Not Just One Thing to Point at When Looking at Cubs' Problems

COMMENTARY | There's no doubt the Chicago Cubs have had more than their share of problems this year with injuries, and no position has been hit any harder than pitcher. That is why Ramon Ortiz was pitching for the Cubs Tuesday against the Washington Nationals. Unfortunately, the results were the same. Chicago lost 3-2.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article at MLB.com titled "Besides rough first, Ortiz solid but Cubs fall."

When teams like the Cubs get into trouble, they have to get help fast; that doesn't always give them the opportunity to look around, and frankly there aren't always a lot of good players available. That is not to say Ortiz is not a good player, but he had to be called up from Triple-A Iowa and had not made a Major League start since early in 2010.

The inexperience showed in the beginning of his performance, when he allowed three straight singles. However, it is at this point Cubs fans must get honest with themselves. Washington player Laynce Nix hit a ball that should have been a double play. Jeff Baker was playing second and made an error that led to two runs. Another ball was smacked that was "deflected off of Aramis Ramirez's glove," Muskat reports.

The game was lost at that point because the best the Cubs could do was muster two runs for the rest of the game.

And that is the way the Cubs' season is going.

Chicago is battling numerous injuries and its pitching staff has been harmed, so pitching is suffering. The same players are not being able to play everyday, so it affects the defense. Finally, for the same reason, players aren't batting everyday, so they aren't as sharp with the bat.

When a team is losing, as the Cubs are, it is easy to point to something. Yet it is impossible to point to something because everything is breaking down.

Before anything can change for the Cubs, they have to get their starting pitchers back. Even after that occurs, it takes time for players to get re-adjusted.

Is it time to say "Wait until next year?"

References:

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Besides rough first, Ortiz solid but Cubs fall"