Joe Maddon thinks the Cubs have been playing better in the past week.
The
team has gone 6-4; mostly due to the spark of Rizzo in the lead off
spot. However, it has been feast or famine for both hitting and then
pitching which keeps the Cubs mired at .500.
Even if
the Cubs play at a 6-4 pace through the end of the season, they would
win 90 games. 90 games could win the NL Central as most people believe
the Brewers do not have the pitching to contend late in the season. Both
wild cards are expected to come from the NL West.
With
Schwarber demoted, Russell with a shoulder issue, Hendricks have finger
tendonitis for more than a month, Zobrist has nagging injuries, Heyward
on the DL, things are much rougher this season than last year's
championship run.
The biggest missing pieces have been:
1.
Lead off hitter. Fowler was the catalyst for the Cubs offense. As
noted, for 140 years, your lead off hitter got on base, the second
hitter moved him over or got on, setting the RBI table for your best
hitters in the three and four slots. Bryant and Rizzo should be hitting 3
and 4. But there is no one Maddon trusts to lead off or bat second.
2.
Consistent starting pitching. Arrieta is still an enigma. He has
reverted to his Baltimore problems. Lackey is just about out a gas.
Butler is a fifth starter which means that he can throw innings but not
much is expected from him except to eat innings. The lack of starters
going deep into games is taxing the bullpen. Long relief has been the
premium this year, and now that Montgomery is in the #4 spot in the
rotation, the Cubs are carrying an extra arm in the pen.
3.
Lack of focus. It seems the Cubs are not playing with the same
enthusiasm as the club did in 2016. It may be natural for a champion to
let down his guard. He was won the trophy. He expects to be treated like
a king. He wants to bask in the glory of his accomplishment. He wants
to hold on to his place in history. He wants to reap the rewards. There
have been so many Cubs with new endorsement deals and media shows that
it has to have some level of distraction. There is not a concrete goal
in place where the team can focus on to achieve. Getting back to the
Series is not the same as remembering they won the Series.
The
national baseball writers still believe that the Cubs will turn things
around and play like last year's team. They still believe there is
plenty of time to get on a "hot streak." Remember when Maddon said the
Cub bats would come alive in the hot weather? This June was one of the
hottest on record and the Cubs bats are still in a funk.
Sending
Schwarber down to the minors may have been the wake up call the team
needed, but many may have slept through it. The Cubs are expected to
make several major deals by the trade deadline. But finding a
professional lead off hitter and a quality starter will be tough.
