A Disappointing Series

All in all the Cubs were disappointing to say the least in the Milwaukee series.  Sure, they came back to win big in the 14 inning opener, but, when you look at it, they scored only two runs in regulation through the entire series.  Not very impressive when you consider they got excellent pitching from Quintana and Montgomery, as well as the bullpen, and a not awful start from Chatwood.

I had kind of attributed the lack of run production even on the prior homestand to the cold weather.  In retrospect, something deeper is at work here.  These guys are very streaky and when they are not on their game, they are suckers for the high fastball and for changeups out of the zone.  I would not say the current stretch of games vs. the Brewers, Cardinals, and Dodgers are in any sense a make-or-break moment, but the Cubs need to get it together and at least hold their own.

A couple of peaves with Maddon's style.  The first and worst is pulling pitchers who are doing well too soon.  Maddon is obsessed with managing his bullpen and the Cubs, as usual, are keeping the Iowa shuttle going with constant reinforcements.  The thing is this, if you keep taking Hendricks and Quintana out in the fifth inning when they are pitching well, you are creating the problem you are moaning and complaining about.

The other thing is the lineups.  I don't mind seeing players get a day off or even the lineup shuffles, but their are some decisions that make little sense.  If you are playing an afternoon game after a night game with a day off coming, do you have to sit both Bryant and Contreras?  And it is OK to start Gimenez, but in a 1-0 game in the 9th inning, do you have to let Gimenez hit for himself with Bryant on the bench?

Actually, I'm kind of confused why Gimenez is even on the team right now.  The Cubs picked him up mainly, I suppose, because of his history of catching Darvish.  Darvish, however, is on the DL and is unlikely to pitch this month.  That's another question, I guess.

Well, on to St. Louis.  The Cubs need to start scoring runs, and they really need to win both the Cards series and the LA series back in Chicago to prove they are the team they think they are.