Chicago Cubs hoping the youth can help pull them out of this skid

No one should get too upset about dropping three of four to the San Francisco Giants at home. Currently the Giants have the best record in baseball. The patched-together Chicago Cubs played well, considering all the injuries, and there were a lot of plusses to take away from the four games.

Chicago Cubs: What about Patrick Wisdom?

As Harry Caray would say, “Holy Cow!” Patrick Wisdom continues to amaze, cracking homers like it’s second nature to him.  The two homers he hit Sunday were absolutely essential in snapping the team’s three-game skid.

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Right now, Wisdom is tied for the most homers hit by an NL rookie with seven in 34 at-bats. That’s one homer every five ABs! Wisdom has a fraction of the at-bats of the player he’s tied with, Jazz Chisolm of the Marlins who has his seven homers in 133 trips to the plate.

Cubs’ youth has been critical to the team

The Cubs have gotten a lot of mileage out of a cadre of young pitchers, including Adbert Alzolay who, despite a rocky start Monday, has been impressive. Chicago rookie relievers have helped make the bullpen one of the most successful in all of baseball.

Rookie Sergio Alcantra has also contributed mightily to the cause with solid defense and a slashing bat. Right now he is batting .375 and slugging .750 on the year. I do have a problem about his official listing that I saw. It said he is 5’9” and 151 pounds. No way. Looking at him I’d say he’s carrying at least 165 or 170 on that frame.

Team looking to put another loss behind them

The Cubs are in San Diego to play three games with the Padres this week. After dropping the opener, the team faces a tough path to a series win, needing to win the remaining two contests at Petco Park. The Padres are now a dozen games over .500 and playing at home. Chicago’s three-game sweep of them in Chicago has undoubtedly left them hungry for revenge.

Hang on to your hats, Cubs fans, it might be a tough start to the week. Watch for our rookies to continue to step up before the team returns home to welcome the rival Cardinals on Friday.