The Chicago Cubs Lowest Points of the 2013 Season

2013 must be an unlucky number. At least, the Cubs would say so.

2013 was a season of struggle for the Cubs, who finished in last place in the National League Central Division. With an abysmal record of 66-96, the Cubs were anything but entertaining.

Needless to say, the end of the baseball season wasn't exactly a tragedy for fans of Chicago baseball. Neither Chicago team was a privilege to watch; the Chicago White Sox finished the season at 63-99.

From a dead goat head to an onslaught of blown saves, the Chicago Cubs had plenty of rough patches in 2013. Here is a look at the worst aspects of the 2013 Cubs season.

Carlos Marmol

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It's impossible to mention the Cubs struggles in 2013 without mentioning the futility of Carlos Marmol's pitching.

Marmol finished his time with the Cubs with a 2-4 record and a 5.82 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched. But what those stats do not show is the frustration Marmol put the Cubs nation through nearly every time he stepped foot on the mound.

Marmol was finally traded to the Dodgers on July 2.

Jorge Soler's Incident

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Seriously, who charges the opponent dugout wielding a bat?

Apparently Cubs prospect Jorge Soler does. Granted, Soler did not cause any trouble since the April 11 incident, but a borderline attempted assault is certainly not what the Cubs want to hear when the team is focused on the prospects of the future. 

The Decapitated Goat and Wrigley Field Political Debacle

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At times, the actual play of the Cubs was overshadowed by an ugly merry-go-round of political scheming, threatening and even killing over the future of Wrigley Field. Much debate occurred between the Cubs, the city of Chicago and the rooftop owners across the street.

The lowest point came when Cubs owner Tom Ricketts received a dead goat head in the mail, a brutal reference to the "Billy Goat Curse" that has plagued the Cubs since 1945.

A bat-wielding star prospect and the murder of a goat? Only the Cubs.

Starlin Castro

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The Cubs would probably love a mulligan on the Starlin Castro deal right about now.

After signing for $60 million in guaranteed money plus incentives at the end of 2012, Castro showed just how much he has to grow throughout 2013.

The lowest point of Castro's season came against the Cardinals on August 17. Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter flew out on a infield fly to Castro, who then put his head down and allowed Jon Jay to score from third base.

Castro also had a career-high in strikeouts (129) and a career-low batting average (.245).

Home-Field Disadvantage

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The Cubs lost a franchise-worst 50 games at home in 2013, the first time the team has lost 50 games at Wrigley since they began playing there in 1914.

The Cubs have not had a winning season at Wrigley since 2009 when they went 46-34.

Perhaps the eventual renovations to Wrigley will make the ballpark a bit more friendly to the Cubs.

Lack of Offense

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Castro was far from being the only Cub to lack offensive production this season. In fact, the Cubs finished with a team batting average of .238, two points lower than last season's cumulative batting average. Even the White Sox finished 11 points better than the Cubs, with a team batting average of .249.

The Cubs were ranked No. 28 in runs scored, hits and on-base percentage.

The offense was perhaps the worst aspect of the Cubs on-field struggles in 2013.

All stats courtesy of MLB.com.