Cubs fans shouldn't take Ian Happ's remarkable consistency for granted

Consistency isn't the most sexy or highlight-worthy attribute a ballplayer can have, but it's reassuring to have players that rarely falter in the face of pressure or grueling stretches.

Right now, on the pitching side of things, Jameson Taillon is offering the Cubs that kind of measured, day-in, day-out consistency. His run of quality starts has been as impressive as it has been necessary for a decimated pitching staff, and though he's far the ideal option for an ace, he is giving the Cubs ample production in his own way.

Ian Happ is a similar figure on this roster, though he's been doing it in Chicago for a lot longer. His career 116 wRC+ — which has never dipped below the 105 mark he posted in 2021 — is a testament to his solidly above-average bat, even if he can be streaky and has never ascended to true star status.

Ian Happ's consistent production key to Cubs formula

His numbers this year — .249/.340/.385, 109 wRC+, — leave something to be desired, though his strikeout rate (22.2%) and walk rate (12.1%) are better than his career norms.

The same is true for his surprisingly pedestrian batted ball metrics, but what he lacks in exit velocity and barrelled balls, he makes up for in patience and improving line drive and fly ball rates. And, just for good measure, he's made huge strides as a right-handed batter, with a 118 wRC+ from that side of the plate that dwarfs his career average (99).

He's also the three-time reigning Gold Glove winner in left field for the senior circuit, and though his defensive metrics leave something to be desired this season — he's accrued -2 Outs Above Average (OAA) and -2 Fielding Run Value (FRV) — he's a core pillar in the team's otherworldly outfield defense.

Beyond all that, though, lies Happ's best trait: availability. Over the last four seasons, Happ has played in more than 154 games per campaign. Yes, he dealt with an oblique strain earlier this year, but his stay on the injured list was for the minimum amount of time (ten days), and he's hardly missed a beat since returning.

Simply put, he's a staple, both atop the order and in left field, for this era of Cubs teams. He won't win MVP awards, and his 2022 All-Star Game appearance may prove to be the only one of his career.

But even without the accolades, Ian Happ's contributions deserve to be celebrated.