What the fuck was that? Not only was that another stupid-ass loss against a bad team, but Michael Busch getting caught stealing to seal the 6-4 defeat when his run didn’t matter at all in the ninth inning certainly put fans that much more over the edge. The Chicago Cubs are sputtering to the finish line, and although they’re currently a playoff team with almost a 100% chance of clinching a postseason spot soon, they certainly haven’t been playing like a contender lately.
This mistake was different, though, as the Cubs have been a solid base-running team throughout the 2026 season. Down by two runs in the ninth with Ian Happ at the plate with two outs, Busch tried to advance to second base. On the first occasion, Happ fouled off a pitch from Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagan.
The Reds were not holding Busch at first base, but they definitely noticed that Busch was running because on the 0-1 pitch, catcher Jose Trevino called for a disguised pitch-out and nailed Busch at second base after video review reversed the call on the field and ended the game.
Counsell was obviously asked about the play after the game, and he took the blame for the stupid move. Busch also took it on the chin and said he needed to have a better lead from first base, making sure, without a doubt, that he’d get to second base safely.
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Stupid. Again, down by two with two outs in the ninth, and Happ is at the plate. Happ has crushed the Reds throughout his career, especially in Cincinnati, and he had already homered earlier in the series opener on Friday night. The first that he saw from Pagan was ripped down the right-field line; if he had straightened it out, it would have been a game-tying home run.
Trevino said the Reds were onto the strategy by the Cubs of trying to steal second base, which led to the game-ending play.
If the call came from Counsell, it’s stupid. If it came from Busch, it was stupid. I don’t care whose fault it was; it is inexcusable. Pathetic. Unserious baseball. Dumb. Clean it the fuck up.
