What is this? Gymnastics and figure skating? Style points don’t count, performance does, scoring runs and preventing runs, neither of which the Cubs are good at right now.

And the “we’re young” crap doesn’t hold water either. The Astro are young, they strike out as much but hit many more HRs. The Dodgers have young players who are performing better. Ditto Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Boston.

Plus, Bryant and Russell didn’t go 2 for 27 with RISP last weekend by themselves. This team has plenty of experienced veterans, Fowler, Montero, Castro, Lester, who are not playing well. You can’t pin it all on the youngsters.

The Cardinals lose Wainwright, Holliday, Adams and Taveras, and their mostly unheralded call-ups play like all-stars.

Here’s a scary thought, what if what we see of Bryant, Soler and Russell is as good as they ever will be, i.e. good or average but not great? Sure, some players have had bad rookie seasons (Harper, Rizzo) and go on to improve and become elite. But plenty of players have had their best season as rookies and decline from there (see http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/hitters-no-longer-peak-only-decline/). There are better young 3B than Bryant right now (Arenado, Machado, Duffy) and better SS/2B than Russell (Correa, Panik, Bogaerts). Bryant, Soler and Russell have way too much swing and miss and really ugly looking ones at that which is only ok if you’re David Kingman hitting 50 HRs.

And the FO’s emphasis on hitting over pitching is starting to show its flaws as Boston is also finding out. You need a balance as quality pitching will usually beat quality hitting (as the Cardinals and Mets have shown, the Cards have an average offense but its pitching has gotten them the best record).

1. The arms that have been drafted are 3-5 years off, meaning they will be ready when the hitters are past their peak or leave in FA.

2. The FO thinks that picking up other teams’ rejects via waiver wire will do the job (Dubront, Bard, Britton, Roach, etc…. it’s a long list). Roach???? How’s that working out for you? Reminds of the Casey Coleman era when he was the TOP pitching prospect. The Cardinals bring up aces left and right out of their farm system.

3. I seriously question the FO’s pitching talent evaluation. Look at the contracts given out to FAs. Edwin Jackson, Jon Lester, Jose Veras, Phil Coke, Fujikawa. The only one that has worked out so far is Hammel and it is only for 2 years. Another big FA $20-25M/yr dud is going to push that roster payroll efficiency right off the cliff. Imagine 3 mediocre pitchers taking up 40% of the budget next year.

And what’s up with the Cubs and great pitchers? Either they have some great seasons but more years with other clubs (Fergie Jenkins who was obtained via trade), have most of their peak years elsewhere (Greg Maddux) or are jinxed (Kerry Wood and Mark Prior who had 2003 and Dusty Baker happen to them). Even the White Sox stumble on good pitchers more often in the draft. Wrigley Field probably ranks second only to Coors for where pitchers go to die.

This team has been skating on the edge the whole season (as evidenced by the 1-run and extra inning games). It won’t take much (an injury to Rizzo, Arrieta, Hammel) to push them below .500. They will be lucky to finish 3rd in the Central. They will not get a wildcard finishing behind Pittsburgh and San Francisco. What do the teams that lead their divisions have in common? Good pitching and they put the ball in play. Only the Astros and to some degree the Orioles are having success with the all or nothing approach to hitting. The Cubs are striking out and only average in HRs. They do not hit with RISP. Perhaps they should change #WeAreGood to #WeAreMeh.