The 2022 season for the Chicago Cubs was doomed before it even began, and the team is now back to being 20 games under .500. Instead of pouting and licking their wounds in September, the Cubs need to find a way to have some fun in September.
Manager David Ross has been able to get his guys to play hard all season long, and they seem to be competitive in almost every single game. Not only should the Cubs play hard, but they need to have some fun.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, there are plenty of MLB insiders and experts that like the path that the Cubs are heading down. Many see some real potential for the Cubs in the future, and some even believe that this team can compete again in 2023.
The Cubs are going to spend some money this offseason in an attempt to land some big free agents, and those players want to know what to expect if they come to Chicago. The final month of the 2022 season can play a big role in attracting free agents, and the fans can play a role as well.
This team already has some fun and exciting players on the roster such as Christopher Morel and Willson Contreras, but the rest of the team needs to find a way to make this final month enjoyable as well.
Play For the Future
When Jed Hoyer announced that Jason Heyward would not play again this season, that opened up an outfield spot for someone to get more playing time. Nelson Velazquez has been a beneficiary of some of that playing time, but so too has Franmil Reyes.
The Cubs also have Brennen Davis waiting in the wings, and he is finally back after having back surgery. It would provide a huge jolt of energy to bring Davis up to Chicago at some point in September to give him a taste of MLB action.
Adbert Alzolay was a big name in Chicago a season ago, but he has yet to make his debut in 2022. Getting Alzolay some starts should help Ross and Hoyer figure out what the rotation will look like next season.
Playing Spoiler Role
Playing the role of spoiler is never something that any MLB team wants to be doing, but the Cubs find themselves in that position. September starts off with a series in St. Louis, and it’s the last chance for the Cubs to try to spoil the party for their rivals.
There are also series against both the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies coming in September. Not only can the Cubs play spoiler in those games, it will also be a chance for a young Cubs team to show that they aren’t too far away from competing.
This team is going to have to beat those teams at some point, and September of 2022 is a perfect time to get things started.
