As Cubs offense heats up, Ballesteros makes case to stay in lineup
The Cubs scored double-figure runs for the third straight game and collected at least 10 hits for the fifth time this week.
That's a promising sign, along with the Cubs (10-9) climbing above .500 for the first time this season by beating the Mets 12-4 at Wrigley Field on Friday.
So why does it seem like the Cubs lineup is mirroring a typical AP preseason Top 25 poll? Spots are awarded based on history, then rarely change.
Michael Busch, hitting .169, was still in the No. 2 spot in the batting order. Moises Ballesteros started his day with two straight hits, including a 3-run homer, to lift his season batting average to .375.
Then Ballesteros was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning. OK, the pinch-hitter, Matt Shaw, delivered an RBI double. The point is, Ballesteros should probably be a full-time player by now, right? And maybe he should be the guy hitting second.
“Yeah, the way (the Mets) use (lefty reliever) Sean Manaea, you just know he's going to be in the game for a while,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell explained. “If I thought there was more right-handed pitching coming next at-bat, it might be a different decision.”
Sure, the Cubs need to get Shaw some at-bats too, since he's a super sub now. An argument could be made to keep Michael Conforto in a good rhythm. He's got some positive offensive years in his past and delivered some helpful hits lately.
But Ballesteros appears to be a rising star who doesn't shut off once he gets rolling at the plate. He started 3-for-20 and has gone 12-for-20 with one strikeout since April 7.
The same type of thing happened last season when he made his Cubs debut. He hit .188 in May, then .333 when he returned in September.
And Ballesteros has just two at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. At this point he deserves a chance to at least test himself in left-on-left matchups. If the Cubs want to get Shaw some at-bats, give him a start at first or third base.
“He's a hitter, he just needs to see the ball, hit the ball and not make it more complicated than that,” Counsell said of Ballesteros. “He's just got a really good bat path, so that means when he's aggressive and swinging, especially early in the count, good things are going to happen.”
Asked about being removed from the lineup Friday, Ballesteros said he took it in stride. The Venezuela native had a simple answer when asked how he's hitting so well.
“The mentality, always staying calm and being aggressive,” he said through translator Freddy Quevedo.
As long as we're questioning the lineup, does it make sense to keep Nico Hoerner at leadoff? He hit a 2-run homer in the second inning, pushing into a tie for the National League lead with 20 RBI with the Dodgers' Andy Pages.
This Cubs lineup certainly has potential with two throwbacks of a lost era — the .300 hitter. After Friday's game, Ballesteros was hitting .375 and Hoerner .342. Catcher Carson Kelly is re-creating last year's fast start by hitting .327.
“One of the strengths of our team should be just the length of our lineup and being able to get production everywhere.” Counsell said. “That hopefully keeps you pretty consistent and then lets you have these big days.”
Counsell also gave more details of Daniel Palencia's oblique injury, which landed him on the 15-day injured list Friday. Counsell said Palencia felt something in Philadelphia but was feeling good as the Cubs returned home. He threw a bullpen Friday morning, which went very well. Then he did some running and that part didn't go well.
“The fact that his bullpen went really well gives us some optimism,” Counsell said. “I don't think he'd be able to do that with a high-grade strain, but we'll know more in the coming days.”
The Cubs will add a pitcher Saturday to take Palencia's spot. The options are limited. The only pitchers at Triple-A Iowa on the 40-man roster are Gavin Hollowell, who hasn't pitched since April 5 due to an injury, and Charlie Barnes, a player they just sent down after he posted a 9.00 ERA in a single three-inning stint with the Cubs.
The Cubs could also release Barnes and put someone new on the 40-man. The best option in Iowa stat-wise is former independent league right-hander Gabe Klobosits. Another option is righty Ryan Jensen, the Cubs' first-round pick in 2019, who spent time in the Mariners and Twins organizations, is now back with the Cubs at Iowa, and has yet to appear in a major league game.
MLB veterans Yacksel Rios and Corbin Martin, along with 2021 Cubs draft pick Zac Leigh are some other options. All three are right-handers who throw in the mid-90s.