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

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.

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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.

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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.