Chicago Cubs‘ fans have been clamoring for a hard-throwing, lock-down closer (and specifically Craig Kimbrel after last season) ever since Brandon Morrow went down last year. Once they finally got Kimbrel after a quiet offseason and after the 2019 MLB Draft had passed, thus negating any restrictions on signing the elite closer, the expectation was that he would step right in and blow everyone away for save after save in close games. Wellllll, that’s not quite what has happened so far.
Although there are certainly reasons to point to in order to explain the sluggish velocity and lack of command at times on the knuckle-curve, it’s an anxious time for many fans, and the hot takes abound with anyone who signs for big money who doesn’t come in as a polished work of art immediately.