Papa Cub

I disagree - I hope I’m wrong, and that the Cubs make it in, but this team is more than just “slumping.” They’re in a dark place. Due to their poor management, I don’t think they dig out of this free fall quick enough. I believe they will cause too much damage that the Mets & Reds or even the Giants will pass them. Mets will snap out of their funk like they did last year and make it in, along with the reds and cubs fighting it out along with another possible team like SF. You know the Padres, Dodgers, Phillies, and Brewers are shoe ins, and I believe like last two years, the Cubs will once again be home watching the playoffs in October.

Okay - so I’m not alone lol This team shows no signs of life, and they have absolutely zero friggin leadership. I think they’re going to miss out on playoffs. Everyone is saying “Oh, trust the math” blah blah blah……here’s some math (ignorant coach + major slumps from top half of your lineup + shaky pitching = getting your 🫏 kicked and losing games) Oh yeah - and Go Bears!!

Counsell is ignorant and should not be a Big League manager? 🤷‍♂️

Yes!! I like the fact you call it like it is - Counsell’s comments about “this is baseball” “trust the process “ or “we are fine” is a huge pile of 💩!! No - things aren’t fine and you, Craig Counsell, are a huge part of the issue.

I need to vent as a fan - I don’t care if people like the comment or not. I’m tired of this nonsense. First of all - we have a manager that is ignorant. Trying to say “trust the process” or “this is baseball and people need to get over that”, nonsense! Say what it is - the team is struggling a great deal, and we will make changes as we need to, or something to that affect. Also, if he is INSISTENT on making Michael Busch a lead off (that’s straight laughable by the way), then pinch hitting for him in the sixth inning doesn’t show much confidence, Does it? Perhaps you should have a guy like Hoerner leading off. I’l call it what is - the Brewers had the REAL leader on their staff the entire time - Pat Murphy. Counsell likes to make himself look like he’s the smartest guy in the room, but he’s failing miserably at managing this team. Period. Milwaukee is looking at Chicago with a permanent grin on their faces knowing they dumped a liability on them, while they’re burying us in the division. The division is such an afterthought it’s ridiculous. Any fan thinking this team, with this management will somehow come back from this deficit against the Brewers is either lying to themselves or just plain ignorant. They’re head and shoulders better than the Cubs. At this point, I’m going to say this - a wild card birth is unlikely to happen. Just like the last two season, fans will watch this team continue to implode. Anyway - those are my thoughts and the vent session. Do better, Chicago - starting with your management and leadership.

Seems like old Counsell is contemplating some of what we discussed 🤷‍♂️ Some may argue it was a “rest day” for PCA, and it very well could have been just that. The young man needs to clear the mechanism; something that playing every game never allows you to do. Castro was no bueno today, but I understand sitting PCA, Suzuki and even Tucker. “WAR” or whatever; you also “just don’t” sit on your laurels and hope they snap out of it because they had (past tense) good stats. Gotta do what is best for the team - if that means moving guys around in the lineup, DFA to work out their stuff, or sit on the pine for a few games, so be it.

Your article is well detailed and provides a significant amount of data to support your argument. However, as a baseball fan (Cubs fan obviously), I’d like to offer this observation: The young man is in his own head way too much! He’s not confident at all - watching his at bats, I can FEEL the anxiety radiate from him! Yes, we can support his swing issue with longer/shorter strides, how he approaches each plate appearance, but slumps, or in this case, a free fall, is often just one thing: Mental. He’s a hot mess right now, and until that is addressed, I do not see this young man going anywhere near where he once was in the peak of this season. Just my thoughts

Like I said - he’s a superb defensive player for sure. I, like many, am beyond frustrated with the team as a whole right now. They’re getting passed tonight for the top wild card spot. Like last couple years, it seems like they could miss out on the postseason yet again. Just sad and disappointed

Gotta have love for Nico man!! He’s been the only consistent player this season.

