Chicago Cubs: Five storylines that changed the 2019 season

Chicago Cubs: Bennie jets from the team

4. Ben Zobrist leaves team for personal reasons – Utility player Ben Zobrist left the team on May 8 to take care of a personal matter. Later it was widely reported that said personal matter is divorce proceedings with his spouse.

The Cubs were just about on a roll when Zobrist left the team. All eyes were on Zobrist during this time and because he is a former World Series MVP, even entertainment TV shows are picking up his story as he tries to figure out his marriage.

Zobrist does not return to the Cubs until September 1 which is four months or more than half the season that the Cubs had to go without “Mr Clutch”.  The team had come to rely on Zobrist to get on base or make the hit when it mattered.

Because the hole left by Zobrist was so huge, the Chicago Cubs brought in utility player Tony Kemp and outfielder Nicholas Castellanos to fill the void, but there was still something missing from the offensive mix. Whether is be leadership or just having fun playing ball, the Cubs always performed much better with Zobrist in the lineup than without.

Zobrist returned to the Cubs trying to make an impact but the four months without baseball took its toll on the 38 year-old veteran. His absence accounted for the lack of offensive production by the team this season.