Pete Crow-Armstrong’s postseason performance has drawn sharp criticism after the Chicago Cubs were swept by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round. Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-7 with one walk and four strikeouts across the two games, as the Cubs managed just one run in the series, losing 8-0 in Game 1 and 4-1 in Game 2.
MLB analyst Dan Clark singled out Crow-Armstrong as a major reason for the Cubs’ early exit. On Friday, Clark wrote on X that “Pete Crow-Armstrong’s horrendous Postseason has escaped criticism,” adding that his slump was “one of the main reasons the overrated Cubs were swept aside so easily.” Clark acknowledged Crow-Armstrong’s regular season achievements but warned that his postseason struggles might overshadow them. “He might win the MVP Award, but his strong regular season will forever be remembered for his Postseason choke,” Clark said.
Crow-Armstrong’s regular season was remarkable. He finished with 45 home runs, 41 stolen bases, 107 RBIs, and 119 runs scored, becoming just the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club. His performances helped propel the Cubs into the postseason and saw him overtake Shohei Ohtani as the leading National League MVP candidate.
Despite the focus on Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ offensive woes were not confined to one player. Alex Bregman also went hitless in the series, and together they struck out eight times. The Padres’ pitching staff earned credit for their dominant display, shutting down the Cubs’ lineup and limiting scoring opportunities.
Crow-Armstrong himself took responsibility for his showing. After the elimination, he spoke candidly about his disappointment. “I would say, to start: I show up. I show up when it matters in these games. That would help us immediately. But that’s all I got right now,” he said. “You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your numbers from, and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute… None of it feels good. Pretty disappointed in myself, but that’s for me to work on.”
The Cubs’ failure to score more than one run in two games was a stark contrast to their regular season form. Crow-Armstrong’s postseason slump was particularly damaging given his role as a leading offensive force and MVP contender. The team’s inability to produce runs against the Padres’ pitching was decisive in their swift exit.
Crow-Armstrong’s slump has sparked debate about how postseason performances affect a player’s legacy. While his regular season stats are outstanding, his struggles in the playoffs have drawn attention from analysts and fans alike. The Cubs will now regroup after their disappointing sweep, with Crow-Armstrong facing scrutiny over whether he can replicate his regular season impact on baseball’s biggest stage.
According to Yahoo Sports.