Chicago Cubs deserve every bit of this suffering after this offseason

After a woeful offseason, the Chicago Cubs have stumbled out of the gate to a 1-5 start. This record could easily be flipped had things been different.

As a writer, usually, it’s our job to stay objective and not share opinions. That’s not what this piece is about. This is a take on everything the Ricketts’ family, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer did this offseason. Well, perhaps I should say everything the Chicago Cubs powers that be didn’t do.

At the conclusion of the 2018 season, it was apparent that the Cubs didn’t have enough dynamite arms in the bullpen. Carl Edwards, Jr. has the most “stuff,” but he has no idea how to harness it, just ask the Rangers.

Steve Cishek pitched in about 276 of the 162 games last year and may still be gassed – time will tell. Pedro Strop is closing games because the injury bug bit Brandon Morrow again. Brandon Kintzler completely lost it in the second half last year after coming over from the Nationals in a trade.

Look around baseball, and there is an abundance of guys that can throw 96+ MPH, and the Cubs have none of those guys. The bullpen consists of a bunch of guys that throw 90-93 and rely on placement and movement.

Look, just because you struck gold with Kyle Hendricks, doesn’t mean the entire staff should be made up of those guys. Hendricks at least throws strikes. The Cubs ranked 27th in baseball last year in reliever walk rate, issuing just over four walks per nine. The writing was on the wall. Last winter, most fans expected the Cubs to reload and get after it in 2019.