Yes sir! I turned tonight’s game off in the third inning - maybe fourth lol Beyond frustrating man! This team is spiraling downward at an alarming rate. It’s sad and hard to watch

That is definitely hard to argue; however, one should contemplate this: Although his defense is superb, is it helping them save more runs than the lack of production he’s exhibited at the plate? In my opinion, his lack of production at the plate is a detriment more so than him playing good defense. Castro would be a better option because he’s a solid defensive player and right know, a much better option offensively.

It’s not being negative saying these things - it’s the truth. I agree with you. This is more than a slump - this is a collapse and spiraling downward in a hurry! Counsell has to make some hard decisions in my opinion: gotta sit some guys down and move that lineup around, move guys up and down - something to stop the bleeding. It appears that Milwaukee hired and kept the real leader of that staff - Pat Murphy, while we got the “other guy “ 🤷‍♂️

We can respectfully agree to disagree on that point. He’s not getting the job done. Period. Allow him time to work with the batting coach (I believe that’s what they’re there for), and work through it that way. Not as a detriment to the team. I like the kid - tons of talent and potential obviously. However, he’s not getting the job done - gotta do what’s best for the TEAM not to please the fans because he’s popular or afraid you’re going to hurt his ego. just my thoughts - I’m not saying you’re wrong in your statement. Just respectfully disagree. Thank you for sharing and commenting. Hopefully they can show some signs of life as a team - soon.

Use him as a DH or work him in the rotation of catchers? I was thinking the same thing too. in any case, this team is an absolute train wreck. The division is a lost cause at this point , and if they don’t find some type of life they will once again miss out on the wild card. PCA needs to take a seat. Castro would be a better option right now for the team. The kid is spiraling downward and forcing him to “work out his slump” isn’t working. It’s more than a slump at this point.

Hello Jason, You’re 100% correct - my comment has zero to do with your article. Your article was well written and informative. I apologize for taking away from your article. Regarding my comment - that can be interpreted negative or positive depending on how you feel at the TIME about the Cubs baseball team. You answered it (filled in the blank) in your own way, and I agree with you. They’re a good team (based on their record), and they’re definitely going through a rough patch to say the least. Like any Cubs fan, I’m hoping for a resurgence from the team and especially from specific players, Happ being one of them among others. My fill in the blank with Happ and the Cubs team from what I have seen (pitching, hitting, management) is the word INCONSISTENCY. You do not know what version you’re getting with this team. I understand baseball is a sport of streaks at times, but good teams figure it out and make things happen. They find ways to win. I’m not seeing that from this team. Personally, the division is an afterthought - losing out yet again on the wild card is a hard reality. It’s not about being negative or pessimistic, it’s what this team has done the past couple years. We get Counsell from Milwaukee and pay him generously - result: Brewers win the division last year and Cubs miss out. This year - I think you get my point. Anyway, I appreciate your comment and time.

Fill this in: ” This team is _______________”

Thank you for stating the truth! Lol no excuses- this team is beyond slumping; they’re doing what they did the last two seasons. The division is an afterthought, and making playoffs is slowly becoming more and more distant as well. Tucker isn’t worth what they’re saying he would be worth lol - PCA has no plate discipline and the team is coming apart piece by piece. It’s a shame. Frustrating to watch them

Cubs will be lucky to get A WIN this series the way their bats are at the moment. They are in a bad way right now. Im not being negative- just a realist. Milwaukee is hands down a better team than Chicago is this season. They dealt with injuries in their pitching staff early on too, but they have made adjustments throughout the year to address their needs, while the Cubs simply did not. I believe the division is an afterthought; making playoffs may be harder than some fans would like to admit too. They are spiraling and unraveling at the seams. Struggling on multiple fronts at the moment. Yes - baseball is a game of streaks, but I feel this is much more than a “bad streak.”

