When the bar for excellence is buried under a pile of clichés and padded stats, even mediocrity can be dressed up in prime time. It takes a special kind of broadcast booth to celebrate smoke as fire—and a fed-up MLB insider wasn’t having it. In a league where performance should speak louder than spin, one broadcast around the Cubs managed to do the opposite—loudly. The Chicago Cubs have heard of many “experienced arms,” but some of their arms have not performed, and the people are getting frustrated. The people don’t just want to hear quality arms and good starts, they actually want to see it happen from Jameson Taillon.

In a recent show on 670 The Score, they discussed the same. During that debate, one of the hosts, Dustin, said, “Did you hear the passive-aggressive comment that we played from Craig Counsell in the pregame show? Well, if you watch the game, yeah, if you watch the game, it was hot garbage. That’s what Jameson Taillon was.”

While the noise of quality starts is on top, the actual performance was far from “quality.” In the 6 innings pitched by Taillon, he gave away 4 hits and earned 3 runs while striking out 7 batters. While this might be good on other days, the 3 runs were enough to cost the Cubs the game.

This season, he has an ERA of 4,53 in the 49.2 innings pitched. The worst stats in the whole table are the homers he has allowed this season. He has allowed a total of 13 homers and leads the MLB table in that unwanted list.

So yes, by definition, it was a “quality start.” But if that’s the bar, then mediocrity just got a rebranding. When giving up bombs becomes a footnote and not the headline, maybe it’s not just the pitcher who needs a reality check—it’s the narrative. Chicago deserves more than stat-sheet illusions. They need arms that deal, not stories that deflect.

The Cubs are contenders—Time to act like it at the deadline

Not every season hands you a winning hand—and when it does, you don’t fold. Yet here we are, watching a certain Windy City team flirt with greatness while pretending duct tape is a bullpen fix. The Cubs have the roster, the momentum, and, apparently, a soft spot for stress-inducing ninth innings. Enter Michael Kopech: not a savior, but maybe the fireman this fire-prone bullpen desperately needs.

Looking at the pitching the Chicago Cubs have, they should be going all out before the deadline day and act like contenders. They have begun the season strong with a 25-19 record and lead the National League Central. Their bats are also speaking loudly as they are averaging 5.55 runs per game and rank second in MLB. Although their starters have been good, their bullpen has not delivered.

Due to this pitching problem, Joel Reuter has a good idea. He said in his article, “The Cubs are 24th in the majors with a 4.68 ERA from their relief corps, and offseason pickup Ryan Pressly (16 G, 6.91 ERA) has not been the late-innings answer that they expected him to be. Up-and-comers Porter Hodge and Daniel Palencia have potential, and Drew Pomeranz has been a nice pickup, but one more proven late-inning arm could go a long way.”

He says that the late-inning arm should be Michael Kopech from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also says that in return for Kopech, the Dodgers will receive Brody McCullough, a Cubs prospect. Reuter says that even when there are injuries, the Dodgers’ pitching looks very strong and can afford to give up an arm like Michael Kopech. But will they do it is the question that only the Dodgers have an answer to?

So yes, the Dodgers might hesitate—but the Cubs can’t afford to. This isn’t the year to play it safe or bet on bullpen “potential” while October dreams die in the seventh inning. If Chicago wants to be more than a fun first-half story, it’s time to deal. Send McCullough, get Kopech, and stop managing like it’s 2019. Contenders don’t wait—they take.