Tense Loss

Some observations on the tiebreaker loss.

The Cubs are just so inconsistent on offense.  On Monday, they were in full swing mode.  Granted Chacin was throwing strikes, but there are other ways to raise the pitch count, like spoiling pitches and fouling balls off.  When the Cubs are in swing mode they never score unless they hit a home run.  Should they survive the Wild Card Game vs. Colorado, they are not going to advance unless they straighten out their heads.

I probably would not have removed Quintana with such a low pitch count even though there were some hard hits.  Pitching to Yelich with a runner at third was dumb and cost them a run. Removing Quintana unnecesssriky worked out well because Chavez was able to go two scoreless innings, but, still, Maddon has a tendency to pull his pitchers too early and given the almost complete meltdown of the relief corps since the Strop injury, this is a luxury he cannot afford.

Maddon was out-managed throughout the game by Counsel.  Granted the Brewers have a superior bullpen, using the combination of Wilson and Cishek in the eighth inning was a big blunder.  These two, along with Edwards and Kintzler, have been largely ineffective all through September.  They ought to be better, but they are not.  If you wanted a lefty to start that inning, the better options were Rosario or De La Rosa or Garcia.  Why you would want a lefty in that spot is a bit of a puzzle.  Presumably to keep Shaw on the bench.

Bottom line, the Cubs hitting approach is just completely messed up right now, but Maddon has to stop the micro-managing or at least do a better job of it.  I like their chances against the Rockies tonight.  Lester is a big game pitcher.  Freeland is pitching on short rest.  Should they survive, they have every chance to beat the Brewers who are bound to cool off sometime.  The Cubs have superior starting pitchers, though that is balanced out by the Brewers bullpen strength.  Position for position the Cubs are a superior team with the exception of Cain and Yelich.  Of course, they have not played like that for a month.