The Chicago Cubs started a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field on Friday night and they looked like shit, losing 8-3. Kyle Hendricks wasn’t missing many bats and he gave up five runs in 4.2 innings, giving up eight hits that included four home runs. Cody Bellinger hit two home runs of his own, but that actually pissed me off more than anything else.
The Cubs entered the All-Star break at 42-47, seven games back of first place in the NL Central. Even with the loss on Friday, the Cubs will have a chance to close the gap in the standings because of their upcoming schedule that features 13 straight games against teams with below .500 records.
So why did Bellinger actually doing something great make me mad? Well, for starters, it’s just another reminder that the Cubs, if they keep losing, will probably be looking to trade Bellinger at the trade deadline. Every damn highlight of Bellinger is bombarded with replies from fans of other teams who want him on their team.
MLB reporters are even getting into the action.
And what’s one of the reasons the Cubs keep losing? The offense has absolutely no one in the middle of the lineup that provides any sort of threat to opposing teams. But wait, actually the Cubs do have one guy who could be exactly that.
IT’S CODY FUCKING BELLINGER!!!
I still have no idea what the hell is going through the head of David Ross when he puts together a lineup that for whatever reason still has Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki batting 3rd and 4th.
Friday night was another perfect example of how those guys being in the middle of the lineup is killing the Cubs. Down 4-1 with two runners on base and one out in the third inning, Happ came up to the plate. He popped up to third base for the second out. Suzuki was up next and he grounded out softly to second base.
The Cubs had a chance to get back in the game and the No. 3 and 4 hitters couldn’t even hit the ball out of the fucking infield. Pathetic.
Bellinger, who was batting fifth, started the fourth inning with his first home run of the game.
In the sixth inning, Happ and Suzuki once again failed to do anything and with two outs, Bellinger hit his second solo home run of the night.
Gee, it sure would be nice if the team’s hottest hitter was getting more plate appearances and hey it would be cool if that guy was up at the plate with runners on base more often.
But no, Ross refuses to move Happ and Suzuki from the middle of the lineup. Meanwhile, Bellinger is showing other teams that he can be a real weapon if deployed properly.
From June 24-July 9, Bellinger had a slash line of .436/.467/.600, with a 191 wRC+ in 15 games. He was 24-for-55 at the plate, by far the best hitter on the Cubs and this coaching staff has him batting fifth coming out of the All-Star break.
Maddening. Absolutely maddening.
Great