Let’s face the facts, Jake Arrieta has not lived up to the lofty expectations that we had, the Chicago Cubs had, or even he himself had for the 2016 season. Throwing in what should have been his last “tune-up” start before the playoffs start, Arrieta toed the rubber in Pittsburgh. A town in which saw him throw a complete game shutout almost a year ago in the Wild Card game, Jake was roughed up for 7 runs in an just awful start.
After the game, Jake continued to be uncharacteristic while being interviewed after the game saying, “It felt like a spring training game from the get-go.” While Jake himself says he wasn’t sharp, and didn’t have much going at all, he was openly critical of Joe Maddon pulling Miguel Montero in favor of Willson Contreras.
“Switching catchers felt like we were trying to do a little too much instead of win a ball game. But I didn’t throw well,” Arrieta mentioned.
“Listen, I want to pitch on a schedule,” Arrieta continued. “I don’t want to throw an inning in a game. I’m not trying to do anything different. Let’s just prepare like we normally do and go out and try to win games. I’m not trying to throw a bullpen in a game.”
Montero seemed to echo Arrieta thoughts. Mentioning that the game was choppy, had a spring training feel to it.
“It felt like spring training. I do believe that. That’s not a good feeling for a pitcher or a player to go into a game knowing you’re going to play four innings or five innings or whatever it is, because this game is still important for all of the players,” Montero said.
Miggy is right, the short outing from Arrieta cost him a 200 innings season (will finish with 197 1/3 unless he comes back on Sunday to pitch), Addison Russell has been sitting at 94 RBIs for what seems like forever because he starts every other game. Montero himself has been swinging a hot bat, and could benefit from a full game of swings himself.
While I wouldn’t suggest this is causing a major rift between players and Cubs management, I would warn that when there is one or two people in a team that speaks up about things, there are often many more that feel that way.
What is a bit insane is, the Cubs had game planned for this in spring training. Before the year began the team had conversations on what would happen if a pitcher had a no-hitter and a high pitch count, important games and bullpen arms were used extensively, and how to manage if they built a huge lead in September.
While the way they agreed to proceed might be aggravating to some, I’m sure, it is good to hear Montero say this.
“I understand (Maddon’s) point and the organization’s point, and I respect it. I can only control what I can control.
“We have to trick our minds. We got to compete for whatever innings we’re going to play.”
This is much more than individual goals and success, the players know this and are constantly working towards that goal. Let’s hope they are the last team working.
