Chicago Cubs: Jose Quintana still has more to prove

Chicago Cubs: Unimpressive innings per start plagued Quintana

Quintana hasn’t been bad, by any means, but he also hasn’t been good either.  After an impressive Cubs debut in 2017 against the Baltimore Orioles where he struck out 12 batters and only surrendered three hits, the spark of that performance has faded and seemed to have become a distant memory as his lack of consistency has haunted his short time as a Cub.

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He has been unable to show that he can remain consistent for long stretches and always seems to be up-and-down in every other performance.  His inconsistency is a chip on his shoulder that he must rid himself of in order to have fans truly accept and agree with the price of that crosstown deal.

While inconsistent, his reliability is something that has been commendable.  In a season that was ridden with injuries, Quintana remained a constant on the field despite battling with a shoulder injury of his own (that chip seems to be weighing heavy).  When Jon Lester trended downward after the All-Star Break, Q posted a 2.92 ERA over 49 1/3 innings.

That stretch saved Quintana’s season in the eyes of many, finally showing a hint of consistency.

However, he needs to pitch near this throughout the course of the entire season if he doesn’t want to be a punchline in what may become a regrettable trade and, more importantly, if the Cubs hope to once again go deep into the postseason.

Quintana’s deepest outing of the year saw him pitch just seven innings – which he accomplished on two separate occasions. This was most likely due to his inability to avoid giving up timely home runs.  The rest of his starts are sprinkled with four, five and six-inning appearances.

He needs to become the guy who can take the mound and control the game deep into the late innings.

Chicago Cubs: Option picked up – now it’s time to perform

Quintana finished the season with a 13-11 record, a 4.03 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings spanning 32 games.

When you really look at the Cubs pitching rotation, it doesn’t seem like he needs to exceed those numbers.  Especially after the announced deal that spells a Cole Hamels return next season and a (hopefully) healthy and (hopefully) resurgent Yu Darvish back in the mix, that line isn’t too shabby for someone who would presumably be the team’s fifth starter so he remains a valuable piece to the success of the Cubs.

However, despite his recently picked up option, a bargain at just $10.5M, we must figure out how the 29-year old factors into the Cubs’ future plans.  With the majority of the rotation in their mid-30s, we have to see more from Quintana to carry the torch and be the bridge into the next generation.

He needs to be more like the pitcher we see during a handful of big games.  He needs to pitch as he has shown in performances such as the 2017 National League Division Series versus the Washington Nationals or Game 163 against the Milwaukee Brewers this past season.

Without Quintana making any progression or strides towards this, he may be in danger of becoming just another Ernie Broglio if Jimenez and Cease become superstars with the White Sox.

He will continue to face the lofty expectations.  A bit of that is unfair, but it will undoubtedly follow him into next season and beyond.

But Quintana needs to silence his critics and the negative connotations they bring in 2019 by showing that bringing him aboard a young, contending club was a reward and worth the risk.