Chicago Cubs Carl Edwards Jr. sent back to Triple-A after one outing

Now you see him; now you don’t. The Chicago Cubs Carl Edwards Jr. was sent back down after being up for just ONE game. Was that a hasty move, or because of his history?

After the Chicago Cubs brought back Carl Edwards Jr. from the IL, he had a less than impressive performance against the San Diego Padres. Today, he’s on his way back to Triple-A Iowa. The game was already in favor of the Padres, so is this a knee-jerk reaction for the Cubs?

With the Cubs already down 2-1, they got a clean inning from Brad Brach (I know, right?) They then turned it over to Kyle Ryan and Edwards Jr. If there were a chance at a comeback–well, there wouldn’t be when the  Chicago Cubs came to the plate.

Ryan got Eric Hosmer to ground out to start the ninth. He walked Hunter Renfroe, then gave up a bunt single to Francisco Mejia. Wil Myers then popped out to Anthony Rizzo, and the CUbs had two out. Enter Edwards to take care of the final out. In the words of Lee Corso…NOT so fast, my friend.

While Ryan can be blamed for putting two runners on, Edwards didn’t do his job. This is why he was sent down after just one game back in Chicago because this has been a reoccurring theme. He walked the first hitter he faced. Then plunked the pinch-hitter, Greg Garcia, bringing up Fernando Tatis Jr. It should have never gotten to Tatis. This is why he was sent down because this is becoming common with Edwards.

In 2016, I was excited about the ‘string bean slinger.’ A guy a buck seventy that could throw 100 mph? I’m in. Let’s see what he’s got. And that bender of a curveball matched with high-heat? Done. The future closer if I’ve ever seen him. But then something went wrong.

If Edwards had a bad outing, you could tell by his face. And it wasn’t just the frustration, but the ‘I don’t care, anymore’ attitude. Then he couldn’t locate fastballs anymore and spiked the curveball with runners on. This can lead to a not so great performance by a ‘high-leverage’ reliever.

So the answer to my lead-in? No, it wasn’t a hasty move. Edwards has made a habit of this. He pitches a few low-leverage innings, earns Joe Maddon‘s trust, and then drops the ball when he gets in a close game. I do want to see Edwards succeed. But I don’t know what that’s going to take.

We’re fighting for the division with no less than two other teams, and we just can’t have these types of outings from him–or anyone, for that matter. Sending him back down was the right call. Even Randy Rosario, who pitches above his head, at times, still gets the results. The metrics might tell you different, and it might change suddenly. But I’d take Rosario over Edwards at this point.