Chicago Cubs make Chris Bosio the sacrificial goat
By David Hill
When the Chicago Cubs were bounced from the 2017 postseason, one had to expect changes would be made. One of those changes came on Saturday, when they fired pitching coach Chris Bosio.
Something did not seem right with the Chicago Cubs this year. After breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat last season, the Cubs barely returned to the playoffs this season. They struggled to fend off surprising Milwaukee Brewers, and may well have been the victims of a World Series hangover all season.
The biggest difference came with their pitching staff. A year after leading the majors with a 3.15 ERA, the Cubs were not nearly as effective. While their cumulative 3.95 ERA was still good for seventh in the game, it was a far cry from their performance last season. Jon Lester and John Lackey took major steps back, while Jake Arrieta struggled with inconsistency.
With those pitching woes, it was obvious that some changes would be made. This was driven home after the Cubs were unceremoniously dispatched by the Dodgers in the NLCS, a series in name only. As such, on Saturday, they fired pitching coach Chris Bosio, making him the sacrificial goat for the season.
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The Cubs pitching coach since joining Dale Sveum in Chicago in 2012, Bosio has become one of the more respected names in the business. This move also continues an offseason of turmoil for pitching coaches, as other respected names have been let go. Coaches such as Kevin Hickey, Dave Eiland, and Dave Righetti all find themselves seeking employment as well.
This move may well have been made with a replacement in mind. The Cubs are expected to reach out to Hickey, who grew up in Chicago. He was also a long time pitching coach for the Rays, including the tenure of current Cubs manager Joe Maddon. A reunion may well be in order.
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The Chicago Cubs needed to have a scapegoat for their struggles this season. Chris Bosio ended up being that sacrifice.