Mike North: Maddon, Chicago Cubs need to step it up

I wrote a column a few weeks back about how Cubs fans should chill, but they couldn't contain their glee after winning two of three against the St. Louis Cardinals and took to social media with a vengeance.

The fans were very sure, very arrogant and, yes, very inexperienced.

I guess they are not aware or have forgotten the Cubs would have won many World Series already if the season was two months long. But it isn't.

The Cubs' recent stretch of 9-16 silenced their fan base and had them running for cover.

I have a word for manager Joe Maddon and his team right now: “BRUTAL.”

I know Maddon's extremely popular, but so were Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella. This is Year 2 of the Maddon who lives to let people know he's cool era, and it's time for him to show us what he can do. The manager's job is more important when his team is struggling or needs some motivation, and I haven't seen that happen during this down period.

That being said, the Cubs still are a very healthy 18 games over .500 at the all-star break. Who wouldn't take that?

But the Cardinals and Pirates were more than 10 games back a few weeks ago, and now are 7 and 7½ back, respectively.

Now injuries have done a number on the Cubs, too.

Center fielder Dexter Fowler's injury to his right hamstring was huge, as was Kyle Schwarber's season-ending injury early on, and to a lesser extent the bruised legs Kris Bryant suffered in a collision playing out of position in right field.

The Cubs finally have come down to earth after playing brilliantly, so maybe it's not a crash but more like playing good ball as opposed to stellar ball.

No team could keep that pace all season. The Texas Rangers, for example, were hotter than the Cubs and now they have lost seven of 10.

Ace Jake Arrieta is 12-0 when the Cubs score him 6 runs or more, and 0-4 when they don't.

I wish we could say the Cubs are a cinch for October, but the Giants, Pirates and Nationals are playing better ball right now.

I just feel that the invincible aura the Cubs had at the beginning of the season has worn off. The team is loaded with all-stars, but I'm not sure they feel too much like all-stars right now.

The Cubs start the second half with a nice lead, and hopefully Maddon can get his team to settle down, though it looks like Fowler still will be out another week.

I was busy over the weekend with some national radio hits on other stations talking about Dwyane Wade coming to the Bulls. At the end of almost every interview, I was asked, “What's going on with the Cubs?”

I said simply, “They are the Cubs.”

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• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.