Offense could lead to early playoff exit for Chicago Cubs

Offense could lead to early playoff exit for Chicago Cubs

There are concerns that could lead to an early playoff exit for the Cubs. Let’s go. You are Locked on Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. Alongside Samber, I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans, taking our passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. This episode is brought to you by FiveHour Energy. And enough with the boring flavorless caffeine. It’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5Hour Energy shots. Go to fivehour energy.com or Amazon today. The Cubs got swept by the Reds in a 4-ame series. losses by scores of one- nothing. 74 63 and that’s right, one- nothing. The Cubs are now 88 and 68 on the season. Only six games remaining in the regular season. The wild card series awaits on September 30th, likely against the Padres’s. We’ll go over the wild card standings later. Also, some top concerns as the Reds, meanwhile, storm back in this race. Sam, the Cubs have already clinched a playoff spot. They did that Wednesday. But to drop all four games right after was a very unpleasant surprise this weekend, was it? I mean, yes, it was. It was a major buzzkill. Yeah, it was a buzz. It was a buzz kill. I wouldn’t call it a shocker. Um, this team, you know, for four months is just some ups followed by downs, some ups followed by downs. Uh, uh, you know, the great Jeff Carr over at Locked Reds, I I expect a holiday gift, uh, from him of some sort because the Cubs, assuming the Cubs do bounce back and take a couple from the Mets, that they basically just, you know, walk the Reds right into the playoffs. Um, yeah, you know, the NL NL Central, the division of champions. But, uh, look, it’s just a really tough lineup to watch. Um, I I I No, the offense is putrid. You know, I don’t even know how really angry I am. I mean, if you were to tell me that in late September, uh, you know, the lineups, her half, Suzuki, Kelly, Santana, Swanson, Turner, Bush, Alcantra, like you know, you’re missing some key guys. And obviously I know it was a lefty so Pete didn’t play and they did some platooning and whatnot but you know go back watch our episodes uh from the off season. This team is was built around meant to be built around a star player and and we could sit here and debate whether Kyle Tucker is that or not with the season that he’s had but but we can’t debate that the Cubs are a better lineup when he’s in it. And I don’t know how much you more you could ask for Nico and Dansby being half. We know those guys, right? We know, especially Dan being half. We know their limitations. They are they are not the type of players that could carry you for months and months at a time. They they’ve held down the fort. They’ve done what they needed to do. Pete a and Seiya haven’t hit in months. Uh Bush is finally starting to show some signs of life, which is great, but but you need other guys. And without him in the lineup, I mean, we’ve said this, it’s just hard to take this team seriously offensively. Tyone pitched great on Sunday. Uh I was all right. No, he wasn’t. Yeah, it wasn’t great. Uh Assad fine. Uh Ray pitched Ray pitched great. It’s outstanding, but it’s just, you know, we always talk about floors and ceilings and this team’s ceiling feels like, you know, you’re at like a when you stand up and the ceiling’s touching your head, unless Kyle Tucker comes back, right? They bump their head and they need to mop the floors as well. I mean, h how far can a team go? Suzuki’s hitting third. He hasn’t hit a home run since I don’t even know, mid August, early August. Oh, I think you should hit us with a historical reference there. I I don’t think Suzuki has hit a home run uh uh uh uh you know, since since President Carter’s administration. Um, and I’ll say this, you know, Pete, this guy went into the All-Star break with 25 home runs and he seriously might not get to 30. Well, and as my dad reminded me earlier today, he ran the Cubs 5K today, by the way. Oh, congrats. Congrats to him. Seiya had what, 80 RBI runs batted in at the break and now he has like 87. Yeah. And Illinois lost something along those lines. And Illinois lost like 100 to three. I mean, wow. Their season’s over. I I when we read FanDuel, I’ll talk about that. Their whole secondary is out for maybe this season. So, the Cubs had not one but two stars for basically the whole first half. They lit up the box score. They were named starters to the All-Star team and now one of them is out with no return date and the other one is literally the worst hitter in the National League since August 2nd. You could look it up. I did it today. Yeah. And it’s like, look, I I So, it’s no wonder the off I feel Sam the offense would be the reason for the early exit. And it’s no wonder when you break it down like we have just in the five minutes. Yeah. And just just