Chicago Cubs: Someone needs to step up before its too late

The Chicago Cubs Hitters

Ian Happ

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Like I said earlier, it’s easy to blame the bullpen, but the hitters need to step up and give them more margin for error.

Personally, I think it was a bit unfair that Ian Happ had to spend the majority of his 2019 in the minors.  In Theo, We Trust and one could say that Happ needed to improve his plate discipline but was triple-A the place to do that?

The Cubs have received a plethora of dreadful ABs to Daniel Descalso (49 wRC+), Addison Russell (90 wRC+), and Albert Almora (72 wRC+).  In Happ’s two big league seasons, he produced 1.5 and 1.9 WAR which is better than any season posted by Almora or Descalso and doesn’t come with the headache that is Addison Russell (not to mention he hasn’t even been good).

I can’t imagine Happ enjoyed his stay in Iowa.  In addition to being motivated to show he is a big leaguer, he’s going to want to show the front office they made the wrong decision to keep him down.  If Happ can return to his 2017 level of hitting (.253/.328/.514, 114 wRC+) while being acceptable in CF and filling in around the INF, he will find regular ABs and provide real offense.

David Bote

Last season, Bote hit the shot heard round the world and became a cult hero among Cubs fans

Bote, who was extended in the offseason, is actually hitting better this season than last with a batting line that is a shade below league average (99 wRC+).  He has admirably manned 2B, 3B, and is now the backup SS with Russell being sent back to the minor leagues.

Looking at his numbers, you have to feel like there’s more in the tank as he has above-average exit velocity (90.2 MPH) but hits the ball on the ground nearly 50% of the time.  Bote’s still a young hitter in his 2nd big league season so he’s still learning, but there could be a sleeping monster if he can take a step forward.

Overall, the Cubs have a bunch of talent on their 25 man roster and help *should* be on the way at the deadline whether it’s from these guys, someone in the minor leagues or playing for someone else at the moment.