Ben Zobrist’s No. 18 jersey hangs subsequent to his locker within the Cubs’ clubhouse.
The white shirt with blue pinstripes is cleaned and pressed. It has not been worn since May 6, which marked Zobrist’s final recreation earlier than he stepped away from the crew due to private causes.
Now, with the commerce deadline lower than three weeks away, the Cubs might look to fill his void.
“I think our starting pitching’s in good shape,” Joe Maddon stated Sunday earlier than the Cubs swept the Pirates. “I feel our bullpen’s in fine condition. Overall, when you might simply possibly add that aspect the place another constant bat, an actual professional at-bat – we’re lacking Zobrist. That’s an ideal man, however he’s not right here anytime quickly.
“‘Zo’ suits into what we’re doing so nicely. We miss that.”
The Cubs haven’t dominated out a doable return for Zobrist, however nothing is imminent. The 38-year-old has not seen reside pitching for greater than two months and certain would want to go to the minor leagues to get his timing again.
Maddon praised Zobrist for his capability to work counts and nearly by no means increase his strike zone. He stated the Cubs may gain advantage from one other hitter with comparable traits.
“We have guys that work the pro at-bat, I’m not saying we don’t,” Maddon stated. “But something like that could be very advantageous.”
All is quiet
Maddon stated he had no clear sense as to when or whether or not Zobrist would return.
“I have not texted ‘Zo’ in a while, I really need to do that,” Maddon stated. “I’ve been counting on Theo to hold on that dialog. But I’ve no inkling as to when it could occur aside from that ‘Zo’ made it obvious that he’d like to have the ability to do this.
“But I don’t know the place he’s at mentally proper now with every part else that’s happening. It might have modified, too.”
Staying constructive
The Cubs hoped Daniel Descalso would offer a gentle bat off the bench after they signed him over the offseason.
But Descalso has struggled badly, hitting .185 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 70 video games.
Maddon reiterated confidence within the veteran however admitted that it is going to be troublesome to search out at-bats for him.
“I know he’s frustrated, but he really deals with it well,” Maddon stated. “I don’t know when the breakout period’s going to come. You look back to spring training, he looked great. You look to the first part of the season, he looked great. And then he got hurt a little bit, he came back and he just wasn’t quite the same. But the guy’s a professional.”
Contreras rests
Willson Contreras sat out Sunday due to a sore foot and would possibly sit once more Monday in opposition to the Reds, Maddon stated.
Victor Caratini began at catcher within the collection finale and went 2-for-Three with an RBI.
“He’s feeling a lot better today,” Maddon stated of Contreras. “(He could) play if we absolutely needed to have him play, but rest him today and maybe rest him tomorrow. It could have been part of a shoe switch that he had done. We’ll just play it day by day.”