Cubs fans need to stop blaming Michael Busch for this Craig Counsell lineup flaw

As the Chicago Cubs continue to struggle to really find their footing in the race for the NL Central, fans have zeroed in on the lineups that manager Craig Counsell keeps sending out there. Specifically, more than a few supporters of the club wonder why Michael Busch continues to bat leadoff, despite his power bat profile seemingly better fitting a middle-of-the-order slugger.

After an admittedly incredibly frustrating sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants, Counsell explained exactly why Busch continues to be the leadoff hitter against righties, and why it will likely be that way for the rest of the season. While some might not love his explanations, the Cubs' manager clearly has a plan, and it does make quite a bit of sense.

Chicago Cubs have the right formula for Michael Busch

Counsell has actually said several times this season that moving Busch to leadoff wasn't about the first baseman being a prototypical leadoff hitter. Instead, the Chicago Cubs manager knows that really, the leadoff hitter is only truly leading off once.

After the first inning, if Busch leads off an inning, it's not by design but rather how the rest of the at-bats fall. In the meantime, the Cubs’ best hitters are getting the bulk of the plate appearances in any given game, and the order itself isn't that important.

This approach, not forcing Busch to be a guy who is always looking to take a bunch of pitches and just get on base, means that he doesn't have to change his approach. If he's not seeing the pitch he wants, he can work the count and walk. Or he can swing away at the first pitch if it's one he thinks he can put in the seats.

So far, it's worked out for Busch. He's slashing .286/..355/.643/.988 in 31 games that he has been the first Cubs' hitter of the game. On the season, he's slashing .260/.340/.493/.833, so he's actually seen more success when he's been the first hitter of the game compared to when he hasn't been.

While it feels like an easy move to question Counsell's decisions during this rough slate, putting Michael Busch at the leadoff spot for the Chicago Cubs has been working out fine. One might even say it's worked out better than anyone could have expected.

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