Chicago Cubs News: Closer Craig Kimbrel experiment is over

Chicago Cubs pitching closer Craig Kimbrel has been a disappointment after turning in too many excuses and lackluster performances.

Joining the long line of ‘would-be’ pitching closers, it’s time to face the reality that the Craig Kimbrel experiment is over, and the Chicago Cubs need to keep their best interests in mind going forward.

In Kimbrel’s appearance against the Detroit Tigers (on the last game of the series), I was utterly amazed at how Chicago Cubs Marquee Sports Network broadcasters Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies spoke about the star during his performance.

With coddling phrases such as getting Kimbrel into a rhythm or let’s see if he can get some good momentum going, you’d think they were talking about some rookie having a bad start and not a World Series Champion. Worse yet, what is he teaching the rest of the bullpen as a high-paid leader of the team?

Yes, this is his job: leadership and being a killer-closer and Kimbrel has yet to live up to his end of the bargain. He won’t be a free agent until 2022, but it looks like Kimbrel will be happy to show up with his mediocre performances and walk batters until Ross pulls him or management does.

Kimbrel’s disastrous performances have cost the Cubs winning opportunities and put pressure on other players to step up and fill his shoes. These players are not even making near the salary of Kimbrel and, in some cases, like Cubs stand-in closer Rowan Wick, only just over $500 thousand compared to the scarecrow’s $16 million this year.

How is that fair? Better yet – how does he get away with it?