This isn't really happening, is it?

By Steven Chaitman | Sep 03, 11:29 PM

The Chicago Cubs are winless in September.

Yes, it's September 3rd, but it's not so much the what as the how.

I don't think I'm exactly hovering over the panic button yet, but in the first series of September, getting swept at home by the Houston Astros and going on a five-game home losing streak is not exactly how I like to get things going down the final stretch of the season in which the Cubs are chasing first in the division, first in the league, and 100 wins. The laws of time and averages say that the Cubs were due to come down from the August rush, but this feels mildly like crashing, especially when its happening in front of a sold out Wrigley game after game.

The Cubs managed to look completely outplayed by Houston in this series despite Carlos Lee sitting on the bench. Most obviously, the Cubs' bats completely dive-bombed.

Let's talk about double plays. Tuesday night's loss was atrocious. I don't know where the stats are, but the Cubs have to be up there in hitting into double plays. I don't understand this. For all the patience the Cubs have shown, they manage to not identify balls they are likely to hit on the ground directly at defenders. Few stats are as embarrassing as hitting into lots of double plays. And I thought DP D. Lee was done for the season...

It's one thing to get swept by a team at home, it's another to get shut out in two of them. The Astros are not even a playoff team. This is obviously a problem that must be corrected immediately.

Cincinnati is a good a place as any to start, but it's also as good as any to get shoved further into embarrassment. Once again, somehow the Cubs miss Reds' ace Edinson Volquez, but that seems to not matter when the Cubs face the Reds. We get to see yet another Ted Lilly vs. Bronson Arroyo matchup, which never seems to end well for the Cubs as Arroyo is 2-0. Then there's Johnny Cueto facing Jason Marquis. Cueto, though coming off a brief injury, has kept the Cubs' run total down when he's faced them with a 1-2 record and a 3.66 ERA against them this season. Sean Marshall will start game three, which furthers concerns over Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano being ready for primetime.

So I give the Cubs their last series against a sub .500 team to whip things around and take at least two here. If we still have problems then and the Brewers start winning again after being ravaged by the Mets, we'll talk panic button.

Tagged: Cubs