With catcher Willson Contreras out, manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs has issues of stopping the running game and line-up construction.
When Chicago Cubs’ catcher Willson Contreras went down with a hamstring injury Wednesday in San Francisco, the damage went beyond the absence of a key player.
Now, manager Joe Maddon has to deal with a domino effect of line-up construction, combatting an opponent’s running game and a pair of new catchers to handle a pitching staff in the middle of a pennant race.
Of immediate concern, Maddon is faced with juggling his line-up and replacing Contreras as the Cubs’ cleanup hitter.
On Friday, the Cubs placed Contreras on the 10-day disabled list with that right hamstring strain, though he could spend from four to six weeks out of the line-up. Prior to his injury, the 25-year-old was named the National League Player of the Week for last week and hammered five homers in his previous seven games. When he went down, Contreras was hitting .274 on the season with 21 homers and 71 RBI.
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For Friday’s series opener against Arizona, Maddon placed Ben Zobrist in the four-hole and that represents a significant change. At several points of the season Zobrist has led off, and now the veteran infielder has been thrust into a responsible power position.
More importantly, Maddon now has the option of using veteran Alex Avila, acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trading deadline of July 31, and Victor Caratini, recalled from Triple-A Iowa. This is Caratini’s second stint with the Cubs this season and he previously hit .192 in 11 games. At Iowa, Caratini, a switch-hitter, batted .344 with 24 doubles, 10 homers and 59 RBI in 76 games.
While a productive offense clearly helps, the issues facing Maddon and his relatively new duo behind the plate is handling the pitching staff and controlling the running game. Immediately confronting Arizona, a team known for aggressive base running, the game plan was to keep it simple. Before Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks in Chase Field, Avila told Call to the Pen his approach is basic.
"“First, I’m familiar with them and played against them here earlier this season and a few games in Detroit,” he said of the Diamondbacks. “I know what these guys can do. To cut down their running game, you need to limit their opportunities.”"
That may be easier said than done. Manager Torey Lovullo puts his team in a position to succeed and as a result, the Diamondbacks pick their spots. Coming into Friday’s game against the Cubs, Arizona swiped 77 bases and was caught 22 times. By contrast, Cubs’ opponents have stolen 89 bases and caught only 21 times.
Regarding the running game and cutting down the Diamondbacks’ ability manufacture runs, Maddon was more direct. With his usual sense of humor, Maddon told Call to the Pen an obvious method to shutting down the running game.
"“Keep them off the bases,” he smiled. “It’s pretty that simple. Really, it starts on the mound. Pitchers need to know the situations. Believe me, I’m very aware of the Diamondbacks.”"
With Contreras out, the Diamondbacks plan to take full liberty. In recent games, Lovullo has not unleashed his running game, but told Call to the Pen before Friday’s game that the loss of Contreras leaves a gaping and significant hole.
"“There’s no question that Contreras is a big miss for them,” he said. “We plan to take advantage.”"
Behind from the start of the game Friday night and eventually dropping an 8-3 encounter to the Cubs, Lovullo did not have an opportunity to jump-start his running game. Still, that dimension of the Arizona game plan will likely dominate Maddon’s thinking for the remainder of this series in the desert.
On Friday night the Cubs beat the Diamondbacks 8-3 with all three of Arizona’s runs coming via the long ball. Chris Herrmann and Brandon Drury accounted for the three non-homer hits in the game for the D-Backs, and they’re not exactly the burners on this club. Round one of this matchup goes to Alex Avila, Joe Maddon and the Cubs.