Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber is finally ’embracing the suck’

Down but not out

The team immediately chalked up Schwarber as a loss for 2016, with a 2017 the target for their former first-rounder. There was no chance of him coming back. At least that’s how it looked.

But alas, Schwarber returned, defied odds, and did so against big-league pitching which he had not seen up-close and in person for six months. Rigorous hard work, rehab and dedication made him Theo Epstein’s best-kept secret and Joe Maddon‘s secret weapon.

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Because of how his World Series heroics transpired, Schwarber-Mania became all the rage. Now, as the calendar flips toward June, he’s been reduced to a platoon role.

He’s batting below the Mendoza Line, striking out a ton, and though he’s crushed seven home runs to go with 19 RBI, has not been the effective leadoff man Maddon envisioned.

People with social media hot takes include him in various trade scenarios in which he’d be better suited as an AL DH. He’s not an outfielder. He’s not a leadoff man. That’s the common rhetoric surrounding Schwarber from anyone with a hot take.

Cubs see big picture with Schwarber

Those hot takes might be accurate but there’s one problem with all the fantasy trade rumors: he’s not going anywhere.

Going back to the middle of last summer, Schwarber, as told by SI’s Ben Reiter, was hearing his name pop up in trade rumors for potent relievers to help the Cubs’ postseason run.

“If I was a GM, I would probably have traded me,” says Schwarber. “You’re on the brink of history, and if you could get a plus piece—Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller—for a guy who can’t play? I was like, Man, I might be toast here.”

Theo, who had seen the same rumors, went straight to Schwarber on a training table and reassured his slugger.

“There’s no way we trade you, all right? You got hurt as a Cub. You’re rehabbing as a Cub. You’re going to come back and drop a homer on someone on Opening Day next year as a Cub. You’re a huge part of this team. You’re coming back. Just wanted to tell you that.”

Postseason hero

Schwarber was among the 2015 wave of Cubs prospects to make his arrival in the bigs, making his presence felt instantly. On June 17, his second game as a Cub and first career start, he went 4-for-5, with a triple and two RBI in a 17-0 Cubs onslaught.

In Cleveland once again.

A hot bat kept his bat in the lineup and he entrenched himself in Cubs’ lore with a moonshot, scoreboard landing, home run against the Cardinals during the 2015 NLDS.

In 69 games played, Schwarber hit .246 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI. He took 36 walks and struck out in 77 instances.

Embracing the suck

After all of two regular season games in 2016, Schwarber’s season was over. Then he defied logic, anyone’s expectations, and delivered.

That World Series performance screamed monster 2017. Instead, Schwarber has struggled.

Maybe he wasn’t suited as the leadoff man, or maybe the struggles were going to find him. It’s tough hitting big league pitching while going through the rigorous 162-game slate for the first time. Let alone coming off major knee surgery.

Chicago Cubs

Said Maddon on 670 The Score’s Spiegel & Parkins show:

“If somebody’s not doing well, all of a sudden, people kind of jump on the negative bandwagon, but listen, Schwarbs last year during the World Series, everybody would’ve had him hitting one-two-three-four-five-six. He’s just struggling right now. He’ll come out of it.”

Flexibility key for Cubs

Chicago’s deep roster flexibility allows the opportunity to hide player struggles, ease hot and cold bats in and out of the lineup. Remember, Anthony Rizzo did not become a full-time player right away. Not everyone comes with Kris Bryant flash and flare right out of the box.

Kyle Schwarber, a guy who never experienced failure at the major league level before, also just still happens to be 24 years old.

In his first full season.

Next: The five best Cubs trades since 1980

People must keep in perspective just how extraordinary it was for Schwarber to do what he did during the World Series. The game is not as easy as he makes it look. Having to embody Maddon’s slogan of ’embrace the suck’ on a more personal level, Schwarber will be better for it.

And as a member of the Chicago Cubs.