Week In Review: Cubs Need A Clean Slate

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Can we go back to the All Star break?

We had a slim week, so strap in for a slim recap. I’m in. Let’s sell whatever we can and get back the cornerstone building blocks to secure the next great Cubs team. Cubs fans deserve it. The city of Chicago deserves it. And whatever current players remain with the club after the trade deadline deserve it. There is not much to say, but what went down in one weekend series versus fellow Wild Card hopeful Arizona spoke volumes about who the Cubs are. This team possesses a litany of issues, most of which are on offense. Let’s jump in.

Hoping to get scorching hot in a hurry, the Cubs kicked off the second half from the Friendly Confines with what was on paper, some very favorable pitching match-ups. In game one of this three-game contest, staff ace Justin Steele was snake-bitten by the D-Backs. The often untouchable Cubs’ starter got roughed in this one, giving up five earned runs on nine hits. He walked two batters and struck out six before getting pulled after four and two-thirds innings of work. The Cubs put up a fight late but again succumbed to their penchant for stranding base runners in scoring position.

Final Score: 5-2 Diamondbacks. 

Kyle Hendricks assumed starting pitching duties for game two, and the fading veteran showed why his services are best suited to a bullpen capacity. Not that his offense did the 34-year-old pitcher any favors, failing to score even one run, but a pair of fifth-inning homers for the Snakes sealed the Cubs’ fate. We know that for many reasons, not the least of which is the eventual return of Ben Brown, Hendricks is not long for this starting rotation, but this performance further emphasized that notion.

Final Score: 3-0 Diamondbacks

With designs on salvaging one in front of 40,000+ Wrigley faithful, Shota “Sho Time” Imanaga was magnificent on Sunday afternoon. Easily looking the part of an MLB All-Star, Imanaga took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before giving up a ground ball single into center field off the bat of Arizona’s Randal Grichuk. The pitching Philosopher went seven strong and struck out a career-high ten batters, but it took a ninth-inning rally to set up extra innings drama for the Cubs. The tenth inning would see the Cubbies take the series finale in the most thrilling fashion: a walk-off walk to Nico Hoerner.

Final Score: 2-1 Cubs 

After seemingly being the last to jump on board, I am ready for the Cubs to sell. This team needs a shot in the arm more than Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. I just want to see winning baseball. With the month of July drawing to a close, the Cubs host the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game set that should all but close the book on any faint postseason hopes this team possessed. The Cubs need to get back to winning ways. It’s time for a clean slate. 

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