Well I’ve written a number of times about the Cubs. From their
anemic offense to the fact they have yet to play like a playoff bound
team even questioning the fact Starlin Castro is still on the team. He
is still with the Cubs but I am now ready to give them their due. Back
in 2005 the Cubs Manager Dusty Baker was consistently questioned about
why he would not drop the strike out prone soon to be former slugger
Sammy Sosa in the line up. It was a question that he finally
acknowledged and dropped him from his usual three or four spot. Joe
Maddon has finally decided he will not be the next manager fired because
of Starlin Castro and took him out of the line up altogether. The Cubs
have finally gotten over the hump and are playing like they should
though many say that they are still ahead of schedule. There’s no such
thing in Wrigleyville. When a team looks like it can contend the
faithful start up with the this is the year chants. I’m not drinking the
Kool Aid just yet. Especially when it took them this long to get to ten
games over .500. I’m still not sold on Lester as our ace going in to
the playoffs. Some of that big money he got to come here is probably
getting to his head. Jake Arrieta is the one I’d give the ball to in a
one game playoff type situation. And not to be too much of a downer will
Kyle Schwarber and the rest of the young stars play like this next
year? We are still in a division where the Cardinals are the standard
bearers. Any world series title will have to go through St. Louis and
they look as dominant as I’ve ever seen them.
Still the Cubs are 61-48 and whatever they do with Castro now he knows
there’ll be no more blaming his mistakes on his youth. I’d been told
many time this was his last year in a Cub uniform. I feel for the kid
because he’s talented and he’s seen his share of losing seasons. And you
never want to see your team take off while you’re on the bench. All
kind of thoughts start to swirl. With the Cubs being a National League
team at best he’d be relegated to pinch hitting if this benching keeps
on. Thoughts of being traded are swishing around in your head. Maybe
some anger at the manager who made the choice to bench you. This wasn’t a
decision that came down from on high. This shows Joe Maddons true value
after thinking for some time anyone can manage a .500 level team.
Outsideanalysis.com
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