Cubs can’t keep preaching expected statistics when it comes to Christopher Morel

All season long, Christopher Morel has been on the cusp of putting together a major breakout. At least, that's the story that's surrounded the 25-year-old Chicago Cubs infielder, due to an array of advanced metrics that suggest his baseball card numbers don't match up with the at-bats he's had.

But as Patrick Mooney at The Athletic (subscription required) pointed out in his latest piece, Cubs fans are tired of hearing that schtick. Even if it's the case, the hard truth is that Morel enters the second half with a .202 batting average and 92 OPS+, meaning he's been eight percent worse than a league-average player at the dish.

That's not going to cut it, especially considering the Cubs anticipated him being a centerpiece of the offense. With Cody Bellinger underperforming - and now hurt - Craig Counsell needs more from Morel if this team has a late-summer run in them.

Chicago's postseason chances are just over 10 percent - and among the 12 NL teams within striking distance of a postseason spot, they sit 12th. A hot streak to close out the first half breathed life into their once-doomed campaign, but they still have a mountain to climb and Morel has to be a big part of it.

The Cubs need Christopher Morel to be more than what he's been

He clubbed two home runs in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, hopefully giving him a springboard heading into a critical six-game homestand that kicks off Friday against Arizona. His xBA and xSLG suggest there's more in the tank and it's only a matter of time until results follow. But time is running out - and the next 10 days will determine the fate of this Cubs team.

At some point, Jed Hoyer has to stop betting on expected metrics and take things for what they are. That's not to say it's time to cut ties with Morel - but until he puts it all together for a sustained stretch, the roster can't be built expecting star-level production from him. He's not alone in needing a strong second half, but he's one of the most critical pieces to the puzzle regardless.