Chicago Cubs: Pitching, Road Record was the problem

The Chicago Cubs have missed the playoffs for the first time under Joe Maddon. This has come to a surprise to many Cubs fans who had high hopes coming into the 2019 season.

With the Chicago Cubs loss to the Pirates on Wednesday night, it officially eliminated them out of playoff contention, which was something they had almost no chance of after they started this 7-plus game losing streak.

Many fans and insiders have called for Joe Maddon’s head for his questionable decisions on when to go to the bullpen during games, and if that had anything to do with 15 1-run loss baseball games since June 16th, 2019. If the Cubs would have won even 4 of those games, they would be in playoff contention still.

Chicago’s pitching staff has gotten worse each year since the World Series bid in 2016. It started off with the loss of Aroldis Chapman and the decision to bring in unproven players, instead of go after veterans.

There is a lot of blame to throw around but the Cubs having  a road record of 31-46 going into tonight’s game against the Pirates is just an example of poor play and poor pitching.

The Cubs under Joe Maddon have played well with this being their worst season, until this year, their “worst season” was a 92-70 finish where they won the NL Central. Joe Maddon isn’t the problem. Maddon took over a Cubs team that was desperate for success and had young stars like Javy Baez and Kris Bryant that needed a veteran manager to help show them the way. Joe Maddon took a job he didn’t need to take but he did it for his love of baseball and a chance to chase MLB history.

One season missing the playoffs should cost the guy his job. Joe Maddon brought a World Series back to Chicago after 108 years. Taking a look at his turn around in just one season, his first Cubs team went 97-65, 24 more wins that the season before when the Cubs went 73-89.

Give Joe Maddon one more shot, help him out by re-signing Kris Bryant, bringing in at least one or two relief/closing pitchers, and then if the Cubs fail to reach the playoffs, send him his walking papers.