The Chicago Cubs (58-92) own the second-worst record in Major League Baseball -- ahead of only the 48-102 Houston Astros -- heading into the games on Friday, and Cubs manager Dale Sveum knows his team has been making some especially silly mistakes at this point in the season. Luis Valbuena, the potential tying run in the team's recent game against the Cincinnati Reds, got picked off at second base in the sixth inning and it led Sveum into a depressing commentary on how he has to handle the mental errors for role players in September (via CSN-Chicago):
"If we're screwing up bunt plays or fundamental breakdowns and all that - that can be a reflection," Sveum said. "But I don't take anything to heart when a player gets picked off standing and gazing at the stars. It's not one of those where he was dogging it or anything like that. It's just: Why (do) these brain farts happen?"
There aren't many players for the Cubs that will enter the offseason with a guaranteed starting job in 2013, so perhaps Sveum just knows that he will be dealing with a new crop of players on the roster next season. It's just another reminder that 2012 has been a season to forget for the Cubs.
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