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Breakdown: What’s Wrong With the Cubs

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This Cubs team has an entirely different feel to it compared to last year’s. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s wrong with the Cubs.

  • Last night Geovany Soto was replaced for a pinch-hitter. The hitter was Bobby Scales and he was trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt. The Rookie of the Year is being replaced by the career minor-leaguer to lay down a bunt. Speaks volumes.
  • Milton Bradley was injured again, this time straining his right calf running out a grounder.
  • Carlos Zambrano blew off the team flight to Atlanta. This after his well-publicized freakout and suspension. And he’s not pitching like an ace.
  • There are only 2 players that have been excellent at the plate this year. One is the injured Aramis Ramirez. The other is the player most people left for dead, Kosuke Fukudome.
  • The only pitcher in the rotation pitching as well or better than expected is Ted Lilly. The others have been hurt, bad and inconsistent.
  • The bullpen has been awful. Cotts was finally shown the door. Marmol has walked almost a batter an inning. Kevin Gregg has already allowed 5 home runs, has an ERA over 5 and has a WHIP of 1.66. Heilman walks too many hitters too.
  • The Cubs are 13th in the NL in runs scored, ahead of only San Diego, Houston and the Giants. They are 11th in average, on-base percentage and walks.

There are plenty of games left. But the players look lifeless and the manager looks increasingly uncomfortable. He needs to shake it up even more. Move Marmol to closer. Get Soriano out of the leadof spot once and for all. And hope they are still in it when Ramirez comes back.

Posted by admin on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 5:59 am 
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  • http://notqualifiedtocomment.com Stormin Norman

    Honestly all those points are correct and depressing. I think they shouldmove Soriano back to second and get some other people at-bats in the outfield (jake fox, reed johnson, micah hoffpauier)

  • dhaab

    Soto is a shell of what he was last year. His bat is slow and even his defense looks worse to me.

    Fukudome has been very consistent and is really the only potent bat in the lineup on a day-to-day basis.

    Losing Ramirez was the worst thing that could have happened to the Cubs. He’s the one player who can hit for average and power while driving in the big runs when they’re needed. Nobody can make up for his absence.

    Moving Marmol to closer isn’t the answer to this teams woes. He’s never been consistent with his control and it seems to be getting worse this year.

    Honestly, I just don’t think this team has that “mojo” anymore. Many of the core veterans look older/slower and after getting swept in the first round of the playoffs for a 2nd straight year, they just don’t have that swagger anymore.

    With all that being said, it’s still very early in June and the Cubs are only 5 games out of first. Still a lot of games to be played.

  • http://424tales.blogspot.com Aisle 424

    “Losing Ramirez was the worst thing that could have happened to the Cubs. He’s the one player who can hit for average and power while driving in the big runs when they’re needed. Nobody can make up for his absence.”

    Absolutely. Ramirez has been this team’s best hitter since arriving in 2003 with the one fluke year by Lee as the exception. There was no contingency plan that would have adequately replaced his bat in the lineup in the case of injury. Not even the mighty DeRosa would be able to fill in that hole in the lineup.

    I’m starting to feel the season slipping away.

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