Seiya Suzuki’s Error Will Be Seen As A Critical Point

On September 26^th, the Chicago Cubs were opening a critical late-season series against the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs had just 1/2 a game lead on the Miami Marlins for the final wild-card spot. This made this series a must win. With the Cubs ahead by one run and two runners on base, a fly ball was hit to Seiya Suzuki in what was supposed to be the final out of the eighth inning. However, Suzuki lost the ball in the lights and both runners would score to give the Braves the lead. Chicago would lose 7-6 and then drop their next three games and later be eliminated from playoff contention. Unfortunately for Suzuki, he will be pinpointed by Cubs fans as the reason why they are sitting at home this October.

The Cubs Have A History Of Failing At Critical Times

The Chicago Cubs have a history of blowing it when it really matters. This is still the case even after their World Series triumph in 2016. When discussing their shortcomings, fans are quick to pinpoint something or somebody as the reason why they failed. Seiya Suzuki unfortunately joins Steve Bartman, Leon Durham, Dusty Baker, Sammy Sosa in 2004, Billy Sianis, and more on the list of people or things to blame for Chicago’s failures. However, Suzuki and all those people and things aren’t the complete story.

The Cubs Were Already Collapsing

September had been a struggle for the North Siders. They were swept twice in two critical series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They also somehow dropped two series against the lowly Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. The team also was just coming off just their second series win in the month of September. The Cubs seemed to be unraveling at the worst time of the season. Chicago’s late-season series in Atlanta was extremely critical. They only had a 1/2 over the Marlins for the final wild card spot and Miami owned the tie breaker.

The Cubs Unraveled Like They Had Been All Month

In that game against the Braves, Chicago plated runs in the second, third, and fourth innings thanks to RBIs by Cody Bellinger, Yan Gomes, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Seiya Suzuki himself and led 6-0. After just over five shutout innings by ace Justin Steele, he began to unravel. Steele gave up three runs in the sixth inning cutting Chicago’s lead in half 6-3. Jose Cuas would finish the inning. Javier Assad would give up a two-run homer to Ronald Acuna Jr. making it a one run game.

The Play

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, reliever Drew Smyly induced Sean Murphy to hit what looked to be a routine flyout to Seiya Suzuki. However, Suzuki lost the ball in the lights and committed a critical error which allowed both runners to score giving Atlanta the lead. Chicago promptly went down in order in their half of the ninth giving the Braves the win 7-6. This also allowed the Marlins to take over the final wild-card spot. Chicago would never get it back. Adding to the misery was despite the Brewers losing to the Cardinals that same night, Chicago’s loss allowed Milwaukee to clinch the NL Central.

Chicago Never Recovered

After Suzuki’s error, Chicago never recovered. The Cubs would drop their next three games in heartbreaking fashion. The next night, despite leading 5-4 in the tenth, Atlanta would walk off the Cubs by a score of 6-5. A night later, Atlanta would dispatch Chicago 5-3. This was the third series of the month where the Cubs were swept.

The Cubs playoff chances had dwindled badly. Despite the Brewers resting many of their regulars, Chicago would be walked off in extra innings for the second time in four days. A night later, the Cubs collapse would be made complete when the Marlins beat the Pirates officially eliminating them from playoff contention.

Suzuki’s Error Will Unfortunately Overshadow Everything Else

Unfortunately for Seiya Suzuki, his gaffe will overshadow how hot he had been offensively during the month, key players getting hurt at critical times, starters failing to go deep into games to support overtaxed relievers, the bullpen blowing eight saves in September, Chicago only winning six of their last 20 games, and only going 2-8 in one-run games this month. It’s unfair to blame one play as the reason the Cubs won’t be in the postseason. Despite all that went wrong this month for the team, Cubs fans are going to look at the play most critically.

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