The Cubs Offense Stinks Right Now and Other Bullets

Brett Taylor

Jun 13, 2013

In case you missed the latest episode of the BN Podcast, it’s swell and you can listen here. You could also just cut out the middle man and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You have to be paying only modest attention to know that the Cubs’ offense has been brutally bad of late. Anthony Rizzo acknowledges that the Cubs’ recent woes are on the offensive side, and he’s not hitting either. Dale Sveum is all over the offense’s problems, too. That’s all fine, but no one is acknowledging a core issue: even if everyone in the lineup is performing at their career averages, the offense is probably a below average crew overall. It’s not just that these guys are struggling right now – don’t get me wrong, they are – but this was never going to be a lineup that scored six runs a game. Since that five game winning streak, which feels like it was weeks ago, the Cubs have scored just 30 runs in their last 10 games … and eight of those runs came in one extra-inning win. That means they’re scoring LESS than 2.5 runs per game in those other nine games.

One of Sveum’s suggestions for getting the offense back on track, per Carrie Muskat: “Maybe just close the cages up and the video room and strap it on.” Eh hem. Am I really required to be so mature as to not make a comment here?

Carrie Muskat notes Jed Hoyer’s TV quotes yesterday, half of which focus on Starlin Castro’s deep slump. His thoughts on whether you just let Castro be a guy who hits everything and gets 200 hits but with no power, or you try to make him work deeper into counts (because the 2-0, 3-1 counts are when you see a guy really able to turn on the power) are particularly fascinating. There’s no obvious answer with a guy like Castro, and I think that’s what we’re seeing this year.

Dale Sveum didn’t think too much of Matt Garza’s comments that he wasn’t on the same page yet with Welington Castillo, who has caught all of his starts this year. (To be abundantly clear: Garza wasn’t throwing Castillo under the bus, or saying Castillo was the problem in Garza’s awful start against the Reds this week. He was just saying they had to develop more comfort.) Sveum told Cubs.com: “If you get the ball up, it doesn’t matter who’s catching.”

Cubs infield prospect Arismendy Alcantara has been breaking out this year, and FanGraphs is taking note, including him in their Fringe Five (i.e., the top prospects who weren’t on top 100 lists coming into the season).

Jim Callis was on ESPN’s Fantasy Focus podcast discussing, among other things, Javier Baez (thanks to Danny for passing this on). Callis says Baez has actually exceeded expectations defensively at shortstop, and could stick there, even though he’ll probably move eventually when he fills out. Callis expects Baez in the bigs by 2015, but mid-2014 is a possibility. The issue, as we know, is going to be the plate approach. He’s striking out a ton, walking very little, and as he moves up, that’s going to become an even more pronounced problem (because the pitchers will be better, make fewer mistakes for him to destroy, etc.). He’ll have to adjust, and we’ll see what happens.

Speaking of Callis, he dug the Cubs’ drafting strategy this year, getting nice value in rounds four through six (with college pitchers Tyler Skulina, Trey Masek, and Scott Frazier) in part because they took slight reaches in rounds two and three. Though Callis says he isn’t sure Rob Zastryzny would have been there for the Cubs in the third round, so, if they liked him, they were wise to grab him when they did.

You are reminded that the Hot Stove Cool Music festival/concert is coming up June 21 at the Metro (across from Wrigley on Clark), and tickets are still available here. It benefits Theo Epstein’s Foundation to Be Named Later charity, and features cool music (hence the name). If you’re going to be around, it’s worth checking out.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation. You can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation, on Bluesky at @Brett-Taylor, and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs Have Reportedly Talked to Scott Boras About Alex Bregman (But I’m Still Not Biting)

Well, we've officially moved up a rung on the Alex Bregman + Cubs rumor ladder. On January 3, Jon Heyman called the Cubs an "outside possibility" for Alex Bregman. Five days later, Bruce Levine theorized about the possibility of a...

Michael Cerami

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

MLB Spring Training Dates Are Here and the Cubs Are the First Team to Report!

MLB SPRING TRAINING DATES — In case you forgot, for the Chicago Cubs, the 2025 regular season begins before the formal end of the Cactus League/spring training. That's because they are this year's lucky team to open up the season abroad,...

Michael Cerami

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Trade Miles Mastrobuoni to the Seattle Mariners

The Miles Mastrobuoni DFA has reached a resolution, and it's a trade to the Seattle Mariners for cash. That means the Mariners, wanting to claim Mastrobuoni on waivers, decided they had to pay a little extra to get him in...

Brett Taylor

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Justin Steele Has Good News and Good Words on Ben Brown

We've seen some images of young Cubs righty Ben Brown throwing out in Arizona in advance of Spring Training, and we knew he had been cleared for a normal offseason after missing the second half of 2024 with a neck...

