3 Cubs players who need to step up to keep the team in contention

3 Cubs player who need to step up: #2 - Ian Happ

Ian Happ is having such a strange year. While he has taken immense strides and established himself as a Gold Glove-winning left fielder in recent years, he has seemingly given up on being a power hitter. There were a couple years in the past where Happ was able to flirt with 25 home runs, but this year it is looking unlikely he will even reach 20. I'm not saying Happ needs to hit a lot of home runs in order for this team to succeed, but it would be helpful if the three-hole hitter showed a little more aggressiveness in big spots late in the game.

Happ's plate discipline has improved immensely this year and he has already set a career-high with 79 walks. But Happ needs to be driving in more runs if manager David Ross keeps batting him third in the lineup. If Happ's approach is going to stay where it is, then Ross needs to move him either down in the order, or bat him leadoff.

As a switch-hitter with decent speed and a high on base percentage (.364), it might be time to put him back in the leadoff spot. If moving him out of the third spot is not going to happen, then Happ needs to be more aggressive and look to punish mistakes over the heart of the plate.