The Cubs have been reckoning with the end of the season since they were eliminated from playoff contention a week ago. But on Sunday, it came as the Cubs lost 3-0 to the Reds in 10 innings.
The Cubs posted an 83-79 record for the second year in a row. But this season, that put them six games back of the last wild-card spot, pending the results of the doubleheader between the Mets and Braves on Monday.
In other words, the Cubs weren’t close.
“We wanted to be busy today, and we want to be planning for things happening later this week, and that’s not going to happen,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Seasons are sacred. You don’t take them for granted. I told the team this: We’re fortunate and blessed to get chances, to get to wear the uniform. So when you don’t accomplish all your goals, there’s a bitter taste in your mouth, absolutely.”
The Cubs, even with a new manager and peripheral changes to the roster, essentially stood still while the rest of the National League’s contenders pushed the standard higher. Perhaps most concerning for the Cubs is the progress the Brewers made, defying expectations to finish the season 93-69.
“The message has been pretty clear that we’ve got to get better as a whole,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Got to figure out ways to not have some of the extended slumps as a group, figure out ways to win some games and to get back on track a little bit quicker — just because there was so much this year that had a lot of promise.”
Rookies like Shota Imanaga, Michael Busch and Porter Hodge put together strong seasons. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya made impressive mid-season adjustments at the plate. The team surged in August to get back to a winning record. But none of that wiped out a persistent team rut in May and June.
After how close the Cubs came to making the postseason in 2023, this was supposed to be the year that they cleared that hurdle. A whiff next season would raise serious questions about the team-building approach since the 2021 sell-off.
“I think it’s important you reflect on the season, absolutely,” Counsell said. “If I sit here and say that we need to be better, then that reflection has to create some changes.”
This and that
Rookie infielder Luis Vázquez recorded his first major-league hit Sunday, on a well-placed bunt in the seventh inning. “It makes his offseason a little better, that’s for sure, just getting the zero off the mark and getting the first hit,” Counsell said. Vázquez also hit a sharp line drive that was caught in his first at-bat of the game and made a pair of standout plays at shortstop.
- Reliever Keegan Thompson left the game Sunday with a right foot sprain, Counsell said. X-rays were negative, but Thompson will go through further testing Monday. He was on crutches and wearing a boot after the game.
- The Cubs’ attendance total for the season came in at 2,909,794, their highest mark since 2019.