2 Cubs players Craig Counsell has lost trust in, 2 who are becoming reliable

Nearly two months into the regular season, it's safe to say that Craig Counsell has a general feel for the players on the Chicago Cubs' roster. It's certainly the best roster Counsell has had since becoming the Cubs' manager, and that does allow him to rely on veterans.

For the most part, it's worked. The Cubs are a true contender in the National League, and with the right moves at the MLB trade deadline, they should be in a position to go on a lengthy run. That said, we may have already reached the point where Counsell has lost trust in certain players.

2 Cubs players Craig Counsell has lost trust in

Now, just because Counsell may have lost faith in these players at the moment, it doesn't mean that circumstances can't change down the road.

Moises Ballesteros

Counsell has been an avid supporter of Moises Ballesteros and his hitting profile over the past year, and that likely hasn't changed. Having said that, as Ballesteros has entered a recent slump, he's found himself out of the starting lineup more often.

Ballesteros has been slumping, but there's a case to be made that there's been some bad luck involved with his struggles. Complicating matters is the reality that Michael Conforto appears to have found himself again.

Phil Maton

Injuries have forced Counsell to keep using Phil Maton in high-leverage situations, but it's hard to imagine that is going to continue for the time being. After a three-run outing against the Chicago White Sox, that felt like another point of realization for the Cubs to go back to the drawing board for the veteran pitcher.

The Cubs are eventually going to need Maton to figure things out. He's in the second month of a two-year deal; there is no DFA decision that is going to be made at this point in his tenure in Chicago.

2 Cubs players who have become Craig Counsell favorites

Michael Conforto

No one could have predicted at the start of the season that Michael Conforto would become the clutchest hitter on the Cubs roster. As Conforto has turned the page from his struggles with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he's become a regular in the starting lineup.

If Conforto continues to have success, Counsell will have no choice but to keep him in the lineup. If that happens, the better path for Ballesteros might just be a return to Triple-A Iowa.

Jacob Webb

After a rocky start to the season, Jacob Webb has become one of the most trusted relievers on the Cubs' pitching staff. His ERA is under 3.50 on the season, and he's striking out nearly 27% of the hitters he's faced. It's certainly been needed, considering Maton's struggles and the uncertainty surrounding the health of Hunter Harvey.

It's also a reminder that Jed Hoyer might be better at identifying relief pitchers for one-year deals than he is at identifying the biggest swing to take for a bullpen upgrade.

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