Less than three months to go.
The Chicago Cubs roster might look very completely different by the point they shut out the season Oct. 5 in Cincinnati. At simply previous the midpoint of the season, the Cubs are trending towards a 96-loss marketing campaign — although that’s earlier than they doubtless transfer key items main as much as the Aug. 2 commerce deadline.
As the Cubs chug alongside throughout a four-game set at Dodger Stadium, there are questions the group should reply in the course of the second half with an eye fixed on the long run.
1. Is outfielder Ian Happ a participant to construct round?
This might be answered inside the subsequent three weeks if the Cubs decide to commerce Happ, who shall be a free agent after subsequent season. The 27-year-old swap hitter has lived as much as this potential this yr in a profession season. Happ’s offensive manufacturing is probably the most constant of his six big-league seasons, and it notably comes because the offense is closely counting on him to provide.
Perhaps his previous offensive inconsistencies make the Cubs cautious of giving him the kind of cash it will take to signal Happ to a contract extension. But mixed together with his scorching remaining two months of the 2021 season, he has proven carryover and an vital potential to maneuver previous his terrible first 4 months final yr.
Sticking — and preserving — Happ in left subject has yielded enchancment in his protection too. He’s revered within the clubhouse and has grown in a management position. He’s putting out lower than ever whereas nonetheless drawing walks at his profession price. While a few underlying numbers may elevate concern — a excessive Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP), a decrease dwelling run price and a small uptick in floor balls — Happ has given the Cubs a wanted presence.
The final two years have proven that the group is snug going into the ultimate yr earlier than free company with their key gamers. The Cubs want core gamers to come back out of this rebuild, however Happ seems to be the subsequent one to face uncertainty together with his Cubs future.
2. Do the Cubs have the inner beginning pitching that has eluded them?
The way forward for the Cubs rotation appears quite a bit brighter if right-hander Keegan Thompson and left-hander Justin Steele are the true deal. Their first-half efficiency was encouraging. Both personal an ERA+ above 100, which is league common, whereas left-hander Drew Smyly represents the one different Cubs starter to hit that mark.
The subsequent three months shall be a superb check for Thompson and Steele as they work by means of their first full big-league seasons and push by means of probably the most single-season innings they’ve pitched of their skilled careers. The Cubs, although, want greater than them.
Right-hander Caleb Kilian is predicted to get one other alternative within the majors this yr after command points and walks plagued him in three first-half begins. The Cubs are optimistic right-hander Adbert Alzolay will return from his proper shoulder pressure in some unspecified time in the future. Depending on when he returns, maybe the Cubs take a look at him in a multi-inning aid position that Thompson thrived in earlier this season. Alzolay bought a style of it late final season when the Cubs had been managing his workload.
Development within the minors is vital too, although their high starters are nonetheless on the decrease ranges: left-handers Jordan Wicks and DJ Herz and right-hander Kohl Franklin have proven great things at High-A South Bend this season. There is potential within the Cubs system, however a part of the long-term imaginative and prescient depends on guys corresponding to Thompson and Steele being high quality big-leaguers.
3. Can they learn to flip shut video games into wins?
The Cubs have a knack for preventing till the final out, which is an efficient high quality for any staff. Too usually, although, they’ve come up brief with a feel-good rally. Entering Friday, they performed 25 one-run video games, which is tied for tenth most within the majors. And just one staff has performed extra extra-inning video games than the Cubs (11).
The Cubs, nonetheless, are 3-8 in extras and 10-15 in one-run video games. At some level, they should benefit from being in video games and studying learn how to both full a comeback or maintain off the opposite staff. And it may not occur till subsequent season. Some of that may be a lack of big-league expertise. It additionally entails the caliber of expertise. While the typical age of Cubs hitters is a league-average 28.5 years previous, quite a lot of their regulars are of their first yr or two of taking part in day-after-day within the majors.
The Cubs have solely 5 place gamers and three pitchers who stay from the group’s final postseason staff in 2020. Moral victories don’t precisely imply a lot in majors, particularly for a Cubs fan base that carries excessive expectations. Learning to win within the majors could be a course of and, to this point, the Cubs have been popping out on the flawed aspect of shut video games. Finding a strategy to change that over the ultimate three months might assist their subsequent contending staff.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com