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3 early red flags for the Chicago Cubs 2023 season
As it sits, the Chicago Cubs have a winning record as we begin to draw near the end of April. At 12-9, a lot has gone right, but still, a lot can be improved in the Cubs want to contend in 2023. The offense has been spectacular, and several individual contributions to this part of the season have made the Cubs look like they can be a playoff team as soon as this year. But then, some issues will also hold them back if they aren't addressed.
For example, no one is sold on the Pittsburgh Pirates' 16-7 start and thinks they're a serious contender this year. On the flip side, no one thinks the St. Louis Cardinals' 9-13 start indicates their potential this season. The Cubs are in the middle and can be considered a true question mark. For this Chicago Cubs team to not be a fluke, they need to address these three early red flags to solidify their playoff chances in 2023.
3 red flags for the Chicago Cubs in 2023 - Lack of a true ace
As good as the Chicago Cubs pitching staff has been through the early part of 2023, they still lack a true ace to get them over the hump and have the advantage over a competitive field. Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele have been magnificent to start the campaign; all three of Hayden Wesneski, Jameson Taillon, and Drew Smyly have been hit or miss, which is something you can't have true confidence in if you get toward a potential playoff run. Spotty starts beg the question of if the rotation is about to change shape with Kyle Hendricks' imminent return.
At the time of writing, The Cubs currently boast the best ERA among starters in the National League, but with a long season of peaks and valleys, the Cubs can afford to fortify their rotation if they wish to be able to count on long-term success. The rotation isn't so much of an ominous warning sign but rather an area that can be further improved that may subsequently cost them games if it isn't addressed and refortified during the season.
3 red flags for the Chicago Cubs in 2023 - No true closer
A true red flag for the Cubs is the situation with Michael Fulmer in the closing role. The fact is, it's not working. Fulmer has given up six earned runs in his last 1.1 innings of baseball, including another blown save before that, single-handedly accounting for two separate losses against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Whether you are an advocate of Fulmer gettings chances because he is the guy that is getting paid to be in this situation or not, the fact remains these losses can cripple you in the long run.
The Cubs' window of contention in 2023 is tight as it is, and blowing multiple saves can turn into catastrophic results as you near the end of a season and find yourself in a very close Wild Card race. The Cubs ate the last year of Jason Heyward's $22.0M contract, so Fulmer's $4.0M shouldn't be something the Cubs think twice about if it boils down to it. It is too soon to cut him from the roster, but it is time to remove him from the 9th innings and put him in some lower leverage spots to regain his confidence.
3 red flags for the Chicago Cubs in 2023 - In-game managerial decisions
What worries me most about the Cubs isn't the lack of a true closer but rather the managerial decision to keep trotting the same guy out there in the 9th, which has only thrown gas on the fire at best nearly every time. From a feel-good standpoint, we all want to see Cubs World Series winner, David Ross, manage the team to success, and the leash doesn't need to be extremely tight at the moment with the Cubs sitting at 12-9. Still, through the early part of the season, multiple losses have already been attributed to Ross.
Going back to the recent game against the Dodgers, Ross elected to have Fulmer pitch to David Peralta, a left-handed batter, with a base open at first when a base hit was all LA needed to win the game anyway. The strategy will always tell you to walk Peralta in that spot and get to the right-handed batter who still hadn't recorded a hit through that part of the season, setting up a double play on anything fieldable on the infield. Austin Barnes had to hit in that situation, as Will Smith wasn't available, and the Dodgers were without another catcher.
Most recently, Fulmer's grand slam to red-hot James Outman resulted in Ross needing to pay attention to Fulmer not having his stuff that night. If you give up back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to Jason Heyward, you do not let the same pitcher face the hottest player in the other team's lineup. I can't blame Ross for managing inning by inning, and only having one lefty to work with isn't his fault, but if a guy doesn't have it, take him out. Regardless of if he's supposed to be the closer or not. Every game matters.
Next. 3 Chicago Cubs players that could be optioned once Kyle Hendricks returns. dark