Chicago Cubs: Tommy La Stella adding to the team’s depth

The Chicago Cubs entered this season knowing they had depth. You heard all about having Jorge Soler and Javier Baez off the bench, but Tommy La Stella was the “forgotten” man. He’s making sure that’s no longer the case.

Baseball is such a unique game. It’s not just about the nine guys on the field, but the bench and the bullpen. And often you look at a guys numbers and try to predict a “trend”. I love metrics, I really do. But I also have always been a fan of old-school scouting. Without being an inside guy, I would venture to say the Cubs scouting is one of the best in the league. Tommy La Stella is another reason why I think that. He’s a .265 career hitter in less that a season’s worth of games. But he’s proving to be so much more than that for Joe Maddon and the Cubs.

When the Cubs got La Stella, they got a player who they knew could hit, and at the time they got him was a potential fit at second base for the team. Injuries have slowed La Stella in his time with the Cubs as he played just 33 games last season. But when he filled in he played, he’s a very competent glove and was a spectacular pinch-hitter (2014:6-for-14). This season he’s exceeding all expectations at the plate (.356 AVG, 16-for-45 in 17 games-10 GS). Can he keep this up all season? Many questioned the unknown Jake Arrieta after his run, so I won’t say a word.

With the struggles of Soler to start, as well as Jason Heyward struggling with a sore wrist, La Stella’s value has skyrocketed along with his hitting. Baez is coming into his own too and the combination has offered even MORE options to Maddon. While Baez has worked on playing the outfield, Kris Bryant has experience there. Ben Zobrist can still move around, but the infield is covered with La Stella and Baez able to cover 3/4 of it. It’s not just Baez to spell a player, but Maddon can sit two or three starters and not feel like he’s losing anything. These are frightening words to teams in the league, and it’s not just blowing smoke.

La Stella has a BAbip (batting average on balls in play) of .368. He’s making even more hard contact (32.5%this year compared to 23% last season), and his ISO (SG-AVG) of .311 is at its highest since he was in Rookie ball with the Braves. He’s been a spray hitter for most of his career, but this season his pitch selection has been better and he’s pulling the ball at a higher rate because he’s getting “his” pitch.

Next: A look at how the new Cubs have fared

The scouts saw a player who clearly could hit, but had nowhere to play. The Cubs and Maddon will find places to play, outside of first base where Anthony Rizzo has staked his claim. The Cubs are 22-6–the best record in the league–and whoever is getting the job done, that’s who’s going to help them to keep doing it. Right now? That’s pretty much everybody.