Brett Taylor

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Random Thoughts on Mid-Career Tweaks and Groundball Rate

Charlie Morton, who recently signed with the Orioles to pitch in his age-41 season, is perhaps known best for his late-career breakout after heading to Houston in 2017. Despite being a solid-if-unspectacular starter for a decade in the big leagues,...

Brett Taylor

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs Have Not Reached Out to Justin Steele for an Extension

Back in early December, I made the case for the Cubs to open up extension negotiations with their homegrown ace, Justin Steele. Although Steele is already under affordable team control via arbitration through 2027 (his age-31 season), the projected price...

Michael Cerami

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Short-Term Starters, Around the Central, White Sox ZiPS, Moncada, and Other Cubs Bullets

I woke up bummed. I have to reiterate that it's not like I ever expected the Cubs would ACTUALLY land Roki Sasaki, and I'm hopeful that they were smart enough to plan accordingly. But when there's that small chance at...

Brett Taylor

Jan 14, 2025

Chicago Cubs

It’s Over: Roki Sasaki Reportedly Told the Cubs They’re Out

The dream is dead. Roki Sasaki will not be choosing the Chicago Cubs in International Free Agency. Per Sahadev Sharma, the Cubs have been informed that they, like the Giants, Mets, Yankees, and Rangers were told earlier today, are out....

Brett Taylor

Jan 13, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Obsessive Roki Sasaki Watch: Multiple Teams Told They Are Out (UPDATING!)

Just gonna keep updating this one below for the Bachelor-style rose ceremony. UPDATE WITHIN THE INTRO: Sadly, the Cubs did not get a rose. The rest of the post remains below. * * * There are at least two reasons...

Brett Taylor

Jan 13, 2025

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Re-Sign Catcher Caleb Knight

The Chicago Cubs are bringing back some more catching depth for the farm system, having re-signed Caleb Knight to a minor league deal. You may recall that Knight, who just turned 29, has been a catcher at various levels of...

Brett Taylor

Jan 13, 2025

How to Watch

Villanova vs. DePaul Women’s Basketball: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The DePaul Blue Demons (9-9) hope to extend a three-game winning streak when they visit the Villanova Wildcats (8-9) on January 15, 2025 at The William B. Finneran Pavilion.Villanova dropped its previous game to Marquette, 64-59, on Saturday. Maddie Webber...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Wake Forest vs. Stanford Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-4, 4-1 ACC) are 7.5-point favorites as they look to extend a four-game home win streak when they square off against the Stanford Cardinal (11-5, 3-2 ACC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Lawrence Joel...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Tennessee vs. Georgia Prediction: Picks and Betting Odds – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers (15-1, 2-1 SEC) are heavily favored (by 11 points) to extend an 11-game home winning streak when they host the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

TCU vs. Utah Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The TCU Horned Frogs (9-6, 2-2 Big 12) are 4-point favorites as they look to extend a four-game home win streak when they take on the Utah Utes (9-6, 1-3 Big 12) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Ed and...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Oklahoma vs. Texas Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Two struggling teams square off when the Oklahoma Sooners (13-3, 0-3 SEC) host the Texas Longhorns (11-5, 0-3 SEC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET. The Sooners are 3-point favorites as they look to break a three-game...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Iowa State vs. Kansas Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

A pair of streaking teams meet when the No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) host the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET. The Cyclones are 5.5-point...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

SMU vs. Virginia Prediction: Picks and Betting Odds – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The Virginia Cavaliers (8-8, 1-4 ACC) are underdogs (+6.5) as they try to end a three-game losing streak when they host the SMU Mustangs (12-4, 3-2 ACC) at 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at John Paul Jones...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Houston vs. West Virginia Prediction: Picks and Betting Odds – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The No. 10 Houston Cougars (12-3, 4-0 Big 12) are heavily favored (-16) to continue an eight-game winning streak when they host the West Virginia Mountaineers (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

North Carolina vs. Cal Prediction: Spread, Total Points, Moneyline Picks – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The North Carolina Tar Heels (11-6, 4-1 ACC) will try to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the California Golden Bears (8-8, 1-4 ACC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Dean E. Smith Center as heavy, 14.5-point...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

Picks

Butler vs. Seton Hall Prediction: Picks and Betting Odds – Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The Butler Bulldogs (7-10, 0-6 Big East) host the Seton Hall Pirates (6-10, 1-4 Big East) after losing five home games in a row. The Bulldogs are favored by 8 points in the contest, which tips at 7:00 PM ET...

Data Skrive

Jan 14, 2025

The Cubs Offense Stinks Right Now and Other Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News