Ian Happ breaks baseball logic with wild base running vs. Cardinals

Any Chicago Cubs fan who has followed the team this season knows that Ian Happ isn't exactly the fastest base runner on the team. Sure, more times than not, Happ is aware of the situation and finds himself making the smart play while running the base paths. The issue, however, is that he lacks the speed to make a noticeable difference. Happ's base running skills reached a whole new level of comedy during the final game of a four-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

After drawing a single in the first inning of Shota Imanaga's return from the IL, Happ was caught in no man's land when Cardinals' right fielder Alec Burleson once again defied the logic of Burleson being in right field. Happ took off ahead of Seiya Suzuki hitting a long fly out to right field, leaving the Cubs' left fielder to be caught in a conundrum of trying to get back to first base. Happ eventually was ruled out, but it wasn't without some theatrics.

Ian Happ’s base running vs. Cardinals was pure comedy gold

Happ, like any sound baseball fan watching the game, was shocked that Burleson managed to make the play in right field. Realizing the danger he was in, Happ suddenly tried to reverse course and make his way back to first base before the throw returned to the infield. After a stumble once he passed second base, Happ figured he would save time and just cut across the infield in his trek back to first. Of course, a base runner must retag the base when working their way back, and Happ was ruled out.

Larry Walker would be proud. If you're not familiar with the reference, Walker once advanced from first to third on a hit-and-run, only for the batter to hit a fly out. Instead of retracing his steps, Walker cut across the infield upon his return to first base. Walker was called out.

But back to Burleson, the Cardinals' right fielder has negative defensive metrics across the board for his career in the outfield. Yet, in this series against the Cubs, Burleson has made a habit of sliding catchers and leaping saves from the ball going into foul territory. Hopefully, Happ's gaffe doesn't come back to sting.

More Cubs news from Cubbies Crib