Cubs Pitching Already in Trouble

Already short a fifth starter from the spot vacated by Cole Hamels, the Cubs needed to look to either Tyler Chatwood or Alec Mills. Owner Tom Rickets slammed his paycheck shut this past winter, so the Cubs didn’t do much shopping, other than at the fire sales. The only potential starter they picked up, was former Athletics’ pitcher, Jharel Cotton. Let’s be frank – Cotton hasn’t shown any propensity toward being a starter on a full time basis.

Chatwood, a veteran who struggled immensely until last season seems like the logical choice. Mills isn’t bad, but he’s young and still lacks experience. Mills would have undoubtedly served as the teams swingman. That is, until yesterday’s news broke.

Cubs Pitching: Quintana Injured

No… thankfully Jose Quintana didn’t blow out a knee or tear apart a rotator cuff. He isn’t down for Tommy John surgery, nor is he COVID-19 positive. Instead, he sliced the left thumb on his pitching hand while washing dishes at his Miami home last Saturday. Instead, Quintana lacerated his digital sensory nerve while washing dishes at his Miami home last Saturday.

The media was alerted yesterday that Quintana had undergone microscopic surgery on Friday, which revealed the extent of the injury. During the same surgery reparative changes were made. The best prognosis is that he could start throwing again in as little as two weeks, however, recovery from nerve injuries can be hard to predict.

Now what?

The Cubs have little choice. Chatwood and Mills will both be joining the rotation, leaving Chicago’s bullpen without a swingman. It’s possible that one of the young guns could step up and assume the role, just as Nico Hoerner did last year when Javy Baez was injured. The problem is, the Cubs don’t have much to choose from.

If one of the Cubs starters goes down now, the team is likely to be in a hole that they can’t dig their way out of. The trade deadline is set for August 31st, so it’s possible they could deal players for a new arm. Unfortunately, unless they deal from the core, they’re likely to pick up the same sort of Tommy John survivors that helped get them into the mess they’re in now.

If all goes right (and Cubs’ fans are praying), Q will rejoin the rotation before the start of the actual season. Even then, Quintana has to overcome his woes from 2019, which led him to an elevated ERA of 4.68, despite him posting a record of 13-9.

I have to ask… What is it with Cubs’ pitchers suffering these obscure accidents? As you’ll recall, Brandon Morrow injured himself while trying to install a pair of pants on himself. (Scratching my head…)

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