Opinion: How David Ross Cost the Cubs a Wildcard Spot in the 2023 NL Playoffs

And how Craig Counsel can help in 2024.

Cubs capPhoto byBlake GuidryonUnsplash

Before the Cubs signed Cody Bellinger, there was much wringing of the hands on the part of Cubs fans. A common sentiment was the Cubs were an 83 win team last season, and that was with Bellinger. Well. that’s not quite true. They were a team that won 83 games, but metrics indicate that the team should have won somewhere around the high 80s. And David Ross was part of the reason the team underachieved.

The team ran out of gas at the end of the season

If you are old enough, you might remember the 1969 Cubs. They also had a huge lead in their division but faltered at the end. And in large measure it was because the horses on that team were gassed. The Cubs manager in 1969 was Leo Durocher. Durocher rode his team into the ground. As did David Ross in 2023.

But there was a difference

The 1969 Cubs, guided by Durocher had no depth. While ideally Durocher would have rested his regulars, his bench really was weak. In his’ case, he had an aversion to using young players. I’m not sure who was responsible for the Cubs roster when they broke camp last season, but mistakes were made.

For example, the Cubs had Trey Mancini and Miles Mastrobuoni start some games in right field early in the season while Seiya Suzuki was injured. The problem was there were actual outfields available in Iowa.

While Matt Mervis didn’t cut at first base for the Cubs, the team spent far too much time and at bats on Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini. While Mervis didn’t produce, it would have been nice to have seen him get a longer run so the Cubs would have at least have a better idea of what Mervis could do at the big-league level.

And then there was the Cubs bullpen…

The Cubs bullpen simply fan out of arms last season. Or did they? The Cubs bullpen clearly lacked zip during the last month of the season. Due to the lack of a lefty out of the pen, Mark Lei Jr, was used to pitch to left-handed hitters. And it didn't work out. But once again there were options.

Lefty reliever, Luke Little, had a meteoric rise through the Cubs minor league system and made it to the big club late in the season. He should have gotten more of a shot than 6.1 innings.

Plus, veteran Shane Green also had an excellent season in AAA, but pitched exactly 3.0 innings in Chicago. It seems like he could have helped.

The Cubs have a ton of young talent and based on past history, Craig Counsel seems like the right guy to help develop them at the major league level.