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The Cubs will enjoy the feeling of well-being from a 10-1 spurt in their showdown against the Brewers last weekend for first place in the National Central League.
But the $ 126 million riddle that had elapsed before the fifth inning – and that the Cubs might have to resolve quickly if they plan to stay serious in the fall in a more NL strong and a deeper Central NL.
"I do not have a solid answer," said director Joe Maddon. "He's in good health, the ball is coming out very well, we just have to be more consistent in the area, it's not that complicated."
If this sounds like the way Maddon talks about Tyler Chatwood last season, then that might be the most disturbing sign about what became Yu Darvish, the big right Maddon was trying to decipher.
Darvish needed 97 shots to qualify for four innings Thursday, thanks mainly to six walks.
Darvish, an All Star four times who has had the worst season of his career in 2018 for the Cubs, is doing less well – believe it or not – since he's regained his health after having problems with the elbow .
His business is sharp and he looks strong. On Thursday, he pulled out seven and allowed just one shot on 97 shots.
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On the other hand, he seems to have little pace and confesses that he thinks too much. He has walked six times for the second time this season and has failed to overcome four innings because of his number of shots.
"I argue that if we could convince him to turn it off a bit," said Maddon, pointing to his head: "and go play, you'll get a great result."
This has been a theme for almost every Darvish debut this season. Another theme was that the next start could be the one that makes him free.
Until then, Darvish leads the majors on the sidewalk (33) and, with the same number of starts as before his closing last season, has fewer innings pitched, a ERA (5.40) of nearly half a point above, only one six. start of round and a higher WHIP. And the Cubs' record is a worse match when it starts than it did last season.
"The last outing was more frustrating than today," Darvish said. '' Today I had more outings in barrage My mind was good too.
Thinking less and getting what Maddon calls more "visceral" has been the focus of attention lately, and Darvish has said he is better.
"Until the last outing, I thought too much [that] I have to launch strikes, "he said. "Today, I was focusing more on
attacking the batters, but my command was off. That's all. & # 39; & # 39;
A Marlins team that had not made a goal in one of the last two games drew six times in four innings against Darvish, a record for him since his seventh career high in his first start of the season. Before this season, the last time he walked six in a match was in 2013.
"I think for almost 15 years, but it's too much, it's too much," said Darvish. "I want to be better, so it's my challenge."
The way he will get there the rest of the way could be a critical factor for a team about to start a two-month program that seems much harder than its first six weeks.
If Darvish can not change things quickly, it's not a possible solution to think that he could follow the same path as Chatwood a year ago – in the market at least temporarily, with southpaw Mike Montgomery fulfilling his role departure.
Montgomery took over in fifth place and finished the match with five scoreless innings in his first appearance since returning from a recent injury.
Maddon said it was not part of the plan – not yet.
"We just have to keep putting [Darvish] there, "he said," I mean, physically, everything is fine, it's frustrating for him, of course, and we have to keep working. "
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