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Well, at least it ended on a positive note, right?
The Cubs 3-4 homestand featured four postponements, two of which still need to be made up later in the season. The starting pitching wasn’t good enough, the offense wasted too many opportunities, and the bullpen finally stumbled.
It wasn’t all bad, the homestand did feature an 8 run comeback win and a pair of slaughters against divisional rivals. Still, we should expect much more from this team at some point in the coming weeks.
THE GOOD:
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Javy Baez
Even though he spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues entering 2018, Javy really is still a kid. At 25 he’s just entering his prime, which is such a pleasing thought considering what he has already accomplished. So far, he’s off to the best start of his career and the highlights have already been plentiful.
Javy Baez is tied with Bryce Harper for third in the majors in slugging percentage at .712.
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) April 19, 2018
TIE GAME! 3-run double for Javy Baez! pic.twitter.com/t1PK7avvbE
— Kevin Marchina (@kg_holler) April 14, 2018
VIDEO: It's always fun to watch #Cubs Javy Baez hit HRs. On Tuesday, he did it twice https://t.co/8Wc0cklajW
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) April 11, 2018
Javy followed up his 2-homer home opener with two more dongs in the Cubs next contest. He leads the team with five to go along with his team-leading #swag.
Schwarber on Javy:
"The guy is an exciting ballplayer. I feel like we're always talking about Javy Baez and I'm not gonna get tired of it. If you guys keep asking me about him, I'm gonna keep talking about him."
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) April 19, 2018
Brandon Morrow
Closer was a question mark in some people’s eyes heading into the season. The injury concerns were fair, and, although I dispute them, many folks simply don’t trust a relievers closing abilities until they actually see them produce in the ninth inning, regardless of what a player’s stuff looks like if he’s pitched primarily in earlier innings.
Morrow has yet to give up an earned run in seven appearances this year, giving up just four baserunners and striking out six over six innings with three saves. If his stuff continues to look as filthy as it has been, the Cubs closer will be just fine.
THE BAD:
Starting Pitching
Before Jon Lester delivered the team’s only quality start of the homestand in yesterday’s 8-5 win over the Cardinals, the Cubs’ staff ranked 28th in the league in WAR and had the highest walk rate. The Cubs starting rotation was the rock of the 2016 championship team, highlighted their poor 2017 start, and solidified the 2017 division title push. The rotation is what will drive this team (or any team for that matter) to success.
With the next six games in Coors Field and then against a dangerous Cleveland lineup, the next turn through the rotation probably won’t look much better than it has the first three. When the Cubs return to Wrigley at the end of the month, hopefully the rotation we expected to see returns as well.
Ian Happ
The Ian Happ lead-off experiment is likely on hold for now, which may be an especially bad sign considering Ben Zobrist is dealing with a back flare up.
The 23-year-old outfielder had our minds spinning at what this offense’s full potential could be with Happ setting the table. Happ’s Spring Training dominance and his season-opening dinger have not carried over though, leaving the offense and outfield alignment in a bit of a predicament.
Happ boasts just a .264 OBP and has struck out 25 times in 53 plate appearances and he looks lost. I don’t think it’s fair to send him to the minors yet, especially since you don’t know how a young player will handle a demotion like that, but it’s definitely time to let Zobrist lead off more and let Almora play more Center Field.
Happ will get more opportunities, opportunities that could lead to him being an everyday player and leadoff hitter by season’s end. For now, though, it’s time for him to take a backseat.
