June 27, 2019: Wearing Thin

Maybe this is one of those days where I should wait to write this, because I’m pissed. After storming out to take the first game of this series, the Cubs have dropped 2 straight. Yes, Atlanta is no slouch, and the games have been close, but I’m tired of seeing the Cubs scuffle along. Thankfully, we’re still in 1st place, and not digging ourselves deeper into a hole. Still, this has to get better and quickly.

Couple guys I want to take to task here. Let’s start with Yu Darvish. My patience is wearing thin with him more than anybody, you? We hear about the Jason Heyward deal, and how bad that is. Let me tell you something, that pales in comparison to this, and that’s saying something. And by the way, Jason was part of the team that finally did it, so there’s that. We see Gleyber Torres doing great for the Yankees, and people are like why did we trade him? Those people are stupid… really stupid, because who we got in return for him was absolutely critical in the winning of the 2016 World Series. Sure, would I like to see Torres across from Baez up the middle, but without Chapman we still may be in the desert, so no brainer. Recently the Quintana trade is being shredded; jury is still out on that one. I’ve already talked about that recently. But when it comes to the worst single move of this front office, it starts and ends with Yu Darvish. Does he have time to change this? Sure. Most definitely. When do you think that’s going to start happening? Because we need wins… now… not a never ending streak of no decisions sprinkled with some losses. Because at this pace, Darvish shouldn’t even be considered postseason worthy. Because if we don’t get better pitching out of him, we may not see the postseason. Because if the Cubs were running out the best 5 starting pitchers right now, Yu would be in the bullpen, or maybe a few hundred miles west in Iowa; yeah, I said it. I would love to see him turn it around, obviously. His game in LA was his best pitched game in a Cubs uniform. But that seemed more like a fluke than anything to count on. Honestly, I’d rather run the rookie out there than him right now. We need wins now; can we wait for Yu to figure it out?

Next up is Addison Russell. How long we going to wait for him to get it together? If I’m guessing, it ain’t going to happen… at least not here in Chicago. All the off the field stuff has impacted his on the field play; I don’t see a way around that. Mentally, he’s shot. Do I think he can still be a good baseball player? Sure. Do I think he can be that player in a Cubs uniform? I’m having my doubts. What would he bring back in a trade? I’m not thinking much. But if some team were to give us something halfway decent… Yeah, his defense is still very good… but how much are we losing running Bote out there on defense? Not much. And I’d much rather have him getting ABs. The Descalso ship seems to have sailed, but certainly if/when Zobrist comes back, gotta put him ahead of Addison. Every time he’s up there making outs, I find myself getting more and more pissed.

Like I said, maybe I should have waited to write this. But too late now; it’s out… and you know what, I feel a little bit better. That and the fact that the Cubs still are hanging on to first place through it all… it’s not so bad after all. Waiting to fly the W again. Go Cubs!!!