Here We Go Again: Chicago Cubs' Overlooked Issues

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Yeah, we all know about the issues with the Cubs' offense and the pitching of Neal Cotts, along with others, but here are my thoughts on the overlooked issues with the Cubs this year. 

Point One: Personnel Decisions 

While the Cubs have been plagued with multiple injuries in the first month of play, one must question the management's personnel decisions that have been made. 

So far their  starting catcher, first baseman, right fielder, and third baseman have been injured and have missed a huge chunk of playing time. However, out of all these guys that have missed time only one of them, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, has been do anything while in the lineup. 

The offense obviously is in need of some help, yet the guys that are actually hitting right now, namely right fielder/first baseman Micah Hoffpauir (.303/2/8), is not playing. 

Another thing to look at would be Jake Fox. In 20 games (77 at-bats) at Triple A this season, Fox is currently batting .429 with 23 runs scored, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 12 home runs, 31 RBI and even one stolen base.

How does that sound for a struggling offense? It sounds like the prayers are being answered yet no one is getting up to answer the call.

Yet instead of bringing him up when the Cubs decided to drop Luis "The Viz" Vizcaino, who by the way didn't give up a run yet and only allowed two hits with no walks and struck out three in three-and-two-thirds innings pitched for the Cubs.

No, the man that was brought in was Jeff Samardzija. While this may seem to be a good move factoring in the history of each pitcher, why not bring up Fox to fill in for the injured guys and help out with his bat that is currently on fire.

That would allow let Jeff work his way to being a starter that could help us when they realize Dempster's signing a huge four-year contract for one good year, and of course, it had to be his contract year, was a even bigger mistake than signing Bradley.  

Point Two: Not so Sweet Lou

Back in his days in Seattle and with the Reds, Lou Piniella (all-time managerial record of 1711-1571, which is about a 52 percent winning percentage) was if not a great manager, he was at the very least a good manager.

However, that reputation is beginning to fade pretty fast.  

Last Year

As the playoffs were about to begin last year, Piniella made a couple of critical mistakes with his ball club that probably cost them any chance of winning.  

As many of Cub followers already know, the Dodgers and their right handed pitchers were lighting up the Cubs as if they were the worst team in the league. The Cubs, with the best regular-season record in the NL for 2008 were swept in three games.  

Pinella's decision to not play Fontenot, who batted .366 in September, much and leave perhaps the hottest hitter in the lineup at the time Micah Hoffpauir off the postseason roster raised flags of his downfall.  

Along with that, the No. 2 spot in the lineup in each of these games was Koske Fukudome, who could not get his bat on the ball even if he weren't spinning his body like a helicopter with ever swing. 

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