Followers of the Chicago Cubs have been begging for someone to show some of the frustration they’re feeling inside the clubhouse and organization. Despite how abysmal the team has looked producing runs and holding leads, the message has been the same from those within. They know they are a good team. All they need to do is put it together on the field.
Well, the season is past the halfway point now, and they are virtually where they were last season. In 2023, there were no real expectations to compete as the team was still preparing to enter its competitive window. Still, a hot end of the year found the Cubs just one win away from making the playoffs.
Entering 2024, the hype was about the work the Cubs have done in their minor league system and beginning to incorporate those assets into the MLB lineup. There was also a belief that this season would be the one the Cubs claimed a very winnable division in the Central. However, that isn’t the case.
The Cubs are now in last place and 10.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the Central. They are also four games behind in a wide-open Wild Card race. This is much lower than anyone expected the Cubs to be. However, the evidence would show that this team should not have had much higher expectations than last season.
The same players who played last year are still here. Prospective talent is seemingly blocked by underperforming stars who are expected to do better. The Cubs find themselves in a hole that may be insurmountable. Finally, someone on the team is ready to step up and call it what it is.
This weekend is basically the do-or-die point for the Cubs in 2024. These three games against the Brewers in Milwaukee are a chance for the Cubs to either show some fight or prove they are not ready to contend. Friday night was not great. Saturday got feisty.
After a very messy inning defensively for the Cubs that contributed to losing their two-run lead, starting pitcher Justin Steele came back to the dugout fired up. Another beautiful pitching performance from a stater was being squandered away. Steele returned to the dugout, screaming expletives and telling the rest of the team to wake up.
Credit his words to the team or not, the Cubs were able to rally and end up winning the game. Ian Happ homered late to take the lead, and Hector Neris was able to record the 100th save of his career. What looked like another movie Cubs fans have already seen turned into the plot twist we’ve all been waiting for.
Sunday will be the rubber match of this three-game set. It will be Kyle Hendricks taking the mound in what feels like Game Seven vibes for the Cubs with their backs against the wall. It’s sort of fitting, isn’t it? Hopefully, the offense will show up, and the bullpen can keep things under control.
