While Cubs play out the string, accountability starts now

The red carpet should be rolled up, even if the Cubs add more newcomers to their rebuilt roster in the final 7½ weeks.

The rest of the season should be treated with varying degrees of urgency, as the more resourceful Brewers have displayed for four consecutive seasons.

“I think you know there's going to be roster changes,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of his players' ability to buy into each season exclusively. “There has to be for us to keep going. So you plan on it.”

Even after the overdue release of Jake Arrieta, the accountability list for the Cubs is too long to place under a microscope. Nevertheless, here's a selected list of officials and players with something to prove.

Jed Hoyer

The Cubs' president of business operations must assemble multiple free agency plans, predicated by the details of the next Collective Bargaining Agreement and the 2022 budget. Agents know the Cubs have only $38.5 million in salary commitments for 2022, but Hoyer can't allow himself to be played like a fiddle.

The change from a 60-game schedule in 2020 to the normal 162-game format affected everyone's preparation. But why did reliever Rowan Wick have a setback in his rehab from an oblique strain last September that carried into the first four months of 2021? Why were as many as four players on the 10-day injured list at the same time because of hamstring injuries? And infielder Matt Duffy returned later than expected from a lower back injury and too late to prevent an 11-game losing streak that necessitated the late July house cleaning.

Pro scouting/player development departments

Pro scouting director Andrew Bassett and his staff identified the right positions to address prior to the trade deadline. The search continues through the end of the regular season by scouting future free agents and tradable players who don't strike out frequently and are more athletic.

There's ample time for the instructors and coaches to design detailed off-season plans for the newly-acquired players. Keeping a closer eye on Brailyn Marquez and Miguel Amaya, two of the top prospects in the organization who each had their 2021 season curtailed by injuries, is paramount.

Manager David Ross/coaching staff

A new cast of younger, unproven players provide Ross with more latitude in pregame instruction and evaluating beyond performance.

“Every new guy you don't know, you're looking at every aspect of their game to see if it goes into a winning culture and a winning product that I value,” Ross said. “It all matters.”

Willson Contreras

The Cubs catcher has earned the right to receive an extension and avoid the uncertainty that hovered over Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo for two seasons.

In the meantime, Contreras can work on improving his 66.8 percent contact rate.

Ian Happ and Jason Heyward

At this point, it's difficult to see the Cubs tendering Happ a contract for 2022, so future playing time might represent an audition for interested teams. Heyward, who earned no-trade rights and is owed about $50 million through 2023, received praise from newcomer Craig Deichman for sharing tidbits about major league baseball and playing in Chicago during Saturday's game.

But Heyward could be relegated to the duties of a part-time player, clubhouse mentor and community leader once he returns from the IL.

Codi Heuer, Manny Rodriguez and Rowan Wick

They're auditioning for late-inning roles for 2022, with the more experienced Wick playing catch-up because of his injury. They've had some growing pains, especially Rodriguez throwing a 2-1 breaking pitch that Brian Goodwin of the White Sox smacked for a game-winning home run. Rodriguez might have been better served throwing his 100 mph fastball in that situation.

Patrick Wisdom and Rafael Ortega

Ross said age doesn't matter, so Wisdom, 30, needs to reduce his 38 percent strikeout rate and improve his versatility. Ortega, 30, needs more production against left-handed starters. They're playing no worse than platoon players for 2022.

Marquee Network

Tuesday's telecast featured a candid graphic listing the shortlist of starts by Cubs pitchers they've drafted and developed since 2015. The network should display more balanced charts, or their relentless charts of propaganda will be capable of putting a pack of hyenas into a coma.

• Mark Gonzales is a veteran sports writer who covered the White Sox from 2005-2012 and the Cubs from 2013-2020 for the Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @MDGonzales