I’d be sure to work with the young star on some plate discipline prior to etching any mega deal. He’s very talented and a gifted ball player, and I hope they can work out an extension - I’d love to see him continue his career as a Cub, but work needs to be done on the offensive side of things.

I apologize ahead of time for the “negativity.” However, is it negativity if there’s a lot of truth to it? As a fan, I can clearly see this team falling apart at the seams. I understand that the game of baseball goes in streaks - a little ebb and flow if you will. With that said, their bats are nonexistent at this point to say the least, we have a manager that seems to base ALL his decisions on righty/lefty “matchups.” Hows that going for ya? So not only are their bats not getting the job done, their bullpen is suspect and starting rotation didn’t really change either. They traded for a guy in Michael Soroka, who clearly had issues with his health for last few seasons. Now he’s on the 15-day IL, which could turn into the season or a large part of it. Oh yeah, then there’s Milwaukee! A team that addressed their needs as they needed them - they didn’t wait and try to be fancy. They just went out and got the pieces they needed. They find ways to win games - Cubs are finding ways to lose them. People can argue that their record is toward the top of the NL. Personally, I think the division is an after thought, and playoffs may be in question if they don’t get their act together between all phases of the game, as well as their management decisions. Those are my thoughts as I watch this team over the last 3-4 weeks. The chasm is growing bigger with each passing day.

Although the Cubs have the pieces they need to make a run through October, I am going to be a bit skeptical about that from what I’ve seen lately. I will explain my thoughts of what I mean. PCA, what he has done this season is extremely impressive, and as a fan I am so excited to have him a part of this team! With that being said, he seems to be very ‘boom or bust’ and shows a big lack of discipline at the plate to say the least. In my opinion, Nico Hoerner has been this team’s MVP so far this season. This is why: CONSISTENCY! Even Tucker has been up and down (by his standards), and Suzuki has fallen off the map since the break. Happ, Swanson, and others are up and down. I’m not naive - I know baseball is about streaks and players going in and out of them all the time. However, I look at players and teams that are consistent, and quite frankly the Cubs have not been that for a while now. Whether it’s the inconsistency in their pitching, hitting from some of their stars, or the relief pitchers as of late. The team is chalked full of potential and exciting players. No doubt about it, and they sit with a solid record at the moment, but I am concerned that if they continue with the inconsistent play, they may fall out of the wild card race at this point. Milwaukee, as much as it pains me, is hands down the better team at this point in the season. Do I need to say why? I believe I mentioned the word several times in this post. Chicago is plenty capable of turning the tide back in their favor (I certainly hope they do!) with the lineup they have, but they need more guys to step up and offer that consistent play. Thank you for taking the time to hear my thoughts as a fan. I welcome feedback from anyone willing to share. Go Cubs!

Well said sir

I agree with your comment. The blog did seem a bit skewed in areas for sure. However, as a Cubs fan, I have to admit that from an “all-around” perspective, I do feel the Brewers have the better team right now. Not superior, but more efficient and consistent I feel. Cubs have more needs to address than Milwaukee. That’s a fact. Cubs have the offense and base stealing and defense, but their pitching is mediocre at best right now. This isn’t being negative, it’s simply looking at the two teams and comparing where they’re at right now.

Can I like this comment twice?! totally agree 👍 Matt Shaw, Wiggins, among others are your future building blocks. 50-70 games (pending playoff games), quite frankly is not worth blowing up your farm system. They need to stick to finding some solid arms for the second half push IMO

Not sure I like it at all - our bullpen has been one of the best in MLB for a large part of the season. I would concentrate on addressing the starting pitching more than relief. Palencia has served exceptionally well as a closer, Thielbar has been a rock, but even names like Brad Keller, Pomeranz, Braiser, and Presley, although have had some shaky performances lately, they have done a solid job throughout this season cleaning up and holding games for the Cubs. Again, I personally feel that addressing the starting pitching is much more important than relief at this point. All teams want upgraded, but you should focus on one area and get better there. Just my thoughts