Chicago Cubs: Craig Kimbrel is here, but we have to get to him

The Chicago Cubs called-up Craig Kimbrel on June 27, and he got a save in his first chance as a Cub. We haven’t seen him since. To utilize a closer, we have to be winning in the ninth. We’ve not been.

When the Chicago Cubs signed Craig Kimbrel, many called in a ‘jolt in the arm’ for the Cubs. In his first game, against the Atlanta Braves, he was called on to get the save. In his first appearance, he was a little shaky as you might expect, but got the job done. But to utilize Kimbrel, we have to have the lead. That’s been tough the last few weeks.

The good thing about all this? Other NL Central teams are having the same difficulty. Only one team has a winning record in their last 10, and that’s the Pittsburgh Pirates. Everyone else has been .500 ball or worse. The Cubs fell back into a tie for first with the Brewers today, with identical 45-39 records.

The Cubs have had several issues in the last few weeks, but they’re addressing them as fast as they can. The bullpen foremost, and Kimbrel was part of that. Carl Edwards Jr. will hopefully be back soon. But the loss of Kyle Hendricks hurt, and losing Cole Hamels could be devastating depending on the severity of his oblique strain. So now the starting rotation has taken a hit.

Hendricks is expected to return Tuesday against the Pirates. But he’s expected to be on a strict pitch count. Hamels had his MRI today, but we’ve not had an update yet. Bleacher Nation might have said it best.

Kyle Schwarber is hitting solo shots, but in June, his OBP is .291. The leadoff position hasn’t gone as bad as it did the first time. But he leads off the first time, and then the bottom of the order can’t get on, and his power does no good if he doesn’t hit with men on base.

The team has struggled with RISP, and this has been no secret. This isn’t going to be a case of adding a player, but the team changing it’s philosophy. Even Joe Maddon being willing to play small ball. He does it occasionally, but it’s rare.

Second base is a lost cause, and I’ve mentioned why Ben Zobrist meant more to this team than most realized. Addison Russell and Daniel Descalso have been awful. Russell’s fielding and ability to play shortstop has helped him.

This started as a Kimbrel post but has turned into a frustration piece, and I realize that. This team is more than capable of putting together a long winning streak. The past few weeks would have been an excellent time for it. But it didn’t happen. Maddon has shown a proclivity to put together great second halves.

He needs to do it again this year, for Chicago Cubs’ fans sake and his own.