Cubs Pissing Away Chance to be Serious Contenders

Yes, this is another post about Matt Mervis. No, I won't stop writing about how he should be called up and inserted into the lineup until he finally is.

This past weekend was frustrating to say the least, as the Chicago Cubs got swept by the Miami Marlins. What made it even more annoying is that the Cubs lost all three games by one run each time and the team combined to go 4-for-25 with runners in scoring position.

You know, it is pretty easy to point to the dude who keeps mashing baseballs at Triple-A, and say just call him up, he'll fix things. But it's not just that Matt Mervis is destroying baseballs with the Iowa Cubs, it's that the Cubs do not have anyone on their roster that has the potential to be good at either DH or first base.

I don't care how good of a guy Eric Hosmer is and has been inside the Cubs clubhouse. Sure, if this was 2022, a year in which the Cubs were not trying to compete for a postseason spot, have Hosmer stick around to mentor some of the young guys coming up. This isn't 2022 though.

The Cubs began the 2023 season with expectations to be a playoff team and no, this isn't just me saying that and it's not some made up narrative from others in the fan base either. This expectation was coming straight from the owner's box.

Jan. 15, 2023, Tom Ricketts was quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times.

‘‘We feel like our team will compete for the division this year,’’ he told the Sun-Times while seated at a coffee table in a suite across the street.

‘‘We had a couple of years where we had to be careful to think about the longer-term prospects of the team rather than the shorter term,’’ Ricketts said. ‘‘But I think we’re coming out of that now.’’

So yes, it is frustrating that we are now at the end of April and it does not seem like the Cubs are acting with a sense of urgency to actually put together their best roster on the field every game.

We have seen one move that gives you hope the Cubs aren't married to every single free agent that they signed in the offseason. Luis Torrens made it onto the Opening Day roster, but he was designated for assignment earlier this week, so that 24-year-old outfielder Nelson Velázquez could remain on the 26-man active roster.

Cool. So, when are the Cubs going to call up Mervis?

What exactly do the Cubs like about Eric Hosmer's .674 OPS? I know the Cubs don't actually think Hosmer is a defensive stud at first base (he's been really bad for years now) because through the team's first 27 games he's only started at first 13 times.

I know that the fans who are still resistant about bringing up Mervis from Triple-A are scared of the unknown. They grab onto the thought of, "what if Mervis is bad?" Well, for those people, have you thought about the possibility that Mervis could be good? And even if he's not, the bar is so low that even if he struggles, Mervis can still be more productive than Hosmer.

On Sunday, Mervis continued his mashing with the Iowa Cubs, going 3-for-4, with 3 RBI, 4 runs, including two doubles, while reaching base four total times with an additional walk.

Mervis is now slashing .295/.407/.580, with 6 HR, 27 RBI, 27 R and he has as many strikeouts as walks at 17.

Wouldn't the Cubs want to find out if Mervis is actually the real deal as soon as possible? Doesn't seem like it according to Tommy Birch, who covers the Iowa Cubs.

The heaviest of sighs.

I hope I'm wrong and that when we look back from the end of the season the Cubs didn't wait too long and ultimately regret this lack of urgency. My offer is still on the table though. I'll buy Mervis' ticket to DC, so he can be ready for Monday's game against the Washington Nationals.

And screw it, upgrade Mervis to first class and I'll pay for that, too.