Baseball, they say, is a marathon, not a sprint. This is why it’s generally a bad idea to overreact to a big win or a horrible loss.
This time, however, I’m going to make an exception to this general rule.
Because on a night when the Cubs got another solid outing from their starting pitcher and ultimately, Finally, FINALLY After getting a few hits and balls that left the field at the most opportune times, the bullpen just couldn’t hold on to the lead. It was almost as if the relievers were asking themselves, “What’s the most brutal way to lose this game?” » then I went out and did just that.
Of course, that last part is a joke…mostly. I know these relief pitchers are trying do a good job. It’s clear they can’t do it. Period. I’m mad. And if Jed Hoyer isn’t angry this morning, he needs to find a new job.
The Cubs lost to the Giants 7-6. In one game, they led 2-1 going into the seventh and 6-3 going into the eighth and 6-4 going into the ninth. Writing these words, I thought, might be cathartic, but… no, I’m still angry here. I’ll say more about what I think the Cubs should do later, but first, I guess we should start at the beginning.
Once again, a Cubs starting pitcher started the game well, with Javier Assad allowing a few baserunners over the first three innings, but keeping the opponent scoreless.
And guess what? The Cubs didn’t score either! I might use the “Groundhog Day” meme again, but I’m sick of it and most likely so are you.
A bad thing happened in the third. Mike Tauchman attempted to beat a player to the ground on the field. He succeeded… but also got injured (VIDEO).
By #Little Mike Tauchman was removed from the game due to left groin tightness.
-Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) June 18, 2024
This doesn’t look good and a move to the IL seems likely.
The Giants managed a run in the fourth when Assad issued a two-out walk and Mike Yastrzemski doubled.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with two outs on a single by Ian Happ, another single by Nico Hoerner and a walk by Michael Busch.
You knew they weren’t going to score, right? And you were right. Dansby Swanson placed second, another tally in the “failed to bat with RISP” column.
Assad finished five innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out seven. He ran a lot of long counts, walked two and threw 92 pitches, which was certainly enough on a scorching night. The problem, of course, is the “five innings.” The Cubs need more length with the starters because of the title of this recap.
In the bottom of the fifth, Patrick Wisdom, who had replaced Tauchman, walked and advanced to third on a single by Christopher Morel. Another chance with RISP! Cody Bellinger came to the plate.
Here’s what happened (VIDEO).
I mean, I understand that, to a certain extent. The Cubs didn’t score any runs, they wanted to be aggressive. But this ball was rather superficial. Yes, it took a perfect throw, but why not leave the runners on first and third with two outs and Seiya Suzuki up? The game was close, it was reviewed and ruled a “call stand”.
Luke Little relieved Assad and allowed him a walk and a simple bunt sandwiched around a pitch. Hayden Wesneski relieved Little, issued a walk to load the bases, but then recorded a strikeout and flew to left to end the inning.
Dear reader, this is not the last thing I will write about Wesneski in this recap.
The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Suzuki led off with a single but was erased on a double play, the Giants’ third of the game. Nico Hoerner then grounded a player in the infield and that brought out Busch (VIDEO).
Right afterward, I asked the rhetorical question: “Can this bullpen get 12 outs without giving up a run?” »
You knew the answer before the next round even started.
Wesneski led off the seventh by serving a home run to Heliot Ramos. This is the fourth home run he’s allowed in his last five appearances, or in other words, he’s faced 26 batters in those five outings and five of them homered. It’s… pretty bad. My friends, I’m not done with the negative adjectives here either. Wesneski walked Patrick Bailey. After a fielder’s choice, he walked two more batters, loading the bases.
That was it for Wesneski, who threw 36 pitches, only 14 of which were strikes. He faced eight batters. One of them hit a home run and he walked four of the other seven.
Excerpt from JohnW53 of BCB:
Hayden Wesneski became the first Cubs reliever since 1901 to pitch an inning and give up a home run plus four walks. Six previous relievers have allowed four walks but no homers: Roy Henshaw (1936), Bob Locker (1973), Doug Capilla (1980), Mel Rojas (1997), Ryan Dempster (2005) and Jeff Samardzija (2011).
