The Chicago Cubs seem to be enjoying their first Craig-tember which is otherwise known as teams managed by Craig Counsell finding success during the final month of Major League Baseball's regular season.
Above all else, Counsell's success at the end of the season indicates that he has fine-tuned his roster and knows what lever to pull at the right time.
That could be a possible reason for the Cubs' recent success, winning 7 of their last 10 games. But as the Cubs continue to find success during the second half of the season, one decision that Counsell continues to make time after time does seem to add up.
When the season started, the belief was that the Cubs were going to treat the first base position as a platoon. Michael Busch would play against right-handed hitting pitchers while a combination of Cody Bellinger and Patrick Wisdom play first base against left-handed pitchers.
As the season has progressed, Busch has ascended to the point that he is one of the leading offensive first basemen in the National League. Busch's 128 wRC+ this season is fourth among qualified National League first basemen this season.
Let alone the National League, Busch has become a cornerstone of the Cubs' offense.
That is why it no longer makes sense for Counsell to treat Busch as a platoon player. Not only does Counsell continue to sit Busch against left-handed hitting pitchers, he often chooses to take him out of games in favor of Wisdom once a left-handed pitcher enters the game.
The number don't back up that decision either.
Against left-handed pitching this season, Busch is slashing .268/.317/.446 with a 112 wRC+. Busch has 56 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season but the success that he has had warrants him being treated liked the fixture in the Cubs' lineup that he is.
If the Cubs are going to cling onto the success of Craig-tember, Busch needs as many plate appearances as possible.