Chicago Cubs: Murphy boosting the lineup
While Daniel Murphy may not be has impactful as Hamels thus far, his contributions have certainly been felt. He has provided stability to the top of the Cubs lineup, and gives the Cubs a high-contact guy which has proven valuable for a team that strikes out a lot.
Murphy is also a seasoned veteran who has had a lot of success in the playoffs. This is a guy perfectly capable of putting an offense on his shoulders, especially come October. Despite a recent slump, don’t sleep on this guy.
Both Epstein and Maddon have messed up to varying degrees in 2018, but it’s how they have responded to those mistakes that will determine how they’re viewed at the end of October.