Chicago Cubs: Five storylines that changed the 2019 season

The Chicago Cubs are no longer in contention but could have been if these things would not have happened. What derailed this season for the Cubs?

When the season ends abruptly like it did this year for the Chicago Cubs, fans like to look back at what caused the team to not reach their goal. What were some of the major hurdles this year that caused the Cubs path to alter from a first-place team in contention to a team that failed to even make the Wild Card game.

Each one of these stumbles is like a Cubs-Watergate scandal which ultimately took the team down. Without further ado, here are the top five storylines that impacted the team this year.

5. Addison Russell domestic abuse controversy – Chicago Cubs second baseman Addison Russell’s controversy carried over from last season and reared its ugly head early as fans and the team were not concentrating on what was happening on field as much as off in the newspapers.

MLB issued its ruling on the matter and Russell accepted a 40-game suspension without pay for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

At the same time, normal society was blowing up as all kinds of famous people were being called-out for how they treated women. The ‘Me Too’ movement came to fruition just about the same time Russell is supposed to return to the Cubs. By the end of April after 30 days gone from the Cubs, the Cubs were three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals with a 15-12 record.

The first article written by the Chicago Tribune’s Pat Sullivan about Russell’s return was titled, “Addison Russell returns to boos at Wrigley Field while the Cubs deal with yet another off-the-field crisis”, just about tells the story of what the focus was at the time.

Imagine if there were no controversy and the Cubs were just playing baseball with Russell? Could it have meant some more wins and made the difference? Either way, the infielder’s absence, especially at the beginning of the season, was a season-changer for the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Professor Meltdown

3. Hendricks’ 60-day meltdown keeps Cubs from getting ahead – The Chicago Cubs were firing on all cylinders in early June. The team had beaten the Colorado Rockies in Wrigley two out of three games. Then the St. Louis Cardinals came to Chicago for a three-game series and the Cubs swept their longtime nemesis.  Chicago then went on the road against the Rockies but garnered the same result as their home series, as they walked out of Coors Field, again, winning two out of three games.

The Cubs had momentum at this point on June 12 with a record of 38-29, sitting second in the NL Central standings, just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers and waiting to sit the rest of the month in first place. Joe Maddon’s club headed to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers in a four-game road series. Things were looking bright and sunny for the Cubs hoping to split or win the series in L.A.

After blowing the first game 3-7, the Cubs brought on right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who had been wreaking havoc across baseball up until that day. Hendricks had one of his worst appearances of the year that second night, permitting five runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before this night, Hendricks was leading the Cubs in innings pitched, had a 3.36 ERA (132 ERA+) and a 4.69 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his first 14 starts of the season.

Hendricks threw 31 pitches in the first inning against the Dodgers and lasted 2 2/3 innings total, which was the second-shortest start of his career. After the game, Hendricks went on the 10-day IL and the Cubs began their slide down going (5-5) over the next 10 games. They somehow held onto first place during this time, more because of the woes of Milwaukee and St. Louis than anything else.

When they won or when they lost, they stayed in first place. So the Cubs squandered their momentum and their first place seat by never separating themselves from the Brewers and Cardinals in that time.

Hendricks did not return to the Cubs lineup until July 2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which the Cubs lost on the road 1-5 but remained in first place. After losing his “return” game, Hendricks was on the wrong side of winning games, four total, until July 31. In every contest other than his Brewers loss, Hendricks gave up earned runs.

Most of this time the Cubs remained deceivingly in first place.  Hendricks finally won after almost 60 days when he pitched a seven-inning shutout against the Cardinals 2-0.  The Cubs however were now in second place, and one game back behind the Cardinals. Hendricks’ 60-day meltdown in the middle of the season cost the Cubs the momentum to pull ahead in their Division.

Chicago Cubs: Nationals put the first nail in the Cubs 2019 coffin

2. Nationals at Chicago Cubs in August -If there was a telling series near the end of the season it had to be the Chicago Cubs welcoming the Washington Nationals to Wrigley Field in August. The Cubs were just a half-game back of the Cardinals  when the series began but after three humiliating losses, the Cubs sat 2 1/2 games back.

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When the Cubs took the field against the Nationals they were 5-5 in their last 10 games but were a comfortable 44-20 at home in the Friendly Confines. Little did they know that Nationals hurler Anibal Sánchez would pitch 8 1/3 innings in the first game of the series, giving up only one hit and one earned run.

The Nationals put up 14 hits in the first game of the series scoring runs throughout the game. The Cubs put up goose eggs until a minor sputter in the ninth inning where they picked their first and only three runs of the game losing 9-3.  Left-hander John Lester began his slide downward giving up six earned runs in four innings.

In the second game, once again the Nationals scored in four separate innings including four runs in the fourth inning. The Cubs could only muster one run in two separate innings and collected another loss on the North Side, 7-2.

In the last game of the series, the Nationals hurler Stephen Strasburg had an incredible day against the Cubs with 10 strikeouts in six innings and giving up only two earned runs.  Chicago finally answered with their bats in the eighth inning and tied the game as it went into extra innings. In the 11th inning, Tyler Chatwood gave up the final two runs as the Nationals swept the Cubs and cast the first dark omen for the end of the season in third loss 7-5.

The Nationals went on to chase down a Wild Card slot and eventually beat the Brewers to get into the postseason. The Cubs seemed deflated after getting swept at home and never really recovered.

Chicago Cubs: Once again, injuries sideline Contreras

1.  Willson Contreras injures hamstring during All-Star season – Every season needs someone to step up. Not the usual guys like first baseman Anthony Rizzo or shortstop magician Javier Baez but another part of the core unit. This season looked to be Cubs catcher Willson Contreras’ year.

An outspoken critic of current Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government, Contreras started the season in controversy as his country and hometown of Puerto Cabello and his family suffered.  Contreras took to social media right after the 2018 season and with a little help, got his parents out of the country. Once safe in the U.S., Contreras was now able to “focus” on the 2019 season.  (You can read more about Contreras and the Venezuelan debate here.

On June 24, the feisty Cubs catcher made headlines again when he hit a home run against the Atlanta Braves and three RBI. Contreras said something to Braves catcher Tyler Flowers which cleared the benches. Contreras was getting hot.

In July, Contreras was on top of the world being named to his second consecutive All-Star Game.  In early July, Contreras was hitting .300 and had 17 homeruns and 48 RBI with a 10-game hitting streak under his belt.  Without a doubt, Contreras was looking to be the team’s unspoken hero this season and looked ready to have his breakout in August.

On August 3, Contreras got a base hit to left-center field and pulled his hamstring running out his ball to first base. He would not return until a month later on September 3. By this time, the Cubs were three games back in the division and the hopeful promise of Contreras leading the team to postseason had gone with his hamstring injury.