Chicago Cubs slugger Joc Pederson Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs slugger Joc Pederson did not react kindly to a controversial strike call in the third inning that went against him.
After a hot start to the regular season, the Cubs free agent acquisition has cooled considerably to the tune of a .230 batting average, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.
On Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds, Pederson went down on strikes in the third inning. That’s been an all too familiar result for Pederson of late, hence his reaction to a pitch that appeared to just barely catch the inside corner.
Sonny Gray got the benefit of the doubt on that call, but it’s tough to argue with the decision of home plate umpire Jim Wolf, who caught the brunt of Pederson’s displeasure.
Cubs: Joc Pederson’s reaction sums up Chicago’s play of late
The Cubs are on a vicious slide of late, falling to 7.5 games back (as of this writing) of the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew have won ten straight games, while the Cubs are 2-8 in their last ten, and have lost seven in a row.
A recent sweep of the Cubs by the Brewers put Chicago’s status as contenders in doubt, and perhaps opened the door to a potential fire sale of their core players at the trade deadline.