Cubs Unlikely to Turn Themselves Around After All-Star Break

COMMENTARY | The Chicago Cubs lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1, taking the teams into the All-Star break. The Cubs are certainly in need of a break; they are sitting 18 games below .500.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article at MLB.com titled "Ortiz can't contain Bucs in rubber game." She is referring to Ramon Ortiz, who was making his second start for the Cubs. As a result, since he was only in Chicago to take over for Carlos Zambrano, Ortiz's future with the team is uncertain.

In the game, Ortiz gave up five runs over just four innings.

However, the hitting, or lack thereof, was just as much of a concern as the pitching. The Cubs' only score occurred in the fourth inning when Reed Johnson scored on Aramis Ramirez's second base force-out hit.

I offer the fact that, at the reference site, there is a great catch by Reed Johnson in right field.

At the beginning of the season, Cubs manager Mike Quade wanted to get a quick start and get an identity. Unfortunately, the Cubs quickly got injuries to three pitchers instead, so they have struggled to get wins, let alone any identity.

Quade's comments about the team are geared toward the second half of the season. However, Zambrano and Ryan Dempster, two starting pitchers, have just come off of injuries.

While the Cubs have gotten good hitting from Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney and Jeff Baker, they have some key players like Carlos Pena who have not held up their end of the bargain. As a result, there has been no consistency in play.

Will the Cubs do better in the second half of the season?

I don't see how they can. They are beat up with injuries and many players won't be back long-term. The replacements have consistently failed and the starters have taken turns having health problems.

What all of this does is prevent the team from getting close to one another in their play.

Last year, Quade took a team that was being beat up and brought them to a 24-13 record, which got him hired as the permanent manager. He did that with players who were not stars; he did it with excitement and enthusiastic managing.

It's not there this year.

Reference:

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Ortiz can't contain Bucs in rubber game"