Chicago Cubs: Stop kickin' an injured man

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Since signing with the Chicago Cubs, Yu Darvish has become a favorite target of local media. Is there any chance this pricey pitcher can get a fair shake?

His on-field contributions, or lack thereof, have done Yu Darvish no favors. In the first season of a six-year, $126 deal, the big right-hander has pitched just 40 innings, leaving a hole in the Chicago Cubs rotation.

As if his baseball life wasn’t enough publicity for him, now, he’s in the news for off-field matters, as well. The city of Evanston has decided not to let Darvish build a fence around his new lakefront house. You’ve got to be kidding me.

Why do I feel like a nosey neighbor? This is news?

It took three Tribune reporters to track down this hot story so it must be news. Here’s the juicy part of the story as reported, hold on, stop the presses this is an exclusive here folks: he can only build a four-foot fence, not a six-foot one. Why?

“The lower fence is more consistent with the style and scale of the neighborhood,” said board Chairwoman Mary Beth Berns.

That’s good information to know. Perhaps we can have a double-story exclusive if the curtains don’t match the other homes in the neighborhood.

I say build a big dome around your house, Yu. Then, they will call it a “tourist destination” and stick a little camera icon on your house. You have to put up with the crowds but they won’t get through, “The Yu-Dome.” No charge brother.

But this is only another story on the bandwagon of bad news that has been at Darvish’s heels since arriving in Chicago. Once he was injured and made two trips to the disabled list, it only got worse.

Chicago Cubs: Hey softie!

Today, the Tribune suggests he “must” fight off a “soft” reputation as he rehabs his right arm. And if he doesn’t fight it, he will be in danger of starring puffed in the next Ghostbusters movie. Just ask Paul Sullivan.

If you have been following the long-running saga of Yu Darvish’s debut season with the Cubs, you know he already has gotten the reputation as being softer than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

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Oh, come on! If Darvish took the mound tonight and threw a winner, he’d be offered the Presidential Suite at the Ritz and they’d probably let him build a six-foot fence around his room of marshmallows. Athletes understand they must perform and I’m sure no one is putting more pressure on Yu than he is himself.

It’s already been reported that Epstein said Darvish feels he has something to prove. He wants to show Chicago his talent. Oh man, I love the anticipation this guy is building out there and if he delivers? Teammate and staff ace Jon Lester has faith in his teammate, though.

“You can’t control what people say about you,” Lester said. “Obviously everybody in that clubhouse knows what he’s doing to get better. You can’t control injuries. You can’t control how your body feels. All you can control is how you work, and he has been working hard to get back, and that’s it.

So what’s the problem Yu? I believe he’s not healed or reinjured himself, plain and simple. Are you gonna go out and throw the ball 90 mph for an hour and a half if you feel hurt? Neither is Darvish.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Fragile mind, fragile body

Much has been made of Darvish’s quiet demeanor and sometimes confusing comments. But the brass stands by their guy – as they have all season. The Tribune article again points to his rumored fragility – something Epstein defended recently, as well.

“He’s human. And he’s a little bit more open than most, and I also think there is a language issue when things don’t always come across as they’re translated. But he’s certainly human, and I’m not going to penalize him for that. The way people get over adversity of critical moments in their life is by talking about them and sharing them with people and connecting with them, so if that’s going to help him continue to face challenges and in the case of, let’s say the World Series, overcome them next time, then good for him.

Granted, the guy has missed two months with this injury. But that’s far from meaning he’s fragile in any way. Arm injuries can linger – and with this relationship in the infancy stages, it would be foolish to push the envelope and risk long-term damage.

The only ’emotion’ fans need to concern themselves with? Kyle Hendricks‘ ‘Sweet Emotion’. Get him back on the mound, and we may very well see that same Hendricks-like quiet leadership in Yu Darvish.

But let’s not confuse quiet with fragile.

Chicago Cubs: Have some trust and faith

So let’s analyze this a bit and break it down in simple language for those that can’t follow this high literary fare. The Cubs have assembled one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. They know how to build, cultivate and produce winners (Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Albert Almora, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, etc.). They think Darvish should rest and not pitch right now because it is in his and the team’s best interest.

You’ve got to trust this organization knows what it’s doing with its players. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Darvish may just end up being the star of the season for the Cubs; we’ll all think Epstein is a genius (which he is); Darvish will be reborn and “Yu-San” will become a Chicago legend. I believe this scenario is more likely than Darvish ends up being a bust.

Next: Morrow injury makes adding a reliever critical for Cubs

Get healed up. We’ll wait for you Yu-San… because we want to be champs again and you’re going to help get us there.

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