Defense rules the day for Chicago Cubs
For the Chicago Cubs, the defense never rests.
First, the defense is good, with Gold Glove candidates all across the diamond and high rankings in some of the more advanced defensive metrics.
Second, this defense is versatile, so manager Joe Maddon rarely allows it to rest.
Within the course of a single game, Kris Bryant may start at third base, move to left field and the move back to third base.
Ben Zobrist may take the second base-left field-right field route.
Javier Baez is a glove whiz at whatever infield spot Maddon puts him.
That kind of defensive versatility has been important in the regular season, and it can become even more important during the upcoming postseason.
"I'll say it again: Game in progress to have guys like that, and I don't even have to worry, if I want to do something, 'You can do this. You can do this. You can do this,' " Maddon said. "It's in there. It's within those names.
"You can do all this crazy stuff defensively and feel good about it. A lot of teams can't. They won't put so-and-so in left field or third base or whatever, because they can't. We can.
"We talk about it, but I don't think people really understand how unique that is, that you have a variety of different young players that play a variety of positions well, where you don't lose anything on defense."
That's one key. Another is that the Cubs don't have to lose a big bat by taking someone off their first position in the field.
"I think that's the big thing," pitcher Jon Lester said. "You're not losing that spot in the order. You're not losing a bat like KB or Zo or even Javy. You can move Javy around, move Zo and KB to the infield-outfield.
"I think it makes Joe's life a lot easier. You can mix and match and do what you need to do and not have to worry about giving up that spot in the lineup."
The traditional stats of errors and fielding percentage don't do the Cubs' defense justice. They rank in the middle of the pack in those categories.
Even though the metrics on defense are evolving and there is widespread disagreement about how accurate some of the new stats are - such as ultimate zone rating - these Cubs pass the "eye test." They also lead the league in such new measures as defensive efficiency ratio and FanGraphs' overall defensive rating, simply called "def," or defensive runs above average.
The Cubs could have a pair of Gold Glove locks in shortstop Addison Russell and right fielder Jason Heyward. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is a strong defender, and Maddon has said he'd like to see Gold Gloves awarded for players who play more than one position.
Speaking of playing more than one position, it wouldn't work unless the players were willing to do it. For example, Bryant was drafted as a third baseman, and he's the MVP front-runner this year. But he's never said he's only a third baseman.
"It's really important," Maddon said. "It makes it all work. Without that concession on their part, it's much more difficult to ask people to do different things. To break them in at an early age to be used and be into it matters a lot, too.
"For me, for us, it's very helpful. And I think you're seeing it more. Different teams are doing different things like that.
"You see guys going all over the place right now. I think the primary consideration is, 'Can he play the defense at other spots? Is he able to?' If he's not, of course you cannot do that. But when he's able to and he accepts it, it makes your bench a lot longer. It makes the game easier to manage, in a sense."
As for the pitchers, they'll gladly reap the benefits. And they provide the ultimate eye test.
"The whole defense has been fun to watch and fun to pitch for," Lester said. "Catching and throwing the baseball, you get the outs you're supposed to get.
"Come playoff time, that makes things a lot easier. If you're throwing the ball around the baseball field or not making plays, the more baserunners you have, the harder it is for us. You give them more opportunities.
"Really in the playoffs, 1 or 2 runs makes the biggest difference in the world. If we're able to limit those situations and keep our offense within striking distance, we've got a pretty good chance."
Scouting report
Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field
TV: ABC 7 Friday; FOX Saturday; ESPN Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jake Arrieta (17-7) vs. Mike Leake (9-10) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; Jason Hammel (15-9) vs. Alex Reyes (3-1) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Jon Lester (18-4) vs. Carlos Martinez (15-8) Sunday at 7:08 p.m.
At a glance: This is a huge series for the Cardinals, who are in the thick of the wild-card race in the National League. The Cubs took two of three from the Cards last week, just missing a chance to clinch the National League Central title at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals can hit the longball. They entered Thursday leading the NL in homers. Jedd Gyorko and Brandon Moss have 27 each. Stephen Piscotty has 21. Shortstop Aledmys Diaz recently came back from injury, and he sports a line of .303/.368/.513 with 16 homers and 61 RBI. The Cubs entered Thursday's off-day first in the NL in ERA at 3.09 while Cardinals pitchers were seventh at 4.05. It's possible these two teams could meet in the division series for the second straight year.
Next: Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Monday-Thursday
- Bruce Miles