Chicago Cubs bullpen is still their Achilles heel

The Chicago Cubs bullpen is still a mess.

If you are a Chicago Cubs fan, you have to have enjoyed what you have seen thus far in the 2020 season. Yes, it is still very early in the season, but the Cubbies have taken three out of the first four, which included a three-game series win against division rival Milwaukee Brewers. For the most part, the team has looked sharp, with the exception of the biggest concern coming into this year — the bullpen.

If the Cubs want to be serious contenders this year, they are going to need a solid performance from their pen — particularly closer Craig Kimbrel — and they certainly did not get that last night.

Kimbrel was a huge disappointment in his first season with the Cubs. After missing most of the season, Kimbrel had a lackluster run with the Cubs in 2019 in limited time. In just 20.2 innings pitched, he gave up 15 earned runs, 9 home runs, and 12 walks. While he did strike out 30, he was far too boom or bust for the North Siders.

He is going to have to be much more consistent and reliable if the Cubs are going to contend this year (assuming we get to a postseason).

Candidly, he is not off to a good start, as he got lit up (and even that is putting it mildly) by the Cincinnati Reds last evening. The Cubs headed into the home half of the ninth with a fairly comfortable three-run lead. They turned the ball over to their closer, whose three-year, $43 million contract says it should have been an easy one-two-three inning.

It was anything but that. Kimbrel lasted just one-third of an inning, giving up two runs on four (yes FOUR) walks, before being lifted from the game. Fortunately, the Cubs snuck out of there with an 8-7 win, but it was way too close for comfort.

For Chicago Cubs fans looking for him to rebound, it was certainly not what they wanted to see. And for Kimbrel, who really needs a fresh start, it was a missed opportunity to kick off the season with an easy confidence booster.

The Cubs gave him the baseball equivalent of a free-throw to boost his confidence — and he bricked it off the top of the backboard. We’ll see how he responds in his next appearance, but hopefully, his confidence is not shaken too badly, as the Cubs desperately need him to be the guy they thought he was.