2 things we know about the Cubs & 1 we need an answer on two months in

On the heels of another loss on Friday at the hands of the last-place Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs continue to search for answers with a night game on tap Saturday night at Wrigley. A bad send from third base coach Willie Harris proved to be the difference-maker in the series opener, although the offense at least showed some signs of life late.

After the team lured Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee last winter, a division title was the bare minimum expectation with most fans. Now, with greatly diminished postseason odds, frustrations are starting to mount heading into June. Here are two important things we've learned about this Cubs team and one we're still looking for an answer on two months into the 2024 campaign.

We've learned that Craig Counsell isn't a fix-all for a flawed roster

Hand even the best manager a roster with obvious flaws and it will be a bumpy road to October. Given how the Cubs fanbase (and much of baseball, for that matter) annually underestimated the potential of the rosters Counsell had in Milwaukee only to see them succeed, perhaps expectations were somewhat unrealistic in his first year in Chicago.

Counsell is a tremendous manager, make no mistake. But the shortcomings of this roster were known heading into the year, especially in the bullpen, where things have only been made worse by a flurry of injuries.

Underperforming key pieces, ranging from face of the franchise Dansby Swanson to outfielder Seiya Suzuki, not to mention a catching tandem in shambles, continue to challenge Counsell daily. He's done a great job keeping things on an even keel in the first two months, but even the four-time NL Manager of the Year runner-up can't wave a magic wand and turn things around on a dime.