Chicago Cubs swept at home, on the outside looking in

The Chicago Cubs were swept at home by the Washington Nationals. They’re on fire, but the Cubs are not. They’ve slipped to four back of the first Wild Card spot, clinging to the second spot.

This was supposed to be a post about the Chicago Cubs showing their grit and squeezing out a win in the series finale. But that isn’t this post. It’s about the Cubs being swept by the Washington Nationals and falling four games behind the first Wild Card. None other than the aforementioned Nats hold it.

The Cubs showed some life today in the offense, but they were completely overmatched. And not by Stephen Strasburg. Heck, they held their own against him. No. Anibal Sanchez and the Nats bullpen stifled them. The bullpen, I might add? Next to last in the league ahead of only the Orioles.

The Cubs can’t go out and lost two of three on the road and expect to still be near the top. Other teams have picked up their game, and it’s time for the Cubs to do the same. There is no wiggle room from here on out. Win series or go home, it’s that simple. They can’t count on winning at home anymore to make up for their pathetic road record.

I’ll admit I didn’t get to watch the games. MLB.tv blacks out the Nats games and I don’t have any way of watching it. The Reds and Braves are blacked out, as well. But I get them through Fox Sports. Their broadcast team, but so be it. So I listened through the radio broadcast and caught highlights after they happened.

The first two days, I didn’t even watch the highlights. The team of Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer seemed flat, so I didn’t bother. On Sunday, they gave me a glimmer of hope. That was turned in by the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Then they squashed it with a Tyler Chatwood spiked fastball and the day was done.

Kris Bryant was the only one to get an RBI without the benefit of the home run. Addison Russell, Victor Caratini and Schwarber all went yard. That’s it. The team with RISP? 1-for-6. Same old problems, different day.

The Cubs seems lost. Listless. They are searching for answers in a tight division and even closer Wild Card race. I’m ever the optimist. But the Cubs need to get their fannies in gear and win a few series. I knew that the home record wouldn’t keep pace, and it didn’t. But if the record on the road keeps up? The Cubs will act on those words from Theo Epstein when the team was down.

It won’t happen this year. But in the offseason, you better believe it. I hope I’m wrong about the Chicago Cubs. The thing is when your an optimist, you can get your heart crushed by a baseball team. God, I hope I’m wrong.