For a man who participated in “Dancing With the Stars,” Chicago Cubs supervisor David Ross has no actual really feel for Hollywood endings.
Making his major-league debut off the bench Monday night time at Coors Field in Colorado, high prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong got here to the plate with a runner on first and no outs within the ninth inning, after the Cubs had taken a one-run lead over the Rockies.
Cubs followers, who may recall Willson Contreras and Christopher Morel homering of their first major-league at-bats, have been hoping for some comparable heroics from essentially the most hyped rookie since Kris Bryant, hitting within the hitter-friendly ballpark.
Then Crow-Armstrong laid down a sacrifice bunt. The Cubs failed to attain an insurance coverage run however escaped with a one-run win. Crow-Armstrong must wait one other day to indicate us what the hype is all about. Ross presumably slept properly.
These last 17 video games shall be about whether or not the Cubs can keep away from the agitating offensive shutdowns which have cropped up infrequently, together with final weekend in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
But it’s going to even be about how Ross handles his crew down the stretch.
He may wind up National League Manager of the Year if the Cubs make it to the postseason. He could possibly be savaged on social media in the event that they don’t.
Anything is feasible on this season the place nothing has made a lot sense.
The Cubs face a few potential handicaps as they start the ultimate stretch of this unusual however beguiling season. The first was dropping nearer Adbert Alzolay to the injured listing with a proper forearm pressure, which pressured Ross to audible together with his bullpen after the threesome of Julian Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr. and Alzolay have been instrumental within the crew’s turnaround in late June.
Not surprisingly, Ross gained’t title a more in-depth, although Merryweather and Leiter would each benefit a glance.
On Monday he turned to Michael Fulmer, who recovered from a shaky begin in his return from the IL, notching the save within the 5-4 comeback win as Leiter warmed up within the bullpen. It was a return to the unique plan of Fulmer being the first nearer.
Ross by no means introduced a more in-depth in spring coaching, however Fulmer, with assist from Brad Boxberger, was presupposed to be the plan. It didn’t work.
“I love mapping things out in my head before the game, but rarely does it play out the way I want,” Ross stated after Fulmer blew a save in late April.
The plan that wasn’t a plan was deserted after Fulmer’s April struggles, opening the door to Alzolay’s breakthrough season. Fulmer proved simpler in a sixth- or seventh-inning position, whereas Boxberger disappeared on the IL on May 15 with a proper forearm pressure, solely returning final week.
The second potential hazard the Cubs face is inexperience on the bench, within the bullpen and on the again finish of the rotation, although Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad have helped alleviate these considerations.
President Jed Hoyer doubled down on the semi-youth motion Monday with the addition of high prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, who assuredly gained’t be hidden on the bench as Alexander Canario was throughout his 10-day call-up.
Ross stated final week Canario’s time on the bench was a great lesson as a result of he was “being around winners and a winning team.” But Canario had no begins and just one pinch-hitting look.
“The future is bright for a lot of our minor leaguers that are coming up,” Ross stated. “But now is not the time to get those guys at-bats.”
Sure. But why put them on the roster in a pennant race?
Crow-Armstrong — or just “PCA,” as Marquee Sports Network insists we name him — is a unique breed. His lack of expertise gained’t maintain him from enjoying, and the Cubs clearly want a top quality left-handed bat. Jeimer Candelario’s latest hunch and transfer to the 10-day IL ought to enable Ross to present Crow-Armstrong common begins in middle, with Cody Bellinger at first base. But we’ll see.
The Cubs went into Tuesday’s sport in Colorado with a 2-game cushion over the Diamondbacks within the wild-card chase, and a 3 1/2 sport lead over the following two closest pursuers, the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins.
The wild card seems to be their greatest probability of getting in, and the Cubs have performed simply ok in September (7-5) to keep away from dropping from the second spot. They can nonetheless catch the Milwaukee Brewers within the National League Central, but it surely’s wanting extra uncertain by the day.
The Brewers gained 15 of their final 21 video games getting into Tuesday and posted a 2.86 ERA over the primary 10 video games in September. Corbin Burnes and two relievers mixed for 10 no-hit innings in Yankee Stadium on Sunday in what became a 13-inning loss, and Brandon Woodruff has a 2.22 ERA in seven begins since his return from the IL in August.
The Cubs pulled to inside 1 1/2 video games of the Brewers earlier than dropping three straight to the Diamondbacks, due to an offensive shutdown, the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field and a few stellar protection by Arizona. Would having a bat like Crow-Armstrong off the bench in opposition to the Diamondbacks have helped in any of these one-run losses over the weekend?
We’ll by no means know. It’s like questioning whether or not the demotion of Christopher Morel to Triple-A Iowa on the finish of spring coaching, whereas retaining a 3rd catcher who was quickly jettisoned, was a call that may have value the Cubs a win or two early within the season.
If the Cubs enter the ultimate collection of the common season in Milwaukee inside one sport of first place, they’ll have a sensible shot. They’re 5-5 in opposition to the Brewers, so a tie with them and a win within the season collection would give them the tiebreaker for the NL Central title.
But what if Ross had to make use of ace Justin Steele to attempt to clinch the division within the last sport, which means home-field benefit within the Wild Card Series? Would or not it’s price dropping Steele for a Game 1 of the Wild Card Series if the Cubs have already got clinched a wild-card spot?
It’s shaping as much as be a loopy ending, and that’s not even counting the attainable return of Marcus Stroman from his mysterious rib damage.
For the ’23 Cubs, it’s Hollywood or bust.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com