Patrick Wisdom set the Cubs’ single-season home run record for rookies in 2021 and it was pretty incredible considering he didn’t play his first game until May 25. Wisdom only had 43 MLB games under his belt heading into 2021, and for the first couple months he was truly impressive. But now it’s becoming clear why Wisdom was heading into his age 30 season with less than 100 plate appearances in the majors.
Even when Wisdom was smashing the ball in 2021, the strikeout numbers were outrageous and fans knew that his success wasn’t sustainable. However, Wisdom’s struggles have been far worse than the normal regression and although it’s only been a six-game sample size to begin the 2022 season, Wisdom does not deserve the benefit of the doubt and definitely shouldn’t be a guaranteed starter at third base.
I’m with you, six games into a season is way too early to make up an opinion about any player, but here’s a look at Wisdom’s last 112 games with the Cubs. He was great for two months and then fell off hard to end 2021 and it keeps getting worse.
(FIRST 56 GAMES) May 25-July 29
.268/335/.605, 144 wRC+ in 173 PA
(LAST 56 GAMES) July 30-April 14
.183/.259/.401, 74 wRC+ in 225 PA
Everything can’t be a fairytale story.
Wisdom’s struggles and how you a judge a player early in a season was one topic during this week’s Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast.
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On the other side of the spectrum, Seiya Suzuki has been a beast for the Cubs, reaching base in each of his first six games and driving in 10 runs. Oh and Suzuki has unbelievable plate discipline too!
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