CHICAGO — The loud boos at the Friendly Confines were not only directed at Héctor Neris. The worst loss of the season so far (Monday’s collapse against the San Francisco Giants) was emblematic of several larger problems. At this point, this team should be better. Here are four takeaways from a Cubs off day:
Cubs don’t have a real closer controversy
The drama of a closer controversy would require a fading star reliever, a big shot to take his place, late-season pressure and a manager who loses control of the situation. Additionally, the Cubs don’t believe in spending a lot of money on their bullpen. For all his strides in player development, getting noticed by Pitching Ninja is not the same as managing the ninth inning at Wrigley Field.
We are still in June. And Craig Counsell, the highest-paid manager in the sport, has the authority to make all of these decisions and the credibility to do it his way.
Given how this uneven season has played out, Neris will likely have more opportunities to close out games. Counsell made it seem like Neris will remain in that mix. But the Cubs won their first three-game series in more than a month by getting saves from Keegan Thompson and Colten Brewer in 19 hours.
Thompson, who has bounced between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa for years, pitched a stress-free ninth inning in Tuesday’s 5-2 win. Brewer, a 31-year-old reliever who signed a minor league contract last offseason, worked around two walks to get the final three outs in Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Giants. The Cubs are now 36-39 overall and 14-17 in one-run games. Acquiring a new closer could be on the trade deadline agenda.
“This was based on need over the last few days,” Counsell said. “We have to just look at it. We’ll need all the guys down there. I know that. We just have to keep trying to put them in good places.”
Kyle Hendricks feels like he doesn’t deserve anything
The standing ovation for Hendricks on Wednesday afternoon wasn’t just due to his five hitless innings against the Giants. The last remaining player from the 2016 World Series team will always be a fan favorite. The crowd also recognized the moment he had fallen.
This was classic Hendricks, striking out eight and keeping the Giants off balance until he allowed two hits and a run in the sixth inning before walking off the mound to loud cheers. This marked his first start since May 17, when his ERA had skyrocketed to 10.57 and it looked like his days with the Cubs might be numbered.
Kyle Hendricks looked good in his first start since May 17. (Jamie Sabau//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
Hendricks went to the bullpen without complaint, continued working on his game and began to regain his confidence. When Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks went on the injured list, Hendricks was ready to compete.
“I was so far from who I was as a pitcher that I really had to commit to my process,” Hendricks said. “Commit to getting better every day, almost restart and restart your career. My focus wasn’t necessarily to get back there (in the rotation). You don’t want it in those circumstances.”
Ben Brown could be much closer to returning
Counsell chose his words carefully as he provided an update on Brown, who had been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck. It was initially described as a rare injury that would come with an extended absence and an uncertain schedule. However, after reviewing multiple medical opinions, the Cubs cleared Brown to begin a throwing program.
“There was something about the X-rays that worried the doctors at first,” Counsell said. “And then after looking at it further, it wasn’t concerning.”
Brown, a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher, has shown flashes of being a top-of-the-rotation starter. When he’s healthy, he could also be released in shorter bursts out of the bullpen, possibly as a closer. Even before this setback, the Cubs were aware of how to handle the young pitcher’s workload.
“They called it an injury,” Counsell said. “The doctors really struggled with this. But we think all doctors agree and have come up with a good answer.
“He’s not symptom-free, but the initial diagnosis is not something we’re operating on at the moment, which is good news, so Ben will really move forward as tolerated. He feels good. “We think as this progresses, this can move much more quickly.”
Miguel Amaya still has a lot to prove
Every time Hendricks is asked about Amaya, he praises the young receiver. Amaya deserves some of the credit as the Cubs consistently get great performances from their starting pitchers. Amaya has more upside than Yan Gomes, the veteran catcher the Cubs just traded to sign Tomás Nido. But Amaya’s follow-up after a strong rookie season has been disappointing.
Amaya is hitting .190 with a .518 OPS, which would be easier to overlook if the rest of the lineup was clicking and his overall defense was rated as an asset. Counsell understands that part of the organization’s plan is to allow young players to learn on the job. The manager is also realistic and recognizes that “there is a limit” to that patience.
“He’s getting better in this process,” Counsell said, praising Amaya for his decisions and receiving. “Pitching has been a struggle. That’s a team thing. The pitchers and Miguel contribute to that. That is certainly an area for improvement. It’s not really arm strength. It’s some accuracy issues he’s had with throwing that he can improve on.
“There’s a good offensive player there, but sometimes you have to go through this to get there. Miguel is getting a good experience here. I think a good player will come out on the other side of that. But obviously we have expectations of winning games.”
(Top photo of Colten Brewer celebrating with catcher Miguel Amaya: Kamil Krzaczynski: / USA Today)
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