from a strategic standpoint because I do think these wild card games are going to be low and close. Um I just thought council I just want to just real quick I know we’re talking big picture. Just can I just real quick just talk about how ridiculous Well, no. I did want to ask you about his decision-m especially Sunday. So one- nothing seventh inning on Sunday. Nobody on two out. You pinch hit Pete. Pete can’t hit anymore for the most part and you really want his legs off the bench. I immediately tweeted out, not hindsight thinking, immediately tweeted out, I’d rather like let’s just do the math. What’s Pete hitting lately? About 180. So there’s about around there. Yeah. And as on base is, let’s say 200. So there’s about a 20% chance he gets on base with nobody on two out. whereas you did feel like in the eighth or ninth there’s a good chance that somebody’s gonna get on and then you could use Pete’s legs to really maybe cause chaos especially with a righty on the mo on the mound like Santion um and it worked out byos walked and I by the way really concerning that Matt Shaw didn’t hit or didn’t excuse me didn’t run for Beros there so I hope he’s okay but like for Pete there that’s a perfect spot uh uh just really odd managing there and then he and then he pinch It’s Willie Castro for Turner for Castro to hit from the left side. Is that really an upgrade? Willie Castro from the left side is basically Pete Crow Armstrong’s the last two months. I mean, it’s uh it was really bad. But that’s again that’s that’s small stuff that we’ll we will analyze very very deeply because let me tell you this folks and this will tie everything together, Matt. Okay. I don’t want to hear in early October when we play the Padres’s, oh well, it’s not Council’s fault because, you know, the offense has to hit more. Just forget it right now. Those games are going to be 3-1, 22, 32, whatever they’re going to be late. It’s all it if they’re not lowscoring games, it means probably not good for the Cubs. I I I can’t imagine a world where this Cubs team, unless the conditions are really favorable, where they’re going to put out two or three performances of five plus runs. It just doesn’t seem feasible. Yeah, except for the fact that it would just be another cruel way to go out because they literally didn’t score the last two playoff appearances basically. And for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2017, yeah, they will win one. You see, you see, oh, zero on the board, one on the I mean, 2018, 2020, and maybe my math’s wrong, 31 innings combined, they scored two runs. That’s correct. So, yeah, I I get what you’re saying, but it’s just so cruel. I Yeah, I just How can we have any faith in this offense? You just you just, you know, and I’m not I’m not letting the offense off the hook. I’m just saying you got to be you got to be real about it. I mean, unless, you know, this last week is is really crucial for the Cubs to see some signs from Pete or Seiya because, as we’re going to talk about soon, uh, you know, the the Tucker stuff’s getting bleaker and bleeer by the day. All right, let’s get into more of this right after this. This episode is brought to you by Zipix Toothpicks. Whether you’re looking for nicotine satisfaction or an energy boost, Zipix has you covered with their nicotine and caffeine infused toothpicks. For nicotine users, Zipix provides a discrete way to satisfy cravings in the hand-to-mouth habit without vaping or smoking. Zipix can be a helpful tool as you work to reduce your dependence on vaping. Available in six great flavors with 2 milligrams and 3 milligrams nicotine options. 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I always reach for my favorite flavor, peach mango, because it’s refreshing and it gives me that quick lift before a busy day, school, podcasting, family, and more. and throw out the boring flavorless caffeine. Enough with it. It’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5hour energy shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in store and online at 5hour energy.com or Amazon today to try fivehour energy shots. Shout out to the everydayers. And you can become a locked on Cubs Everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week. Since July 20th, the Cubs are 29 and 29 offensively. Since that day, they ranked 23rd in average, 17th and on base, 23 in slug, 26th in runs scored. In 58 games, they have averaged 3.9 runs per game. Sam, where do you want to go here? Because it’s just hard to fathom them getting past, you know, a one or a two, you know, an opponent’s bullpen that has all the relievers lined up. Um, it’s just uh what what what do you want to see this week to go, okay, yeah, maybe they could get past the Padres’s at least. Well, make sure you play at home. Yeah. Yeah, that’s uh they still need to lock up the home field advantage. Yeah, and and we’re going to talk about that, but the Padres’s have now have the tie break. So, you’re you’re two and a half up. You got two to give. Okay. So, like w win a game or two, you know, that’d be great. Well, uh win three, you know. I think I think you know, if you want if if you want to be positive, um and by the way, you know, we’re going to be diehard Milwaukee Brewers fans this week. uh as they go to San Diego. Oh wow. Um the positive is is that nobody really the Padres’s aren’t playing well either. So yeah, they haven’t been especially the because let’s call it like it is. About a couple weeks ago we said what’s it going to take to get this top wild card spot and we said what about 92? Is that where we landed? 