The arrival of June meant two issues for the Chicago Cubs.
It’s two months till the commerce deadline — and 4 months till the tip of the season.
But regardless of coming into the month with a 20-29 report and the very fact they trailed the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by 11 video games, the Cubs haven’t reverted to lovable loser standing in Chicago simply but.
The clubhouse is upbeat. Rookie Christopher Morel has added life to the lineup. And Cubs followers appear OK understanding the group is rebuilding in 2022 however able to successful a enjoyable sport like Tuesday’s 8-7 comeback victory over the Brewers.
“Anytime you can get a win, it’s much better than a loss,” starter Justin Steele mentioned postgame in an obvious bid to get an Obvious Shirts slogan.
Here’s what we all know — and don’t — up to now concerning the 2022 Cubs.
1. Willson Contreras quietly is having his finest season.
The veteran catcher and two-time All-Star is coming into his stroll yr in free company. He has a profession excessive .907 OPS and .155 OPS+ (on-base plus slugging adjusted to the participant’s ballpark).
Is Contreras having a greater season than his All-Star years in 2018-19?
“It feels like it’s very similar,” he mentioned Tuesday evening. “But we’ve got a whole different team and I’m trying to battle with these guys on this ship.”
Willson handed his brother, William, in dwelling runs by hitting No. 8 within the first inning vs. the Brewers Tuesday. William Contreras is also off to an awesome begin with the Atlanta Braves, with a 1.053 OPS in 18 video games.
“I saw that on the scoreboard,” Willson mentioned of the brotherly battle for supremacy. “Inside it makes me laugh because he makes me proud. We’ve come a long way.”
The Contreras brothers are 1-2 in dwelling runs by catchers. They doubtlessly might be part of one another on the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, with Willson as a possible National League starter and William as a reserve.
2. Christopher Morel is a combo of Javier Báez and Dexter Fowler.
Have the Cubs lastly discovered a leadoff man to switch Fowler 5 years after his departure?
Morel has relished the function of sparkplug on the prime of the Cubs lineup since being known as up from Double-A Tennessee.
“Nothing but amazing,” Contreras mentioned of Morel. “He received known as up and he’s actually snug. He’s being himself, which is large for us. He’s not afraid of failing. Batting behind him, I’ve to be prepared as a result of as soon as I get to the on-deck circle, he’s already swinging.
“He’s getting on base, has great at-bats and doesn’t give anything away.”
Manager David Ross in contrast Morel’s power to the type supplied by Báez, who was dealt to the New York Mets in final summer time’s sell-off. After hitting a triple within the sixth inning Tuesday, Morel distracted Brewers pitcher Trevor Kelley by repeatedly faking a steal of dwelling. Kelley then served up a protracted, run-scoring double to Contreras.
“He’s playing the game with a lot of passion, almost that same ‘playing with your hair on fire (attitude),’” Ross mentioned of the comparability to Báez. “But he’s calm in the box, taking his walks.”
Contreras agreed with Ross, although he famous the 2 gamers are “different people.” Báez was extra reserved and severe, whereas Morel is a free spirit whose smile is the very first thing you discover when he enters a room.
Morel additionally broke Contreras’ membership report for reaching base at first of his MLB profession.
3. Keegan Thompson could also be in a class by himself.
While Thompson figures to affix the rotation full-time in some unspecified time in the future, the Cubs are superb utilizing him in a hybrid function early within the season. Thompson posted a 1.58 ERA by way of May, one in every of six National League pitchers with an ERA beneath 2.00 whereas throwing 40 or extra innings.
So what’s his most well-liked function?
“I don’t know if I’ve really been a reliever or starter,” he mentioned. “I’ve been more of an innings-eater guy.”
There isn’t any separate class for “innings-eater guy,” although if a brand new class of “IEG” was invented by stats nerds, Thompson could be among the many leaders.
Does he count on to be a starter this season?
“We’ll see,” he mentioned knowingly. “I don’t know.”
He most likely is aware of, however doesn’t care proper now so long as he will get the ball. Thompson mentioned he wants solely a day or two’s discover if Ross needs to begin him, like Saturday in opposition to the White Sox.
“I know I’m going to throw anyway, whether it’s 3-4 innings out of the bullpen or four or five as a starter if I can get stretched out,” Thompson mentioned. “I prepare for a start like I’m getting a call out of the bullpen.”
Thompson is slated to get a type of begins Thursday in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals.
4. Nick Madrigal hopes to have a recent begin in June after an IL stint.
The second baseman didn’t play for the Cubs final summer time after present process hamstring surgical procedure with the White Sox. And he had a poor offensive begin this season earlier than one other IL stint with decrease again points. Madrigal mentioned the Cubs workers couldn’t work out why his again wasn’t initially responding to workout routines and delicate tissue remedy, however now his vary of movement has returned.
“I feel like physically, mentally I’m ready to get back on the field,” Madrigal mentioned. “It was tough sitting in the dugout.”
Madrigal entered Wednesday hitting .210 after averaging .317 in two seasons with the White Sox. He has struck out 14 occasions after fanning simply 17 occasions in 200 at-bats final season. The again points might be an element, however he’s not utilizing that as an excuse.
Madrigal must be the participant he was on the South Side to stay the Cubs’ full-time starter at second. Morel can also play the place, although he’s extra helpful because the beginning middle fielder.
5. The Cubs have been aggressive for probably the most half, however must win extra shut video games.
Tuesday’s win over the Brewers on Patrick Wisdom’s eighth-inning dwelling run was solely the Cubs’ fifth in 18 one-run video games. That’s not good. Through May the Cubs had been 0-24 when trailing coming into the seventh inning, that means they haven’t discovered the artwork of the comeback.
If they hope to be respectable the rest of the season, the Cubs want to alter path in each classes.
“The fact we’re in it means we are good enough to compete there,” Ross mentioned of Tuesday’s win. “We’ve just got to figure out a way to win.”
No one will get a hoop for being “good enough to compete,” so the Cubs have a methods to go nonetheless.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com