Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell faced the media before his team’s 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres, revealing more injuries that have troubled the Cubs’ season. Matt Shaw and Ethan Roberts have joined the growing list of injured players as the Cubs navigate a complex season.
Throughout the season, the Cubs have experienced ups and downs. They started strong but faced setbacks as injuries piled up. Counsell now faces the task of adapting his pitching staff amid challenging weather and high temperatures. With temperatures hitting the mid to upper 90s, finding the right combination of pitchers to prevent home runs is crucial.
Despite all challenges, the Cubs maintain a respectable record of 46-38 as the All-Star break approaches. Given streaky hitting and frequent pitching injuries, many expected the Cubs to be less competitive by now. Counsell considers this season more challenging than usual but accepts the inherent difficulties of a major league season. He acknowledges the high number of pitching injuries but emphasizes that varied challenges are typical in baseball.
Before injuries impacted the team, expectations were high as Cade Horton and Alex Bregman promised a successful season. The Cubs began the season with a promising 27-12 record. Optimism was high even without Horton and despite Bregman’s slow offensive start. This gave fans hope that the Cubs could compete with top teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, a series of setbacks followed, exacerbated by injuries and continued struggles from Bregman. Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong also faced offensive challenges. Crow-Armstrong regained confidence after an incident with a White Sox fan and has been thriving at the plate ever since.
Crow-Armstrong maintains his confidence and values support from teammates. He shared his perspective on staying focused and realistic, showing determination to improve. Counsell supports Crow-Armstrong’s approach, noting that players are often hard on themselves.
Bregman, on the other hand, has struggled publicly during the season. With a batting average of .163 with runners in scoring position and a .335 slugging percentage, his first-half performance has been disappointing. His goal remains consistent with wanting to hit the ball hard and target pitches within the strike zone.
Counsell recognizes that Bregman’s daily efforts aim to improve his performance. On Sunday, Bregman’s mistake on a grounder didn’t affect the final score, but it drew fan attention. Bregman explained his actions, citing past injuries that influenced his decision to preserve his health. Despite this, he wishes he had made the play.
Bregman acknowledges he needs to improve for the Cubs to remain competitive. Looking at Swanson’s recent strong performance, the Cubs hope for a turnaround. Crow-Armstrong’s current form has kept the team in contention, while focus remains essential for future success.
According to Counsell, immediate help from trades is unlikely. Instead, solving pitching challenges will be day-to-day work. Counsell’s reputation as a problem-solver was the reason for his recruitment. Meeting playoff expectations with the current lineup will justify his leadership.
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