Coping with a rebuilding season the negatives have seemed to add on for the Cubs. After trading away four veterans in Reed Johnson, Paul Malhom, Ryan Dempster, and Geovany Soto to two teams the positive reinforcements for later success have declined fast. For Franchise Management pulling the trigger to unload these players only to bring new prospects (unlikely to get many starts) was definitely not an intelligent move. Everyone knows the Cubs struggle to manufacture enough run support for the starting pitchers. Why they didn't go out and acquire other veteran hitters is beyond logic. Not only to get the Cubs strain with the injury to Matt Garza and the early setback to former ace Ryan Dempster, but they have virtually no good role players now off the bench. Plus the backup catcher spot isn't fulfilled well either. Too many losses have piled up this season.
In the past week the Cubs have not performed up to par against the first place Reds. They lost the series, 3-of-4 games in Cincy giving limited run production and having not so effective starting pitching as they have reached a 47-73 mark. Getting swept twice on the road in August has shown the club to be sloppy at times with errors, bad decisions on the base paths, and totally lack of execution with runners in scoring to develop offense. Being 20 games under .500 is the pits for any MLB team. In Chicago the front office should have their priorities in order and meet the team's needs by now. Only reaching 44 wins by mid-August is downright pitiful.
The efforts are there again though from Alfonso Soriano, Starlin Castro, and newcomer Anthony Rizzo yet the lineup fans too many times in important run scoring chances. This is not the coach's fault for low offensive production. It appears as if the Cubs are fine when they get off to an early lead (usually 3-4 runs ahead) compared to when they trail in a game, generally 60-70 % of the time. That's just not good to see. Fans can't take but so much fallouts and poor outcomes during the season.
With the Cubs switching players from Triple-A Iowa to the Majors in final 2 months the prospects like Brett Jackson will sure to get their experience by being in the lineup. They don't however have a solidified starting rotation still. So far the minor leaguers brought up have not answered the call to come in and deliver good enough results. It looks to be a total bummer for the rest of the way. Next year without big bats to go with reliable, healthy starters to go the distance nothing will change much in the standings. At least the Cubs can avoid last place which belongs to the truly struggling Houston Astros. Man, this Chicago franchise needs to turn potential into success again. To achieve they have to gather the leadership and talent necessary to rise from their collapse. Then the franchise can reach their goals.
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