3 way too early hot takes debunked from the opening weekend of the Cubs' season

The ending to the Chicago Cubs' four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks had a very familiar feel to it for Cubs fans. After a Kyle Tucker home run gave the Cubs a 6--2 lead on Sunday, and an opportunity to take three of four over the weekend, the bullpen imploded. The Diamondbacks scored 8 times in the final frame of the 8th inning, allowing them to cruise to a 10-6 victory.

The Cubs will now play the Athletics on Monday night but before they do so, we offer rebuttals to some popular hot takes making the rounds after the opening weekend of the 2025 season.

1. The Cubs failed to address their bullpen this offseason

It hasn't been a comforting start to the season for Chicago Cubs' closer Ryan Pressly. In fact, anyone not named Porter Hodge has struggled out of the bullpen for the Cubs to open the season. The command issues that plagued the Cubs' pitching staff against the Los Angeles Dodgers were once again evident in their four-game series against the Diamondbacks.

There's no hiding the fact that the bullpen has to be better but the one the Cubs currently have is not one the team was envisioning when they started spring training. Javier Assad, Tyson Miller, and Ryan Brasier are all currently on the IL. Those are important out-getters the Cubs do not currently have on their Major League pitching staff. Let's hold off on saying the bullpen struggles from last season haven't been addressed.

2. Matt Shaw's batting stance isn't sustainable in Major League Baseball

Anyone who is taking note of Matt Shaw's batting stance this season is only publicly admitting that they haven't watched the Cubs' top prospect in previous stances. While there have been slight adjustments, Shaw's batting stance has remained in its current iteration since he was drafted by the Cubs in 2023.

Shaw's batting stance certainly is unique but there isn't a need to worry just yet. After all, Shaw did have his first career home run this weekend. But, here is the beauty of coaching at the Major League level: if a player needs to have their batting stance adjusted, the coaches won't hesitate to do so, and neither will the play.

3. Miguel Amaya should see time as the Cubs' designated hitter

The early returns of the 2025 season have Miguel Amaya validating the offensive resurgence he had at the end of the 2024 season. If Amaya's new offensive profile becomes the expectation for him moving forward, that would be the best possible outcome for the Cubs.

In that outcome, however, there shouldn't be any suggestion of the Cubs using Amaya as a designated hitter. The Cubs' best starting lineup will always have Seiya Suzuki as the team's designated hitter. Whenever Suzuki enters a slump, fans are quick to mark the end for him, but they prove foolish by the end of every season. Amaya's offensive turnaround is great, and it's even better that it's happening while he is the team's catcher.