93 basically. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it’s probably at this point going to be 90 91 because of how the Padres’s have played. maybe even less. Um, well, they have 88 wins right now, they better they better win more than two games this week. Well, if they go two and four, if they go two and four, San Diego has to go five and one. Yeah. Yeah, it’s hard. You’re right. So, you know, all you got to do is is is lose two of three at home to the Mets and win two of three at home against the Cardinals and then they have to go undefeated. Wow. So, so to answer your question, how do they get past the Padres’s? Well, first they got to play at home because if you combine having to go there and losing this insurmountable of a lead the last week, I I’ll say it right now. There’s no way they win two of three. No way. Yeah. No way. Um if if if this weekend proved anything, it was that urgency and momentum and stuff does matter. This was huge for the Reds. It didn’t mean much to the Cubs. They won all four. But man, I mean, my top concern is is Kyle Tucker. That’s my top concern. That’s my That’s my place to go. I I just I can’t believe this. Yeah. There’s And there’s there’s there’s really no updates, but if there are, then I would I would categorize them as just vague. Yeah. It just it feels like again, and this is I got no inside info. I got I got no sources. It just feels like this is pretty obvious to me, which is what uh I I’ll use a an analogy that that kind of hits, it kind of doesn’t, kind of relates, kind of doesn’t. Um in the 2019 NBA Finals, uh Kevin Durant missed a long time with with what they called a calf strain. And the Warriors were were getting through the playoffs. Everyone’s like, “Where’s KD? Where’s KD? Where’s KD?” Now, basketball is a way different sport, right? Um, and then finally the Warriors got down 3-1 to the Raptors in that series and Durant came back. Uh, and what had ended up happening, he ruptured his Achilles, right? But, and he was in a walk year, but the difference is in the NBA because he’s Kevin Durant, they still gave him a max contract, literally paid him, let’s say what, $50 million to not play that first year. I I think what’s happening here and this is totally I’m not insinuating anything negative about Kyle Tucker like he this is this makes sense right I think he’s in pain his calf is bothering him and there is concern of a of reagravating it or hurting it more seriously that would totally disrupt his his free agency and and that’s not to say that he’s not tough I just think my guess is is if he if this was year one of a 10-year $300 million deal, I bet you that he would be good to go. There’d be no concerns because if he did get hurt, it’s locked up. Am I out of line for thinking that? I don’t think so. Um I I really don’t. And and you know, and again, I want to re-emphasize, I’m not calling out Kyle Tucker. I’m not saying, “Oh, he cares more about the money than he does the Cubs.” That’s not the case. This is just a simple logical a logical decision you have to make of hey I feel like I might be able to go but if there’s a risk I could because the calf and Achilles or you know calf injuries could be serious and if there’s a serious risk of him going out there and reagravating it to the point where his availability next year is is is in question. He could cost C he’s already cost himself about 150 million by his play and now he cost himself a contract where he may be looking at a one or twoyear deal. Like these are massive things and he’s not a a you know this is his first year with the Cubs and these are the risks rewards you get with somebody in their walk year. I I do think that’s a play here because clearly he’s hitting, he’s fielding, he’s just not running and so I I that’s my take. Do you do you feel like I’m out of line there? I don’t think you’re out of line. I I like the parallel to Durant. I hadn’t heard that yet. It It makes sense when you connect the dots that way and and try to piece this together. I will say two injuries two years in a row in which he missed time. Uh I do think that his free agency’s already been impacted for sure. Uh but but to for to go from a calf straight into an Achilles, that would be major, right? And I’m not