Cubs: 3 fatal flaws that could come back to bite them

1. The Cubs’ reliance on last year’s rookies will come back to bite them.

While both Frank Schwindel and Patrick Wisdom debuted well before the 2021 season, both infielders were still considered rookies last season. Schwindel made his big league debut in 2019 with the Kansas City Royals and Wisdom kicked started his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018.

Both Wisdom and Schwindel finished in the Top 6 for NL Rookie of the Year last season and the duo will be counted on to lead this year’s team. But is that really a wise decision on the part of the Cubs’ front office?

Wisdom, some could say, is now the heir apparent to the departed Kris Bryant. But the 30-year-old will certainly need to cut down on the 40.8 percent strikeout rate from a season ago if he hopes to remain at the hot corner over the long haul.

Schwindel is out to prove that his 2021 performance was not a fluke. But what if it was? Schwindel posted a 1.002 OPS with the Cubbies last season, but that was over the course of just 56 games. Can the 29-year-old come close to that number over a 162-game season in 2022?

The Chicago Cubs have some fun, young talent and are enjoying a fine start to the 2022 season, but these fatal flaws could come back to bite the Cubbies in the end. The Chicago faithful are hoping that won’t be the case.