Cubs fans got accountability from Alex Bregman but not the answers they needed

Alex Bregman faced the music before the Chicago Cubs' victory on Monday night against the San Diego Padres, admitting that he should have ran out the grounder he hit against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

The fact that Bregman faced the criticism head on wasn't a surprise, at the very least, he remains a pro's pro. That said, even in his response, it felt like the veteran third baseman was falling back on an excuse.

“Yes,” Bregman said when asked if he had regret on that play. “And, I’ve also had 10 soft tissue injuries running down the first-base line specifically. So it’s kind of some give-and-take. But at the same time, yeah, I obviously wish I would have beat the throw.”

Had Bregman left it at "yes" with the final part of expressing his desire to beat the throw, that would have been fine. Would it have made up for the lack of effort on Sunday, no, but in the situation he was in, that type of accountability is all that Cubs fans wanted.

It's not that Bregman was wrong either. Fans may not want to admit it, but there are times where those type of decisions are made. Craig Counsell has said as much during various times when instances like what happened on Sunday have happened.

And, to Bregman's point, a soft tissue injury with the Boston Red Sox last year derailed his All-Star campaign. Along those lines, an injury to Bregman is the last thing that the Cubs need right now. Even with his offensive struggles, the Cubs just put Matt Shaw on the IL, and since April, the veteran has resumed playing a high level of defense at third base.

Cubs are still waiting for the Alex Bregman that Jed Hoyer just had to have

Given the circumstances, there was very little that Bregman could have said that would have had fans on his side. An offensive slump is one thing, but when that turns into questions of effort, that makes for a tough recovery.

At this rate, the only thing that will get Cubs fans to buy back in on Bregman is if he becomes the offensive presence the team expects him to be. The Cubs are in a stretch where they will need to lean on their offense to win games, and Bregman finding his approach would certainly help toward that effort.

If he doesn't, then Bregman's first impression may be a tough scene to overcome.

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