North: Cubs need a wake-up call, and it's up to Maddon
The Chicago Cubs have always hung their hat on the slogan, “Hope springs eternal.”
But being under .500 (25-27) just after Memorial Day wasn't the plan for a team fresh off a World Series championship with a 103-58 regular-season record last year.
Body language tells a story, and I saw a picture of the Cubs dugout taken during a losing effort to the lowly San Diego Padres (22-33), who just happened to sweep the Cubs in a three-game series. Five players were pictured and all had their arms folded.
Now, it wasn't an arms folded “we're all that” look. No, it was more like a baffled, “what is happening?” look.
The Cubs seem to be stuck in the mud, and Joe Maddon hasn't managed worth a darn since Game 5 of the 2016 World Series against Cleveland.
That said, everyone — including me — seems to think things will turn around.
In a glaring move that went under reported, Theo Epstein showed up in San Diego for the series, which is usually done for one of two reasons: to evaluate the troops or to rally them.
I don't think he was evaluating them, so the rally attempt didn't work.
Right now the team's starting pitching is pretty horrid, and it might be derailing the offense.
Anthony Rizzo (.227) has been streaky and more to the bad than good. Kris Bryant (.278) and Rizzo just can't seem to put a game together like other all-star combos. Think Willie Mays and Willie McCovey or Ron Santo and Ernie Banks or Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris or Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron!
I can't remember the last time Rizzo and Bryant consistently put up big numbers in the same game.
If you're searching for the guy who can right the ship, look no further than manager Joe Maddon. After all, this guy helped pull off the seemingly impossible by winning the club's first World Series in 108 years.
But Maddon can't play for the guys, and now he has pretty much turned into an American League manager, which he has been in the past. The National League plays small ball, and though it does rely on the home run it is more a thing of the past.
This Cubs team is still more home run or nothing, so while everyone is worried about Kyle Schwarber (.165) getting his batting average up, the real question is this: will Maddon shake up the pitching staff?
Last year was last year. Maddon won't get down on his team and he shouldn't, but he is in charge of igniting them.
Someone on Twitter said that if they didn't win last year and were playing this poorly now, Maddon's job might be in jeopardy.
Maybe so, but so should some of the players if this season doesn't shake out.
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