It’s no secret that Craig Kimbrel has struggled since arriving in Chicago. Even with the Cubs getting off to a scorching hot start in 2020, Kimbrel is yet to show any signs of turning the corner. He currently has a 23.63 ERA. As a result, this has since put Cubs first-year manager David Ross in quite a predicament. It’s public knowledge that you can’t trust Kimbrel with any lead right now. That being said, Ross still has faith in the 11-year vet. In a recent article from Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs have reportedly opted to keep it simple when it comes to Kimbrel’s ‘rebound’ plan.
“David Ross would rather have Kimbrel concentrate on his mechanics changes than incorporate a changeup.”
Kimbrel performed well on Sunday
Since the Cardinals series was postponed this weekend, the Cubs held a team scrimmage on Sunday. Kimbrel performed very well as he threw one scoreless inning, striking out two. Ross even went on record, where he relayed some encouraging words surrounding the struggling pitcher.
“He looked a little more like the Craig we’ve seen flashes of and the way he’s been most of his career,” Ross said. “I think it was a step forward today.”
Although this quote needs to be taken with a grain of salt, it’s still good to hear if you’re a Cubs fan. The team invested a substantial amount of money in signing Kimbrel last June. So even if Ross can get Kimbrel back to being just serviceable, it would be a win in my book. Despite Kimbrel’s struggles, the Cubs still sit at 10-3 and currently boast the best winning percentage in all of baseball. However, it’s fun to imagine a Cubs team where Kimbrel is back to peak form. It’d be a great sight to see, so here’s hoping Ross’s simple approach can help get Kimbrel back on track.
