By Jordan Long
The Chicago Cubs’ season ended after their game 5 loss in the NLCS against the L.A. Dodgers. This past weekend, Chicago made the tough decision to let go of pitching coach Chris Bosio after 6 seasons. He had a team option on his contract for 2018. According to USAtoday.com Bosio said “It’s hard to imagine that it’s coming to an end. But I can’t be any prouder for what we accomplished, and how far we have come so fast.”
The Cubs pitching wasn’t all that bad in the regular season. They had a team ERA of 3.95. Starters ERA was 4.05 and relievers had a 3.80 ERA. Pitching helped them on their way to win another National League Central Division crown. The Cubs were hoping the pitching would hold up in the playoffs.
Unfortunately it did not. In the Division Series against the Washington Nationals the starting pitching was stellar with a 1.69 era. Cubs’ pitchers were able to strike batters out and they only gave up 3 home runs. When they went to the bullpen, pitchers couldn’t maintain the lead or keep the Nationals from scoring. The ERA in that series was 6.75. Somehow the Cubs went on to win that series in 5 games.
In the NLCS against the Dodgers, the Cubs couldn’t trust their starters with an ERA of 5.01. They had 21 strikeouts and the starters were throwing the ball where the Dodgers hitters could reach it. Those were base hits or home runs. Cubs’ bullpen was worse with a 5.75 ERA. Pitching was the main reason they were ousted in 5 games.
The Cubs needed to let go of Chris Bosio. His job was to have the pitchers ready for games and calm them down during them. It seemed anytime he talked to a pitcher during the NLCS, it ended up hurting the Cubs as they gave up runs. The Cubs didn’t trust anybody in their bullpen but their closer Wade Davis. That is on Bosio and it was time for him to go.
The Cubs had to make this move. Bosio was there for 6 years and the Cubs ended up with a World Series win last year. He had his chance to improve the Cubs pitching for a repeat and it ultimately cost him his job.
The Cubs have one person in mind for the opening, Jim Hickey. Hickey was the pitching coach with Joe Maddon when Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 to 2014. If Hickey is hired he must do a better job with the pitchers. The ERA needs go down for the Cubs to have any success under Hickey, otherwise it might be another playoff disappointment.
What do you think of the Chicago Cubs letting go of Chris Bosio? What do you think of Jim Hickey as the replacement?
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