Chicago Cubs: Notes from the first week of Cactus League play

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Baseball is back, and the Chicago Cubs opened Spring Training on a strong note. Here are the things you need to know.

The temperatures are warm, the sun is out, and baseball is on television. It is great to sit back and watch the games and news from Spring Training. And, now more than ever, fans are paying attention to the Chicago Cubs.

With Spring Training, it is hard to know what to pay attention to from what is just exhibition. Many of the players at camp will neither break camp with the club or get called to the Majors during the season. What is important to know and what numbers should we pay attention to?

That is where we come in. Over the season, we will be bringing you weekly news and notes from the Chicago Cubs, what you need to know and why it is important. With the amount of information available, it is easy to overlook the mundanely-important.

And with that, we are off. Here are the important tidbits to note from the opening week of Spring Training.

More than just a few homers

So far, it appears that Addison Russell is keeping up where he left off in 2016: hitting the ball hard. Russell has two hits in his five at-bats this Spring Training. Both hits left the yard. What is most impressive about the home runs was not the distance, but the placement. On Monday, Russell pull a bomb over the left field fence. The next day, a 3-run shot to center on a 3-2 count. There were also two outs. And, both came off right handed pitchers.

Pull, or not to pull?

When comparing to his 2016 stats, 11 of Russell’s home runs were pulled to left, and 10 to center. And only one came with two outs and runners on first and second. So far, so good for the shortstop.

Should the trend continue, Russell could hit 20+ home runs for the Chicago Cubs in 2017. Does that warrant the 23 year old batting clean-up in the order? According to Carrie Muskrat, Manager Joe Maddon has yet to consider it.

I honestly have not thought about that significantly, but I need to…I think the power has been there. The ball comes off his bat hot. He had two strikes [Monday] and drew his hands inside. He’s strong. When a young guy like that starts understanding what he’s doing and getting in better counts, that’s when you’ll see more consistent power. He’s already powerful.

It certainly is an interesting thought, but only Maddon knows the opening day lineup. The rest of us will just wait and see.

Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Anderson off to solid start

Newly acquired pitcher Brett Anderson made his Chicago Cubs’ debut versus the Chicago White Sox on Monday. While the outing was short, the results were solid. He pitched only one inning, allowing one hit, one strikeout, and two groundouts. The hit was a sharp single, but the rest of the contact was weak.

The goal for Anderson during Spring Training is simple: stay healthy. He needs to keep with the routine and keep his back from causing mechanical issues. Pitching Coach Chris Bosio is working with Anderson on some small adjustments, such as landing on his toes and not the heel of his foot. To this point, says Carrie Muskrat, everyone is pleased.

As our own Jacob Misener reported, the Cubs are still considering all options when it comes to the starting rotation. Both Anderson and Mike Montgomery are in the running for the fifth starter spot, but both could be utilized as a sixth starter or rotated from the bullpen to the rotation. The goal is, again, to keep everyone healthy. And prepare for another title run.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Role players stepping up

We know what to expect from the regulars. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo have the potential to win the MVP. Ben Zobrist will perform in clutch moments. Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber can hit 25+ home runs each. This we know. Track record shows that can happen.

What is unknown is how the role players will perform. If Spring Training is any indication, the Chicago Cubs are in for a great season. Sure, it is only a few games and most batters have five or less at-bats, but early returns show promise.

Bench player Matt Szczur is 4-9 with four runs batted in already. Jon Jay is batting .333/.429/.500 with a double and a run scored. And Albert Almora not only putting together quality at-bats, he make this play in the outfield (courtesy of MLB.com):

Maddon has decisions to make. If Almora keeps up the solid all-around play, it will make a solid statement for starting in centerfield. But, if Jay continues to get on base, it will add value to the Cubs’ offense. And, can Szczur make a case to start as well? This is why there is Spring Training. It will be exciting to watch.

Prospects Shine

We have said it several times: the future is bright for the Chicago Cubs. Many of the team’s top prospects are showing their ability and proving why they deserve consideration.

Top prospect Eloy Jimenez has a .400/.455/.500 split so far, including a double, a run batted in and another scored. Ian Happ is batting .300 and has a stolen base, but has four strikeouts. Several others are showing well, hitting doubles and moving runners. The offense is in good hands.

The pitching has been a greater surprise. Between Gerardo Concepcion, Pierce Johnson, Ryan Williams, Felix Pena, and Alec Mills, they have five strikeouts in eight innings, and a cumulative ERA of 0.00. As a matter of fact, 27 of the 38 pitchers that have pitched this Spring have an ERA of 0.00.

Again, these are early showings in Spring Training. Many of these players are facing Minor League opponents. That said, solid performances are encouraging.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Cause for concern

One of the major flaws of the 2016 Chicago Cubs was leaving runners on base. As a team, they lead all of baseball by leaving 1217 runners on. The MLB batting average for runners in scoring position was .258 in 2016. The Cubs hit .252. Not a huge drop, but below average.

Through six games, the Cubs are 13-53 (.245 avg.) with runners in scoring positions. In other words, that go 2-9 per game. Furthermore, they have left 42 runners on base as a team. The trend of 2016 is continuing. If they want to content for another championship, these stats must improve.

Next: Taking a look at the team’s projected infield

Additionally, the team is not walking as much as before. Sure, the regular players have only four or five at-bats, but for a team that lead the Majors in walks, the lack of taking pitches is concerning. Players tend to be more aggressive in Spring Training as they are getting back into the swing of things. Come time for opening day, things should be back to normal.

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