 100 to go and realistically, at least in normal years, a team needs to win at least 90 games to make the playoffs. That means playing roughly .600 baseball through the balance of the season. Losing two of three to the Mets doesn't do much to convince anyone they can do so. Perhaps, in a really weak division, they can squeak in regardless, but they certainly do not look like a true contender at this stage of the season.
After being shut down by deGrom in the first game of the series, the Cubs broke out with a 14-3 win in the second. Wednesday night they just lost a game that was close until the eighth inning, but one of which they had control throughout. Montgomery pitched well through five innings. If the Cubs had not performed so poorly in the field behind him, he might well have left with a 4-1 lead. This time it was the bullpen that fell apart late.
However, there is just no consistency here and that is the most troubling part of it. It seems the team can only score via the home run. They hit three in the third game, including a monstrous shot by Schwarber. They all enjoyed it very much, yucking it up in the dugout and talking glowingly about those dingers and how they felt. Be that as it may, they lost. And they keep losing games they should have won. The offense shut down after the fourth inning. Maybe this team is a little too relaxed, a little too confident it will find its mojo. Maybe it is time for a little more desperation.
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