Opinion: Cubs’ Lack of Offense is Becoming a Real Issue

The Chicago Cubs suffered from a disappointing weekend series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing three out of four games. Two persistent problems were manifest. Kyle Hendricks ineffectiveness, and the Cubs’ lack of offense. As for Hendricks, it seems to move on from him. He has been a great Cub, but his time has passed. The Cubs have better options. There’s no point in living in the past.

To some degree, that’s true of the offense. Ian Happ is hitting a not so cool .208 with an OPS of .624 while slugging only .302 with two home runs. The season is a quarter of the way over. The Cubs allegedly have a good farm system. It’s time to let some of the prospects play or trade them for reinforcements.

Mike Tauchman and Pete Crow-Armstong Jr. should be getting more playing time than Happ at this point.

Catching has been a black hole

Yan Gomes was excellent behind the plate and with the bat last season, but his production has fallen off a cliff. This season he’s hitting only .182 with a .191 OBP and a slug of .288. Last season Yan had an OPS of .723 with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs. He was hugely clutch last season. This season, not so much.

Not only are Gomes’ numbers down, but he also looks really overmatched at the plate. In addition, Miguel Amaya, who has gotten more playing time than Gomes, has been nearly as bad. Miguel’s OPS sits at .528.

Goodbye Mile Mastrobuoni

The Cubs have been playing with a shortstop/second base combination of Miles Mastrobuoni and Nick Madrigal and it’s been a disaster. If somebody can tell me what the Cubs see in Miles Mastrobuoni, please tell me. He versatile but brings nothing to the table as a hitter.

The Cubs have called up infielder Luis Vazquez from Iowa to the major league team. It’s not clear what corresponding roster move will be made, but I’m hoping it’s demoting Mastrobuoni.

Madrigal should be the 26th player on a big-league roster. At least he can make contact in key situations.

The division could fall to the Cubs

The Brewers currently lead the Cubs by two games in the NL Central. And I expect regression. Brewers’ catcher, William Contreras, has been a beast, with an OPS of .955 and rookie third baseman, Joey Ortiz is off to a great start with an OPS of.925. Second baseman, Bruce Turang, is hitting .314, which is nearly 100 points higher than last season. And Gary Sanchez has chipped in with an OPS of .820. Expect some regression form some of those guys.

And, as a wildcard, the Cubs have played a very difficult schedule. That should even out.

Come on Jed Hoyer, close the deal

The NL Central is there for the Cubs to take it. The biggest question is will they cheap out. Again.