I’m not insinuating he would hurt his Achilles. I’m just insinuating that when you play hurt sometimes you risk injuring things further. But your point’s valid as well. If he doesn’t come back, then that that the the counterargument is, man, he he missed some time. He he played with a hand and then all of a sudden now he he missed out. There’s questions about his durability. So it goes both ways. I just think from what I’ve heard from council, it sounds like they’re waiting for him to be pretty close to painfree when he’s running. And I don’t know if that’s going to happen. So at at some point, you’re just going to have to make a decision and risk the benefits a and the negative parts of it. That’s all I’m saying. Again, I’m going to say it for a third time because I take this really seriously. I never want to question a player’s toughness. I’m not saying he’s not tough. Like I’m sure he wants to battle it out. he could play through it, but there’s a lot of different voices at hand here. Um, so we’ll see what happens. Maybe I’m wrong and it’s just a case of, “Hey man, I can’t go first to third, so I can’t help us win.” That could be it, too. It could because if if if they’re given all these vague updates and he’s down there in Tampa, he’s going to return to Wrigley this week, they do more tests, it’s just not working out, then it’s may there it’s not possible, which would be unfortunate. But absolutely at this stage of the game with him now out three weeks on Tuesday, there’s absolutely other factors involved. We’re getting this close to the finish line, a a winter that is pivotal for him and the rest of his life. Yeah, it’s very layered and and with the way councils described it to me and maybe I’m reading wrongly, it just feels like they’re waiting for him to be able to run without pain and and yeah, I think that sounds right. And when you have like that I don’t know that could take a really long time. So yeah, absolutely. All right, let’s get to uh more from the weekend right after this. This episode is brought to you by Neutrifull. You’ve probably seen a million ads for hair growth products and thought, “Sure, like that actually works.” There are so many products out there and it’s hard to know which ones are actually going to do anything. That’s why you should give Neutrifull a closer look. Neutrfull is the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over 1 and a half million people. And it’s not just hype. 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Use code locked on MMLB at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code locked on ml. Make sure you’re subscribed to Locked On Cubs. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you, including the Cubs post with Joe George live after the final out of every game. And there’s only six games left, plus the playoffs, which begins nine days as we’re recording. Tuesday, September 30th. stay with us all postseason long and leading up to that this week. A lot of lot lot in the hopper for that. Definitely excited. And uh even despite the Cubs offense, Sam, I always had this confidence about the pitching. And you have one pitcher, Kate Horton, who’s lighting it up. Uh he’s one of the best pitchers in the sport since since the All-Star break. Actually, maybe even a little bit before the break, right around the the 4th of July. Uh, actually I think it was the star you went to, right? You saw him pitch, right? It’s the Guardians. Yep. Yeah. It was ever since then. Uh, but then their next two guys, Boyd and Iaga, have not been sharp. And that’s not a unfair statement. Here’s Imanaga who pitched this weekend. Last five outings, 29 innings, 26 hits, 15 runs. Great strikeout to walk ratio, 24-4. But he’s given up 10 home runs. And yeah, I get it. He’s a flyball pitcher, but that’s that’s a result that matters. And as you peak to the weather next week, 70s and sunny, I I I don’t know how Wrigley’s going to play, but you know, it’s not going to be cold and blustery, I don’t think, like like we were thinking. And for these two dudes to to not be sharp for a month, it’s uh it’s too bad because I think they do have the bullpen that would could be hot for a whole October and they have an ace. Um you know, Tyion and Ray have been good. You know, do they supplant these guys if they advance past the Padres’s? Man, it’s just the timing is not great. Yeah, I think I think with Imanaga it’s just it’s very condition dependent. Um I’ve said that a lot on this show. If the wind is is is doing him favors, he’s a lead. And if it’s not, it could be really tough. Uh Boyd is has been a concern now for for a little while. Still feel like Boyd’s got a good postseason start in him. I I really do. Um I like I I saw some people today had said, “Hey, why not give Tyion the ball?” No, don’t do that. Um, I I I still think you got to start those three guys. Be I want to just make one more point I had in my notes about