Think about it for a few seconds because the answer truly is infuriating. We've seen it all the past couple weeks, as the Cubs continue to stumble toward the basement of the NL Central. Friday's 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals displayed several of this team's problems. And well that's it, that's what sucks about the 2024 Cubs. You really can't pinpoint any one thing because the bullpen sucks, the offense sucks, the defense has been bad and the base running has been comical.
It would be nice if we could point to one thing and say, hey just fix that and we'll be fine. For a while fans believed that the main issue plaguing the 2024 Cubs was the lack of a closer or a good bullpen. I recently ranted about the inconsistent to truly bad defense up and down the roster this season and now we're watching some pathetic games on offense. Oh and who could forget the injuries that seem to pop up every other day.
The Cubs bullpen blew two games against the Tampa Bay Rays this week, but if the offense can't score any runs, then you can't blow a lead.
Hayden Wesneski came in to pitch the eighth inning against the Cardinals on Friday at Wrigley Field and immediately gave up a solo home run that gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Wesneski has now allowed five home runs in his last 8.2 innings.
That was all the Cardinals needed because the Cubs offense couldn't do shit yet again. The Cubs were shutout and only recorded three hits, which were all singles.
Dating back to May 13, the Cubs have scored three runs or fewer in 15 of 29 games. During that period the Cubs have gone from 24-17 to 33-37. So I definitely get it. The bullpen being the second worst group in baseball sucks. Hector Neris being trusted to close out games despite overwhelming evidence that he should be nowhere near an high-leverage situations sucks. Yet, I can't help to think that if the Cubs actually hit even a little better, then they wouldn't be this bad in the middle of June.
However, that's this week's complaint because I'm sure soon enough the Cubs will actually get a few hits with runners in scoring position, score more than 2-3 runs a game and then we'll watch the bullpen blow up anyway or the starting pitching will regress.
Blame everyone. We all wanted Cody Bellinger back. He's back and he's underachieved. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson were gold glove winners in 2023, but they haven't lived up to that standard this season. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are as streaky as they come. Christopher Morel has been one of the worst defensive players in baseball and his offense is barely above average. The Cubs have the worst catching duo in the league.
So yeah, I'm on team blame the players. However, Jed Hoyer is the one who put this squad together. He chose Dansby Swanson. The Cubs only plan for third base was putting Morel there with absolutely no backup option to consider. Jed Hoyer signed Hector Neris. This bullpen? That's on Jed's watch. I get it and it's been crazy to see all the pitching injuries, but they've had plenty of time to in the past two years to sign legit relief options and nothing.
So, go ahead, blame Jed.
Craig Counsell? No idea what the hell he's been thinking with Neris. Counsell was supposed to be the difference-maker in the dugout, but I'm still confused as to why he keeps going to Neris in the ninth. But at least with those bullpen decisions I can cut Counsell some slack because he has limited options.
But OK, blame Craig Counsell. From 2023 to 2024, the Cubs have gotten worse on defense and running the bases. Why? Where's the accountability coming from there?
Fuck, man. This team should not be this bad, but it is and there's no easy fix to the current shit-show because there's not just one problem. That's what sucks.
