Chicago Cubs: Maddon tabs youth as the reason of inconsistent play
The Chicago Cubs are really young and now starting to feel it. They’re 33-33, good for second place in the National League Central.
We all experience growing pains.
WebMD says to expect them from ages 3-4, and then again 8-12. But if you’re the Chicago Cubs, ages 23-25 seem to be the more appropriate time frame.
The 33-33 Cubbies — 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central — have been extremely inconsistent so far this season, and manager Joe Maddon has an idea why: Their youth. What seemed to work in their favor all of last year now can be referred to as their Achilles’ Heel, per Skip.
As Maddon made note of to ESPN.com, the Cubs are a different team compared to this time last year. On this date just a season ago, Ian Happ was still in the minor leagues, Willson Contreras had not been called up yet, Javier Baez was coming off the bench, Kyle Schwarber was sidelined for the regular season with an injury, and Albert Almora was just recently promoted.
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These five baby-faced Cubbies, all between 23-25, are now in the bigs, and regulars in the starting lineup. So, maybe Maddon has a point. This core group is still really young.
Anthony Rizzo, who practically serves as a founding father amongst the Cubs’ fresh bunch, understands the process. “We’re developing guys and winning ball games at the same time. Teams don’t do that. We developed guys last year and won the World Series. No team has ever done that, I don’t think. You have to take your lumps,” according to ESPN.com.
The Cubs’ youth movement finally paid off last year when they snapped their 108-year title drought thanks to an incredible Game 7 win over the Cleveland Indians. But the parade is over now. The champagne has already been popped. Having a roster composed of promising prospects that will eventually blossom into studs won’t be rainbows and sunshine right off the bat.
It’ll take some time, as the world of baseball is seeing now. It might even be frustrating along the way.
But in reality, there’s no need to fret. Even with their struggles, nobody outside of Chicago should be worried. Their roster is made up of 25 guys who are still learning how to play together. It’s only a matter of time before they bust out of their funk for real. Luckily for Maddon and Co., it’s early, and first place is (obviously) still within reach.
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While it may be an ache right now for the team, it’s only something they will use to their advantage for years to come.
These growing pains are sure to pass, as they always do, which is why these Chicago Cubs will be just fine.