A longtime observer of baseball and lifelong Chicago Cubs fan has highlighted what he sees as the key issue holding the team back this season, attributing the struggles not to talent but to a lack of grit. According to this perspective, the Cubs possess sufficient skill to contend for their division title, but ongoing mistakes since early May have undermined their performance.

The analysis suggests that while injuries and inconsistent starting pitching have hampered the Cubs, these factors alone do not explain the number of avoidable errors that have appeared regularly in recent weeks. The mistakes manifest in multiple facets of the game—including hitting, baserunning, and defense.

At the plate, the Cubs are noted for their discipline in working counts and drawing pitches, but this patience sometimes works against them in critical situations. With a runner on third base and fewer than two outs, the priority shifts from waiting for the perfect pitch to driving in runs, yet the team has often failed to capitalize. On the bases, lapses in focus have resulted in runners being picked off, missed situational opportunities, and a lack of aggressive baserunning intended to pressure opposing defenses.

Defensively, the Cubs have allowed potential outs to turn into base runners by opting for less effective fielding techniques, such as backhand attempts rather than positioning their bodies directly to make plays. The observer argues that championship-level defense demands a willingness to do whatever it takes to prevent runs, including more decisive effort.

The commentary emphasizes that none of these issues, taken individually, would be catastrophic, but collectively they form a detrimental pattern that has shaped the team’s identity on the field. The roster's talent, bolstered by the anticipated return of pitchers Matthew Boyd and Justin Steele, is seen as adequate to challenge for postseason success. However, improved health and pitching depth alone are unlikely to resolve the deeper problem.

The core recommendation centers on mental toughness and an elevated commitment to hustle, focus, and competitive intensity. The team, it is argued, does not require a fundamental overhaul but rather must become a tougher, more scrappy version of itself.

If the Cubs can regain the grit that winning baseball demands, there remains an opportunity to secure the division title. Absent such a shift in approach, the season could slip away—not due to a shortage of talent but because of a gradual accumulation of preventable errors that have not been addressed in time.