Tuesday Was One Helluva Chicken Little Game for Cubs
If Tuesday’s series opener against the Mets was a litmus test, the Cubs came out looking basic as hell. Which is ironic given all the acid brewing in fans’ stomachs following the 9-7 loss that saw the Cubs blow a 6-1 lead to drop their fifth in a row. It was the first time this month and just the third time in the second half that they’d lost when scoring five or more runs. The Cubs actually had four previous losses in which they scored seven, all 7-8 scores, the first of which came against the Padres back on April 6.
Well, that’s great. That’s just f—–‘ great, man! Now what the f— are we supposed to do? We’re in some real pretty s— now, man!
Yes, those same Padres who won last night to close the gap for the top Wild Card spot to just 1.5 games with five left to play. While the Cubs still control their own destiny, it sure looks like they’ve taken their hands off the wheel to let fate guide them the rest of the way. At this point, many are just hoping they can reach the finish line intact.
We’re on an express elevator to hell, going down!
Kyle Tucker‘s status is still up in the air, though the right fielder is at least back with the team and doing some light running drills. He’ll serve as the DH for a while if and when he’s ready to return, which could happen by the weekend. A much bigger concern is the availability of Cade Horton, who was lifted after just three innings and 29 pitches with what the team is calling lower back tightness.
That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over! What the f— are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?
The move appears to have been made out of an abundance of caution, as Horton was using a heating pad on his back during the game and Michael Soroka was warming in the bullpen while the rookie was still pitching. The Cubs had also jumped out to a comfortable early lead, scoring five runs in support of the rookie starter. Given the way they’ve managed Horton’s workload amid a big jump in innings and pitches this season, it felt like Craig Counsell had his hand on the eject lever and was just waiting to pull it.
That seemed to have been a decent move at first, what with Michael Soroka touching 96 mph with his sinker and spinning nasty slurves to keep the Mets at bay before the Cubs jumped up 6-1. They hadn’t lost a game in which they’d held that large an advantage, nor had the Mets come from behind against such odds.
Maybe we got ’em demoralized.
Then the wheels fell off as the Mets stormed back with a five-spot in the 5th, thanks to a whole lot of contact and a terrible error by Dansby Swanson. Another run in the 6th was answered by the Cubs in the bottom of that frame, but the usually trustworthy Caleb Thielbar surrendered a two-run homer in the 8th that effectively iced the game. But as much as this game may have sucked, not all was lost.
Hey, maybe you haven’t been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!
Yes, Private Hudson, I have been keeping up and I’m well aware of how bad things look right now. The fact of the matter is that the Cubs still hold the top spot and they should be getting their best hitter back to face a staggering Cardinals team over the final weekend of the season. Horton should be good to go in a week after getting some treatment and sticking to his protocols. All they’ve got to do is survive the next five games.
Hey man, I don’t wanna rain on your parade, but we’re not gonna last seventeen hours!
F it, dude, you’re right. The Cubs are toast, and they have been for a while now. The offense has dried up and the pitching that had been carrying them — maybe that’s why Horton’s back was tight — appears to be showing signs of overuse. Matthew Boyd hit a wall a while back and has a 4.74 ERA (4.25 FIP) in the second half, with Shota Imanaga sitting at 4.06 (3.98) since the break. At this point, those two may be a battle to start Game 3 of the Wild Card series behind Horton and Jameson Taillon.
But what if Horton’s back doesn’t get better and he can’t go for the postseason? And what if Tucker’s calf keeps him out of the lineup as well? The Cubs are going to lose home-field advantage and both of the first two games in San Diego, ending the year with a whimper reminiscent of those in their last two postseason appearances in 2018 and ’20. Then the Brewers are going to win the whole damn thing.
Okay, that last part was laying it on a little thick. I’m not nearly as pessimistic as the late Bill Paxton’s character from Aliens, though the Cubs being unable to fight their way out of a wet paper bag with scissors in their hand is highly demoralizing. They really need to turn things around over these next two games or it’s gonna get really ugly around here.
