We all know folks that are of the what if mindset and some live their lives full of regrets. Sports fans are especially prone to worrying about what if we had chosen Player X instead of Y. It follows that every trade consummated will be scrutinized and that’s not bad necessarily as it is food for thought or healthy debate. What if I had ordered the chick parm instead of the penne with vodka sauce.
Heading into this weekend’s Cubs-Diamondbacks series I asked a friend if the Cubs are having regrets in not acquiring Zac Gallen this offseason. I was not predicting the outcome of the game (Gallen allowed 6 earned runs in 3.2 innings of work). Heading into the series, my answer was an emphatic No and not because I don’t think his career can’t swing upwards, but rather, he’s been lousy all season-averaging less than five innings/start.
Edward Cabrera, the guy they got in a trade with the Marlins has been both far more effective and productive and doesn’t appear to need the work with the Cubs pitching lab, that was implied in Gallen’s case. Aside from sort of believing in jinxes, there is nothing to suggest that either pitcher is going to reverse their fortunes anytime soon and make the Cubs look foolish. After all, baseball happens, and sure things become nobodies in minutes. Just because Gallen has wet himself to date, doesn’t mean he was doomed to that fate had the Cubs acquired him.