MBDChicago-Flickr
The Chicago Cubs are 89 games into the 2015 season, and who would have expected this type of season for the 48-41 club? How about Theo Epstein? The 41-year-old President of Baseball Operations has focused hard on building a young club, seasoned with just the right amount of seniority with faces like Jon Lester, Chris Denorfia, and Miguel Montero. These very few, yet impactful veterans, along with the expertise of newly-hired skipper Joe Maddon have pushed a squad of former top-prospects to become more than just a group of young kids trying to get their act together in the big leagues. The Cubs are having a relatively stellar season, seeing as how they haven’t had a winning season since 2009.
Let’s start off by looking at a few young guys, studs, if you will, that the Cubbies have produced in the last few years. Immediately, your brain should have lit up with guys like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, and most recently, Kyle Schwarber. These guys can all be classified as “young studs”, as far as I’m concerned. Most people take one look at Bryant and Soler and see a pair of .260 hitters with decent power that strike out frequently, and they would be right to do so. There is no hiding the fact that these two guys are not fully developed professionals yet. However, you’re also forgetting the fact that these guys are only 23 years old. Yes, Mike Trout is also only 23, but he was created by the baseball Gods, and we’re not going to get into that. Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler have worked hard to attain their current status on the Cubs’ roster, and you better believe that they’re only going to get better in the next few years.
Anthony Rizzo is a guy who, when on the field, needs no introduction, and likewise doesn’t have time to introduce himself to you before he sends your best fastball into the bleachers. He has the perfect combination of bat control, power, and even base-running skills, having already swiped 12-bags this seson, quite uncommon for a first baseman. Oh, and did I mention he’s only 25? He’s already in the midst of his 5th MLB season, and he’s looking to repeat last year’s feat of 30 homers, as well as posting a .298 batting average so far. There is so much more to come for Anthony Rizzo, because we all know that, just as the year-by-year stats show, he’s only getting better.
Now, you’ve gotten all of this information about how great all of the young players are, but what’s missing? What is keeping this club from being a playoff contender right now? Well, honestly, if the season were to end today, the 48-41 Cubs would be headed to the one-game Wild Card Playoff against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and as we’ve seen in recent years, ANYTHING can happen in that game. It could possibly result in sending the Cubbies to a Division Series. But beyond a Wild Card spot, what’s holding the Cubs back from being contenders for their division? How about a solid, reliable leadoff man? Dexter Fowler has been nothing special, batting a chilly .237, and striking out more than twice as often as he draws a walk in his 80-games batting leadoff. This is not at all what any club would want from their leadoff guy. Fowler is in his last year under contract, and if the Cubs are smart, they won’t re-sign him. They’ll spend a little money and go after a guy like Gerardo Parra, who also hits free agency after the 2015 season, assuming the Milwaukee Brewers don’t offer him anything significantly out of the Cubs’ range.
Another testament to the Cubs’ lack of excellence is the absence of guys who routinely put the ball in play. Right now, there are five players on pace to strike out 100 times, and one who has already fanned a hefty 104 times, being Kris Bryant. Putting the ball in play is crucial to success at the Major League level, even if you’re getting out. Sacrifice flies, bunts to move runners over, productive groundouts, or even just getting the ball out there for the chance of an error to be committed, are all better than a strikeout. This season, the Cubs are ranked 20th in sacrifice flies, 24th in runners left in scoring position and 30th, dead last, in strikeouts per game, fanning a whopping 9.17 times on average. There are several solutions to this problem, ranging from hiring a new hitting coach, to simply implicating new drills to help these young players put the ball in play more often. There are definitely other solutions, but I’m no expert on how to train a baseball player.
With a few minor adjustments, this Cubs’ team is just a step away from becoming one of baseball’s elite squads. If Theo Epstein can play his cards right, he may even be able to build a baseball dynasty around young guys like Rizzo, Schwarber, and Bryant. A strong second half this season will certainly help tremendously but, as we’ve seen for years, Epstein & Company know a thing or two about thinking for the future.
Tyler Wilson is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook.