ST. LOUIS – Cubs supervisor Joe Maddon began August with a number of new toys to play with in his lineup and bullpen.
But even with newcomers Nick Castellanos and Tony Kemp making their Cub debuts within the beginning lineup and holdover ace Jon Lester beginning the brand new month on the mound in opposition to the Cardinals, the duty down the stretch appeared loads just like the Cubs’ labor the primary 4 months.
The Cubs and Cardinals opened August tied for first, with the Brewers one sport again.
And the one factor Maddon knew for certain on Thursday was that there can be no crying in baseball the remainder of the way in which because the division race and the summer time get even hotter with the Cubs new-look roster locked into place.
Castellanos, whose debut included a sixth-inning single that broke up Cardinal right-hander Jack Flaherty’s no-hit bid, figures to play nearly on a regular basis in proper or left.
And if which means much less enjoying time or function adjustments for struggling Albert Almora Jr., newly recalled Ian Happ and even streaky Kyle Schwarber, Maddon has a message for any complainers:
“It’s big-boy time.”
The Cubs nonetheless have the worst highway report within the National League as they left St. Louis Thursday night time.
They nonetheless have the second-best residence report within the league as they head residence for one more three-game showdown with the Brewers, beginning Friday.
And nearly every part in between was in play for the stretch drive within the tightest division race within the majors.
“Right now we’ve just got to put out there what we consider the right thing to do,” Maddon stated of the day by day activity throughout this ultimate dash, as he will get to know his two new hitters in addition to relievers David Phelps and Derek Holland, who additionally have been acquired in latest days.
“I can’t be as aware, in a sense, as I was last year, just giving guys plate appearances and at-bats developmentally speaking. We have two months to really put our best foot forward. I will move guys in and out [on a playing-time rotation], but I don’t feel as compelled to do it as I maybe felt last year.”
Among the issues at stake for the Cubs down the stretch are the viability of the aggressive window the entrance workplace believes it has constructed thus far, in addition to Maddon’s job.
As he embarks on the ultimate two months, the Cubs had eight gamers on the roster who weren’t there on Opening Day, together with 5 added in latest weeks (additionally nearer Craig Kimbrel).
“I haven’t quite discussed my role, but to be quite blunt, I don’t care,” stated Kemp, who began at second base Thursday. “I’m just here to help I any way possible, whether that be off the bench of if they want me to serve water to the guys. I’ll do whatever they need.”
Kemp is predicted to play a platoon/bench function. Castellanos is predicted to play daily, pushing Jason Heyward from proper discipline to centerfield on a extra common foundation and turning Almora and presumably Happ into part-time gamers and potential late-inning defensive guys for now.
Castellanos, who is particularly efficient in opposition to left-handers may even discover some at-bats main off in opposition to favorable matchups. He batted second Thursday.
The Cubs’ leadoff numbers in July, with Schwarber getting most of these begins, have been horrible specifically, ranked final within the majors in batting (.152), on-base proportion (.222) and slugging (.323). The strikeout fee was a whopping 30.6-percent, 27th-worst in MLB.
Heyward went 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot Wednesday and was there once more Thursday.
Castellanos’ ideas on batting leadoff?
“I don’t care,” he stated. “I’m not a very high-maintenance kind of guy. If I’ve got a glove and a bat, I’m ready. Leadoff, third, fourth, ninth, whatever.”
Big-boy reply. Big-boy time.