CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The start of the new season has thrown a curveball to Cubs brass, which emphasized the need for a fast start only to see the team start 2-7.
On Monday morning, owner Tom Ricketts preached the need for calm in citing the long season. Later in the day, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein struck a similar note.
"There is a tendency to have some exaggeration early on," Epstein said. "It's only natural no matter how long you have been in the game or a fan that if you play well the first week, you feel better about the team than is warranted. The same if you are losing. You can feel that pretty deeply. I love getting into the normalcy of the season. I think we will do that if we win a few games and things will begin to feel normal."
Part of the Cubs' anxiety is that the rival Brewers have started hot at 8-2, giving Milwaukee a 5.5-game lead over Chicago in the National League Central early on. The two teams finished in a dead heat in the division race through 162 games in 2018, when the Brewers then won a Game 163 to earn the crown.
That stumble is still in the back of the minds of many as the Cubs start slow again.
"This is not something you can just turn around in a second or on a dime," manager Joe Maddon said. "This is a slow turnaround normally and for me, it's a patient process. I am all about picking up one game a week. That has always been my method mentally. You do set realistic goals. It's like trying to lose weight. Do you try to lose 10 pounds in a week? That is unrealistic. If you set realistic goals, you have a much better sense of attaining them."
Bullpen meltdowns have exacerbated the hysteria around the Cubs' poor play, and they've gotten to Maddon too. In a 14-8 win against the Brewers on Saturday evening, Maddon was caught on camera dropping an expletive as shoddy bullpen work created another stressful situation.
"The other side exists," Maddon said of outwardly expressing anger. "I think I hide it pretty well at times. With our guys, I am looking at better games played like (a 4-2 loss in Milwaukee on Sunday). More stability out of the bullpen happened. I am looking for gradual, steady improvement and before you know it, you get back to where you want to be."
The bullpen's ugly 8.37 ERA has everyone in the organization out of sorts, but Epstein still had an optimistic long-term view about the group.
"There is a clear path for us having a really good bullpen," Epstein said. "The primary factor to that is there is a lot of talent up here. We have depth and options too. We will use good judgment and along with that path as quickly as we can. I think we are going to get there."
Beyond that, Epstein again shouldered the blame for the struggles, saying the Cubs' bad start has nothing to do with a lack of resources and the team's low-profile offseason.
"I have been pretty clear on the fact this is not a resource issue," Epstein said. "The Ricketts have given us more than enough money to win. We have won. We will get these questions a lot more when you have a tough start than when we get into the rhythm of the season."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
