Alex Bregman is having a rocky first season with the Chicago Cubs, and the third baseman is only blaming himself.
"I've been terrible," Bregman said after going 0-for-5 during Sunday's 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "I need to play better. Offensively, it's been awful. I've failed many times in this game. I've struggled. I've started slow before. I've started fast before. When you're struggling, there is only one way forward and that's straight, head-on through it. It comes down to executing in the game."
In January, Chicago brought in the 32-year-old on a five-year, $175-million contract to anchor its offense and bring championship pedigree to the clubhouse. Instead, he's produced a career-worst .669 OPS (95 OPS+) while hitting .178 with runners in scoring position.
"I need to be better with runners on base, plain and simple," Bregman said. "They brought me here to play good baseball, and I haven't played good baseball. I need to figure it out."
The Cubs sit 7.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central. They appeared likely to run away with the division after posting their second 10-game winning streak of the season May 8. However, Chicago has lost 20 of 27 since, with Bregman and shortstop Dansby Swanson (.180/.285/.322) having career-worst campaigns.
Bregman believes he has a solution to fix some mechanical issues that have contributed to his struggles. Until he starts to produce on the field, though, he understands if Cubs fans continue to boo him and his teammates for lackluster performances, like they did Sunday.
"Those can be directed at me because I haven't come through with guys in scoring position," Bregman said. "I have plenty of chances. Guys are getting on base in front of me all the time."
