ST. LOUIS -- When asked about the Cubs up-and-down homestand Wednesday at Wrigley Field, outfielder Jason Heyward gave an interesting response.
"You guys go way too high and way too low," he said.
The outfielder-turned-critic made the remark during a streak of nine consecutive games in which the Cubs scored three or fewer runs and averaged only two runs per game, a woefully inadequate output from one of the deepest lineups in the league.
That streak ended Saturday at Busch Stadium, where the Cubs scored six runs but blew a ninth-inning lead in an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals, one of the more crushing defeats of the season.
Oops, there we go again.
Too low? Sorry, guys.
In truth, the Cubs look like a team that is likely to go to extremes in 2018. They have the kind of talent necessary to go on an extended winning stretch, yet can look hopeless for long periods.
Just when you want to give them the benefit of the doubt, the Cubs turn in a game like Saturday's, their fourth consecutive loss after a five-game winning streak. They blew a 4-0 lead, took a 6-4 lead, and blew that as well.
Up and down. Down and up.
"Regardless of whatever your plan may be, teams are going to go through these moments," Manager Joe Maddon said before Saturday's game. "It just happens to be ours right now. I want to continue to work like we've been working. I believe in our guys and believe in our methods. It's just the ebb and flow of the season. Right now it's our turn. We'll come out of it and be fine."
Yes, every team goes through these things and it's too early to reach for the Zoloft. After they sleepwalked through the first half in 2017, then turned it on immediately after the All-Star break to win the National League Central, we know they're eminently capable of doing it again.
But there are a few things that need to be cleaned up, not the least of which is their penchant for walking opposing hitters.
The Cubs began the day ranked fifth worst in baseball with 4.26 walks per nine innings. Tyler Chatwood ranked third-highest among pitchers with 20 or more innings at 6.91 walks per 9, while Yu Darvish was No. 12 (4.80) and Jose Quintana was No. 15 (4.26).
Chatwood had another difficult day finding the zone Saturday, walking 5 in 4 innings, throwing 89 pitches and blowing his early 4-0 lead. Darvish has been a mess, and Quintana ineffective as well.
Another pressing issue is Javier Baez's surprisingly poor play in the field. Baez was one of the better defensive infielders in baseball last year and has helped carry the offense in the early going in 2018. But he already has committed eight errors in 2018, making plenty of spectacular plays while also mixing in some unforced errors.
"This year I've been hot at the plate, but I still feel I have to work on my defense," Baez said. "This year there have been many errors that are routine (plays), and that can't be happening."
But the most glaring problem is the spotty offense, despite their 12-hit output on Saturday. The revolving door at the leadoff spot gets most of the attention, but the Nos. 2-3-4 hitters -- Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras -- have a combined 32 RBI so far. That's not going to cut it from the heart of the lineup.
No one seems too worried in the Cubs' clubhouse.
"We know how good we are, plain and simple," Albert Almora Jr. said. "We're a confident group. It's baseball. We're not going to go 162-0."
The Cubs still have the swagger of 2016, albeit without the dominance to back it up.
I'm confident they'll either turn it on eventually and breeze to another World Series, or continue to lack a sense of urgency and miss the postseason for the first time in four years.
Too high?
Too low?
Take your pick.
Sports on 05/06/2018