Chicago Cubs: In a game of inches, this is what to watch for this season

Baseball is a game of inches, continual adjustment and human dynamics. Digging into its nuances can make following the 2018 Chicago Cubs an even richer experience.

Opening Day heralds the return of baseball excitement. For the pure fan in me, that means eagerly watching how well Kyle Schwarber thumps (especially the opposite way), how many guys Yu Darvish fans and whether Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant keep rocking steady.

Digging deeper, the baseball aficionado in me equally loves tracking the game’s many consequential small nuances. Consider how Dexter Fowler’s improved his 2016 outfield defense by positioning a few steps deeper each play. Or how Kris Bryant nearly hit .300 hitter last year by dropping his K rate to 19 percent and upping his two-strike batting average 20 points each of the past two seasons.

So here are five nuances I’m tracking this year. And please share those you are personally watching.