this Tucker thing because I’m it’s really I I really do think it’s almost an undertalked about story. This is a huge story. You’re on it. You’re on this for sure. Yeah. Um, the other side of it, you know, I just want to lay out all possible things is that he tried to play through an injury earlier and he had horrible results. So there that’s the other side of it is is he comes back and he’s not feeling 100%. And and it’s you know he really struggles playing you know maybe he really struggles playing through through this type of injury that also is a part of it. So just you know what I mentioned just risk of further injury and and and and what’s coming in in the future the actual you know maybe he just can’t help the team and then also hey I I just tried to play through a hand got myself in some really bad habits you know maybe I don’t even help the team that much. Anyways I digress. Uh yeah, right. And you know, the compensation there hurt him at one point 100%. Yeah. Um so a lot at stake, but yeah, look, I still think it’s it’s going to be I think it’s going to be Horton and then some combination of of Boyd and Managa. Um you know, you got at some point you have to you have to go with what got you to the dance, you know what I mean? Right. Right. Absolutely. Those three guys got you to the dance. And you know, I really do believe in the the um the mental component from those two guys. uh uh Boyd and Imanaga like I do think they’re going to be good to go like ready and locked in and figure out a way to at least keep the Cubs in the game. Well, and I I I feel the simil in a similar fashion about the offense. I don’t expect them to make any adjustments this week. It’s really more of the mentality and the approach. Yeah. You know, and hopefully running into one or two and maybe that sparked something. Um but but yeah, I think a lot of this as we approach the the playoffs is is going to be more of between the ears. I feel um I I could see Horton and Managa now one two with Boyd going three if they need it or leading off the division series. That’s that’s where I’m leaning towards right now. Yep. Um I think Ray is for sure on the roster. Tyion might even be on the roster just in case, you know, given how he’s pitched. I will say for as much as I like Javier Assad and and you know, his magic somehow being better the third time through the order, second time. I know he wouldn’t pitch that much in the playoffs, but I do think his magic does scare me a little bit in a must-win situation. Yeah. Um and then Michael Bush Sam 30th home run Saturday. Uh he’s having a nice year. You know, Swanson’s a nice year. Half back to his numbers. Her still periphery of a b a batting title. Um but really it comes down to PCA comes down to Seiya. Yep. And uh you know Tucker’s whereabouts. Uh Bush is only the fifth Cubs first baseman to reach 30 dingers. Can you name the other four? Oh, we’re going to trivia here quickly. Uh, boy, not in the trivia mode. Uh, Rizzo. Yeah. Um, did Fred McGriff do it? Yes, he did. Uh, boy, first baseman. Grace never hit 30. Oh, Banks did it as a first baseman, didn’t he? He did. You only have one more. Uh, Kingman didn’t play first for them. uh first base. Dawson didn’t play first. Billy Williams didn’t play first. Uh home runs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Lot about him recently. We talked a lot about him recently. Uh he’s come up a lot in trivia or otherwise. Can you give me like an era? Uh 2000s. Oh, this is embarrassing then. Uh uh oh my gosh. Derek Lee. Derek Lee. Awful awful job by me. Uh coach up three sorry on the Padres’s right it’s three right yeah three game three-game lead uh look at it as a as a two and a halfame lead Padres’s had the tiebreaker Cubs clinch literally clinch if they go four- two this week if they go three and three the Padres’s have to go undefeated that’s the way you look at it wow uh Padres’s up five on the Reds are tied with the Mets but the Reds have the tiebreaker and as of this recording the Diamondbacks are only a game and a half behind for the third spot. So, should be an interesting week, Sam. Yeah, let’s let’s let’s uh let’s try and try and try and get hot again. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. For your second listen, check out the allnew Lockdown MLB Game Night. Every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lockdown MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. All right, we’ll we’ll be back on the off day, a Monday off day and then the last six games of the year. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs. Shout out to Matt Cozy and Sam Olber, host of my favorite podcast, Locked On Cubs.

Find out why the offense could be the main reason for a possible early exit in the playoffs for the Cubs. Plus: Recapping the entire Cubs/Reds series, Kyle Tucker situation getting murkier, and more.

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