(670 The Score) As the bullpen has defined the Cubs' 1-4 start with three meltdowns early on, the organization has no plans to look externally for help at this time, general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday.
"Our focus is entirely internal right now," Hoyer said on the Bernstein & McKnight Show.
The team's bullpen has allowed 17 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings in the first five games, recording an 8.83 ERA that rates 29th of 30 teams in baseball. After squandering leads in losses against the Rangers on Saturday and Sunday, the Cubs bullpen wilted against the Braves on Wednesday night as well. Trying to protect a 4-2 lead, Steve Cishek walked the bases loaded to start the bottom of the eighth. Randy Rosario relieved him, only to give up a difference-making three-run double to Johan Camargo in Atlanta's eventual 6-4 win.
Star closer Craig Kimbrel remains a free agent -- and out of the Cubs' price range, according to all indications and their low-profile approach in the offseason. So for now, all the Cubs can do is look in the mirror and considering internal options.
"Like I said before, we have guys that have long track records of success, guys that have pitched in a ton of big games in the postseason," Hoyer said. "Our focus has to be on getting those guys right. We have some guys on the DL right now that we think can also come and help us. We have guys in (Triple-A) Iowa who almost made our team that had really good springs that can help us. I feel like right now we're focused on the guys who are on the 25-man roster. We know we're going to need a lot of pitchers to get through the season. Like I said, some of those will come off the DL, some of those will come from Iowa. But that's our focus. Are we spending a lot of time trying to figure that out? Absolutely. But our focus is not on what's out there. It's on what we have."
Hoyer admitted there's a clear sense of frustation in the organization. And beyond the bullpen woes, he believes the Cubs just need to get back to being themselves.
"We need to get back to having fun," Hoyer said. "Right now, it's not a lot of fun. We need to escape the rut and get back to enjoying ourselves."
