The Cubs have scored 33 runs over a 2-10 skid, with 18 runs coming from two games against the White Sox. They have been shut out three times in 12 games and have scored two or fewer runs eight times in that span. Craig Counsell said something different is required, citing shaken confidence and suggesting a different lineup look or a day off. The team made a change by moving Moisés Ballesteros to the bench in favor of Michael Conforto. However, Ian Happ has remained in the cleanup spot despite batting .122 with a 43 wRC+ over his last 59 plate appearances. Happ has also posted a 44.1% strikeout rate in that period, including multiple strikeouts on pitches from Spencer Arrighetti.
"“I think we have to do something different,” Counsell said after the game. “It feels like...confidence is shaken. Maybe a different look in the lineup, or a day off is needed. I think we are at that point, absolutely.”"
"This team has scored just 33 runs over their 2-10 skid, and 18 of those came in two games against the White Sox. It shouldn't even be possible for a team with this much talent to be shut out three times in 12 games, or to score two or fewer runs eight times in that same span, yet here we are."
"Moisés Ballesteros was quickly banished to the bench in favor of Michael Conforto, yet Ian Happ has remained in the cleanup spot despite batting .122 with a 43 wRC+ over his last 59 plate appearances. Happ just looks lost at the plate, as evidenced by a 44.1% strikeout rate in that same period."
"After doubling in his first at-bat, Happ went down swinging on a total of seven pitches from Houston righty Spencer Arrighetti the next two times up. The second of those was particularly ugly as Happ, who was way out in front of a breaking ball he should have known was coming in an 0-2 count."
Read at Cubsinsider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]