What's new about the 2020 Cubs? Not much
The Cubs have been on a downward slide since winning the World Series in 2016, that part is obvious.
Figuring out what's gone wrong is more difficult. There is no sore thumb or glaring deficiency.
On offense, they finished second in the National League in home runs in 2019, fifth in runs scored. They didn't strikeout an outrageous amount. Even walks drawn (fifth) and on-base percentage (fourth) ranked relatively high. The team ERA was third-best in the NL.
“I'm excited,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Thursday. “I like where the attitude of this team is and I like the talent we have to compete in this tough division.”
For the past two years, the fan base has braced for changes during the offseason. But nothing has happened, at least nothing major. The World Series nucleus of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javy Baez, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward is expected to take the field for Friday's shortened-season opener against Milwaukee.
The only real new face in the field is Nico Hoerner, who made his big-league debut late last season and figures to be the full-time second baseman. The Cubs did pick up a couple of veteran roles players in infielder Jason Kipnis, the longtime Cleveland second baseman from Northbrook; and outfielder Steven Souza Jr., who played for Arizona last season.
The pitching rotation is essentially the same other than Cole Hamels. Kyle Hendricks will start Friday, followed by Yu Darvish, Tyler Chatwood and Jon Lester, Alec Mills is slated to be the fifth starter until Jose Quintana returns from a sliced thumb.
The Cubs tried to rebuild the bullpen, but seven of the 11 relievers on the opening-day roster pitched for the team during last year's 84-78 campaign.
The most significant change is really manager David Ross, who played on that 2016 World Series squad and steps in for Joe Madden. Can a first-time manager reverse the slide?
“One thing I do know about baseball in general and this group, it's all about the players,” Ross said Thursday. “It's about those guys that have to get out there and perform. It's about their at bats, their mindset, how they believe in one another. I have a ton of confidence in this group.
“They have to go out there and take ownership of being great and getting back to the World Series, which is everybody's goal around here.”
There are some areas where the Cubs have room to improve. They ranked last in the NL in stolen bases, but that isn't likely to change. They had 28 blown saves and the hope is closer Craig Kimbrel can bounce back from the worst season of his career. They also had the second-most errors in the NL.
Maybe the addition of the DH will help put a better defensive lineup on the field.
One concern that might not show up in the stats, is it seems the Cubs have missed the two most versatile hitters from the 2016 lineup – Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist. The current Cubs don't manufacture many runs and tend to get shut down by quality pitchers.
The group that's still here includes plenty of big-swingers who are more likely to ground the ball into a defensive shift than move a runner into scoring position.
Ross made a comment this week about Rizzo setting an example for the kind of at bats they want to have as a team this season, and the first-time manager went into more detail Thursday.
“I think it speaks for Anthony's ability to adjust in the moment,” Ross said. “To have a plan in one situation and still have what we call some secondary – like a two-strike approach or if you want to call it, a B-hack.
“Just an ability to move the baseball when he wants to, to not strike out, to put pressure on the defense, long at bats, making the pitchers work. And he's willing to swing 0-0 and try to hit one onto Sheffield. It's a plan, it's well-executed, it's thought out, there's a method and then he has a backup plan if things don't go the way he expects.
“So I think to a man on this team, people recognize that and we all will be better off if we can learn from Anthony's at bats.”
Ross said guys made strong statements in spring training about the type of at bats they want to have this season, and Ross's comment above is probably a good instruction manual.
Better at bats have been on the Cubs' wish list for a few years. With the same cast of characters, maybe this time it will sink in.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls