Chicago Cubs: Should Counsell take the blame, not Thielbar, for Saturday’s loss?

The Chicago Cubs come into Sunday’s game at Wrigley Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates firmly in last place in the NL Central with a 6-8 record. They’ll be hoping to salvage at least one game in this crucial early-season divisional series with the surprising first place Bucs.

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This is definitely not the way most fans and analysts saw this season playing out so far.

Saturday’s 4-3 eleven-inning loss was especially heartbreaking because there was ample opportunity to come away with the win despite a rough early start. Actually, there was some evidence that the team might be snapping out of its doldrums.

Starting pitcher Edward Cabrera didn’t have his best stuff, but ended up delivering 5 innings anyway, with the bullpen subsequently picking up the slack. The offense produced 9 hits and 7 walks. And, despite a frustrating inability to deliver with runners in scoring position, they did muster one key comeback, topped by a ninth-inning RBI single from Alex Bregman to send the game into extra innings.

Then, the eleventh inning happened.

The eleventh-inning blame game

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Reliever Caleb Thielbar’s errant throw to Matt Shaw at first base, allowing the winning run to score, has generated most of the blame-game headlines since the flub.

“I’ve been working on that play every single day in catch play…It makes me sick,” Thielbar told reporters after the game. “These guys battled back. Cabby gave us five innings with not his best stuff. He gave us a chance to win…It just makes me sick to throw it away on a play like that.”

To be fair, though, the lefty’s poor throw wouldn’t have been a game-decider if manager Craig Counsell hadn’t committed a major tactical error earlier.

Counsell had pinch-hit catcher Carson Kelly for the slumping Michael Busch in the seventh inning—and then kept Kelly in to play first base. He then pinch ran for Kelly in the ninth, bringing in Matt Shaw, who took over at first base.

Up until Saturday’s game, Shaw had never played first base at any level of pro or college ball and only made two appearances at the position in spring training. His inability to handle Thielbar’s throw in the eleventh was to be expected.

While Thielbar’s throw was bad, Michael Busch likely would’ve caught the ball off the bounce or at least kept it in front of him to prevent the run scoring. Probably any real, experienced first baseman would’ve done the same.

Counsell only playing the cards dealt to him?

In somewhat defense of Counsell, though, there was nobody left to put at first at that point of the game. To try and get the offense going, he pinch-hit for the slumping Busch because he felt that was his best bet. Then, he pinch ran Shaw for the slower Kelly to try and get a crucial run home. Ultimately, Counsell can only play with the team provided to him.

So, maybe the blame shifts to the front office for not getting Counsell another true first baseman after Busch backup Tyler Austin got hurt?

Whatever the case, the Cubs will be back at it and will keep trying to turn things around.

The post Chicago Cubs: Should Counsell take the blame, not Thielbar, for Saturday’s loss? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-craig-counsell-blame-loss-thielbar-shaw/