One may be an isolated incident. Two is a trend.
For the second game in a row, a Cub pitcher has had a verbal altercation with a coach in the dugout. Last night it was pitcher Jeff Samardzija and third base coach David Bell.
During the Cubs loss to the Brwers, Samardzija argued with Bell about his defensive alignment on play which involved Anthony Rizzo being too far off the line. The Brewers smacked a triple down the first base line. However, the player, Aoki, did not score.
"They were screaming a little bit on a strategy," Dale Sveum said playing down the incident.
Since the play did not result in a run, there should have never been an off-field argument when the players got to the dugout.
Samardzija admitted that the issues are about frustration. Players are evaluated on their wins and losses. A starting pitcher can only do so much to keep his team in the game for a chance of victory.
The problem with the Cubs is that the team is not winning. The team has not been winning for a long time. Athletes have trained their entire lives to win games. The whole point of competition is to win. But the Cub management message has been the opposite. The player frustration may be fueled by the message that the front office is telling the media.
Earlier in the day, the front office all but absolved Sveum over the dismal record of the team.
Management said that Sveum will not be judged on wins and losses as he approaches
the conclusion of his second season in the dugout. But that doesn't mean
he won't be scrutinized, as ESPN reported.
"Anytime an organization suffers back-to-back potential last-place
seasons, you have to examine every single aspect of the organization,"
team president Theo Epstein said Tuesday afternoon.
Sveum is 124-185 as Cubs manager. He is nearing the end of a three-year deal before the 2012 season. The team has an option for 2015.
"That's a subject that gets addressed after the season," Epstein said, regarding Sveum's future.
Epstein indicated every situation is different in regards to the idea
of a lame duck manager going into 2014. Though Sveum won't be evaluated
on wins and losses, there's still plenty to dissect.
"I think we've been very up front," Epstein reiterated. "We're not evaluating Dale based on wins and losses."
"There's development of young players," Epstein explained. "That's an
important factor. There's in-game decision making. ... The way the
manager uses the roster. ... There's the ability to create a culture of
accountability, hard work, preparation. That's a factor."
The Cubs' front office has especially liked Sveum's demeanor. Whether that's handling the benching of shortstop Starlin Castro earlier in the season or managing tempers as he had to do Monday night when pitcher Edwin Jackson was upset he got pulled after four innings.
"As far as incidents and tempers flaring there really haven't many,"
Epstein said. "Teams take on the personalities of their managers. Dale
being so even-keeled and calm has rubbed off on the atmosphere here. With respect to keeping the clubhouse incident-free, he's done a remarkable job."
The more debatable issues involve young players developing and in-game decisions. Castro and first baseman Rizzo have had their struggles but catcher Wellington Castillo has improved as has pitcher Travis Wood.
And while Sveum can be questioned about moves within a game, he's had
to deal with a franchise record number of players on the roster in
back-to-back years. That's made his job harder.
"Then there is the ability to develop solid, trusting relationships
with players so you can get through periods when you don't see eye to
eye," Epstein said. "As a whole Dale has had a nice, calming effect on
the club. He's established a level of professionalism that's admirable."
Many people believe that Sveum was hired over big name managers or fan favorite like Ryne Sandberg was that Epstein wanted to hire a field manager who he could control; someone who would not bitch in the media about his roster or the stings of losses during a team rebuild. Sveum was hired to be a caretaker and not a franchise builder.
The Cubs starting pitchers are frustrated because they have near the league lead in quality starts. They have seen their fellow quality starters being traded away for no current roster help to win games now. The losses constrict personal stats which can affect a player's future salary in arbitration and free agency. Costing games is one thing, but costing a player money is another.
The surprising fact is that it could this long in the season for the anger to boil over into public view.
