Chicago Cubs: May Summary
A lot has changed since my last post on the Cubs. When I broke down their opening month, I noticed a consistent pattern. They tended to fall behind early, and didn't seem to remember how to play until about the 6th inning. This obviously doesn't sound good, but they did often pull off a win, finishing April 2 games over .500. There weren't many ups and downs, just consistent mediocrity. The same could not be said about their recent performance.
Many words could be used to describe the Cubs' last month, but consistent is not one of them. The roller coaster started with a 3-1 series win over the Phillies, only to lose the next 3 series, winning just 2 games. The Cubs would then do the complete opposite and go 7-2 in their next 9. They then finished the month by getting swept twice, and only scoring 9 runs in all 6 games. In total, they went 12-16, which brings them 2 games under .500 on the year. This clearly isn't what we expect to see from the Cubs.
So, what exactly is happening to this team? What is the source of the problem? Well, I would say that the Cubs are still experiencing the toll that a World Series can have on you. The Cubs were a few weeks behind every other MLB team. Their playoff run, as well as the celebrations that followed, have set the team back. Most professional athletes have a regular routine, and a change in that routine can affect them in a very noticeable way. This is what I believe has happened to guys like Rizzo, Russell, and Schwarber, all of whom are batting under .230 this year, and under .200 in May.
Now, it isn't just those three guys. Nearly everyone seems at least a bit out of whack. The team as a whole had the worst batting average in the month of May, batting just .216. That isn't the only category where they struggled though. The Cubs failed to crack the top 15 in nearly every offensive stat, other than Home Runs. Pitching is more of the same story. They are in the bottom half of the league in just about every imaginable stat, except strikeouts.
I do have one bit of good news for you Cub fans. Despite the seemingly terrible play, the Cubs aren't far from the top of their division. They currently stand in 3rd place, and are only 2.5 games behind the 1st place Brewers. If the Cubs' absolute worst level of play still keeps them in playoff contention, we probably shouldn't be panicking. Once they find their stride this team won't have too many obstacles stopping them. I'm sure many of you are finding it hard to imagine them finding that stride, but just remember this. This is a team of great players. You saw them play last year. You know what they are capable of. You should have faith in this team. I sure do.
