Calm to a fault? Cubs’ chill clubhouse may need fixing

MILWAUKEE — The Cubs have been driving fans crazy this season with an endless stream of blown leads, weak hitting and fundamental mistakes.

Some probably want to channel their anger into the dugout, hoping someone on the Cubs will fly into a rage, releasing the pent-up frustration that's built over the past two months. Pitcher Justin Steele actually did let loose with some screaming when he returned to the dugout after a sloppy third inning Saturday.

Maybe it's easy to overanalyze a team when the answer is simply to play better. But it's also a fact — this Cubs team is a really chill, laid-back group.

Is there too much chill, not enough fire in the Cubs' clubhouse? Especially since adding a calm, analytical manager like Craig Counsell to the mix?

“I don't think we have a lot of edgy players,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer conceded. “I think we have a very hardworking, diligent group.

“In my career, whenever a team is struggling offensively, the natural thing everyone talks about is the team is flat, they lack an edge, they lack fire. You just can't have fire when you're making a right turn and going into the dugout all the time.”

In some ways, the personality of this Cubs team is front and center at the entrance to the home clubhouse in Wrigley Field.

The first lockers inside the main doorway belong to the leadership group. There's Ian Happ, who has a strong enough personality to host a popular podcast but can also seem quiet and withdrawn. Next to him is Nico Hoerner, who is more likely to crack a joke during a postgame interview but is generally calm.

Nearby sits Dansby Swanson, the most likely to include a religion reference in comments to reporters. Cody Bellinger has the laid-back California beach bum personality, even though he's from Arizona. Seiya Suzuki is quiet, especially in comparison to first-year teammate Shota Imanaga.

“It's a chill group,” pitcher Jameson Taillon said following Friday's loss to the Brewers. “I've been on teams before where you win games with a chill group and no one's pounding the table. I feel like guys are still preparing the right way.”

The player best known for bringing some fire out to the field was pitcher Adbert Alzolay, who has been on the injured list since May 13. Catcher Miguel Amaya got a little fiery at times when he was first called up but has toned it down this season.

Counsell gets tired of questions about the team’s makeup sometimes, but he did offer a measured response on this topic.

“You want people to be themselves,” Counsell said. “You're going to be the best version of you if you have the freedom to be yourself. That's important, I think. I'll stand by that no matter what.

“If you've got a loud player, you've got to let him do that. If you've got a quiet player, you've got to let him be that. I think that's critically important. Loud team, quiet team does not dictate team success.”

There's really been only one loud personality in the Cubs clubhouse during the post-pandemic era. That was Franmil Reyes, who played in 48 games late in the 2022 season. He played music, put his deep, baritone voice to good use and frequently had the Cubs' Hispanic players engaged in various games.

Reyes is playing in Japan now, so it was likely his production, not personality, that kept his Cubs' tenure brief.

During the glory days of last decade, the Cubs had an all-time master of clubhouse presence in reliever Pedro Strop. He might have done more to set a positive tone around that team than anyone, using charisma and humor to bond with both English- and Spanish-speaking teammates.

Do the Cubs need another Strop to take over the clubhouse? Maybe a bad cop assistant coach to counter Counsell's calm? Will the atmosphere change when some of the newer players find their voice?

There is no definitive answer except winning more games usually solves all problems.

“Do I think we lack an edge?” Hoyer asked rhetorically. “Do I think we lack fire and intensity? No, I think we're struggling offensively.

“Do I think it's an observation that we don't have a lot of edgy players, so to speak? I think that's fair.”

Twitter: @McGrawDHSports