That’s a pretty eclectic list of pitchers, right? As for Wesneski, in his last 10 games since May 22: 7.45 ERA (11.12 FIP), 1.655 WHIP, seven walks and six home runs in 9⅔ innings. This is just brutally bad.
Return to Game: The bases are loaded with two outs and the score 2-2. Mark Leiter Jr. relieved Wesneski and struck out Yastrzemski.
Then it happened (VIDEO).
Leiter, as you can see, was not happy with this call, but the ball appeared to graze Thairo Estrada on his elbow guard. A run scored and the Giants led 3-2.
Then the Cubs offense got to work. Wisdom hit a pop-up between first and second base that remained intact for a single. After a fake pop-up, Bellinger walked.
Suzuki tied the match 3-3 (VIDEO).
And that brought Happ (VIDEO).
In case you’re wondering what happened to that ball:
The ball bounced off the fence at the back of the hall behind us and straight into our driveway, where Jeff collected it.
The Cubs had a 6-3 lead heading into the eighth. Could this bullpen record six outs without giving up three runs?
Well, you know the answer to that question, but this recap continues anyway.
Leiter stayed in the game in the eighth and recorded the first two outs on routine ground balls. Then Giants catcher Patrick Bailey smashed a ball off the right field video board to make it 6-4. The wind blew most of the evening, but this balloon didn’t need any help.
The Cubs came out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth.
Could Hector Neris record three outs without giving up two runs?
Sigh. Again, you know the answer. Neris got the first out on a ground ball in the second. Then Jorge Soler reached for catcher’s interference and Neris issued a walk, the EIGHTH of the game by Cubs pitchers. Believe it or not, this is not peak season. Cubs pitchers walked 10 in that ridiculous 12-11 loss to the Diamondbacks in April. (This game lasted 10 innings, but all the walks occurred in the first nine.)
There are two Giants on base and one out and you can just feel what’s going to happen, which is a three-run homer from Estrada.
It’s one of those situations where you say, “I have no words,” but I’m already almost 1,200 words in and I am. Not. Finished.
The Cubs fell meekly 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and boos poured into Wrigley Field. Normally I’m not in favor of booing the home team unless there’s a lack of effort, but in this case I’m making an exception, these boos were perhaps a reaction to the worst Cubs bullpen I’ve ever had. ‘ve never seen.
Neris? Tired of this act. Simply eat the contract and free him, or trade it for whatever Jed can get. He’s a modern-day Mel Rojas (go look up his numbers if you don’t remember his brief, horrible tenure with the Cubs).
Wesneski? There’s just something about him that makes you feel like he’s a bundle of nerves with every speech he makes. Send him back to Triple-A Iowa. There are four relievers in Iowa who are on the 40-man roster and have options: Daniel Palencia, Porter Hodge, Ethan Roberts and Michael Arias. Jorge Lopez just signed to a minor league, he’s been reasonably effective the last few years, why not give him a try? Eliminate the relievers who can’t break out in the big leagues and bring in one or more of these guys. I mean, How much worse could it be?
I’m tired of watching this bad baseball and so are you. Jed Hoyer, you have been warned. Make changes. NOW.
If you can take them, here are Craig Counsell’s post-game comments (VIDEO).
Here’s the story in two parts and one statistic.
Cubs starters have a 3.45 ERA. That’s sixth-best in the MLB.
Cubs relievers have a 4.59 ERA. This ranks 24th.
Including this game, the Cubs now have 16 blown saves, which is tied for the most in MLB with the Tigers. Convert even a quarter of those into wins and the Cubs would be in second place, 4½ games behind the Brewers.
But they didn’t, and they aren’t.
The Cubs need to turn things around in this bullpen. My fear is that Hoyer will stand there and do nothing. Oh sure, there will be a roster move today, likely with Tauchman heading to the injured list. Maybe we’ll finally see Brennen Davis’ MLB debut. At least it might be fun to watch, unlike this game.
Justin Steele will start for the Cubs in Game 2 of this series on Tuesday night. Giants right-hander Logan Webb will be his opponent. Game time is again at 7:05 p.m. CT and television coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.