Cub manager Joe Maddon, who I think is an excellent manager, has cost the Cubs some games and I’m not sure he’s learning from this.
On May 15, the Cubs led the Pirates 10-6 in the top of the 8th. Andrew McCutchen was up, with 2 outs and runners on second and third. Despite the fact that he hasn’t been hitting this year, he is their best hitter and hurts the Cubs. I said they should walk him, even though that meant bringing the tying run to the plate. I don’t want the other team’s best player to beat me, and I’ll take my chances with someone else. Maddon pitched to him, he hit a 3-run homer to make it 10-9, the Pirates tied it in the 9th, and the Cubs won in extra innings.
On May 22, the Cubs led the Diamondbacks 4-2 in the bottom of the 10th. Arizona had a man on second, with 2 outs, I believe. Paul Goldschmidt is a very good hitter and hurts the Cubs, and had an RBI earlier in the game. Does Maddon walk him, which I understand puts the tying run on base and the winning run at bat, and not let their best hitter beat them? No, he pitches to Goldschmidt, and his 2-run homerun ties the game, and the Diamondbacks went on to win 5-4 in 13 innings.
On May 24, the Cubs played the Diamondbacks (2 days later). In the bottom of the 3rd, Arizona had a man on second, two outs, winning 2-1. Paul Goldschmidt is a very good hitter and hurts the Cubs, and had one of the two RBI earlier. Sound familiar? Did Maddon walk him? No, and his 2-run homer made it 4-1 in an eventual 4-3 victory.