Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Kiké Hernández, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Trayce Thompson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Taylor, SS
Scott Kazmir, P
By Jon Weisman
This is going to sound particularly banal, but as I’ve pondered what to write before today’s getaway-from-Pittsburgh game, I’m stuck on how change is a way of life in baseball.
Players and teams go up and down, without exception, and a season is really about who gets a few more ups than the rest.
The Cubs, thought to be indomitable, have lost six of seven. Bryce Harper, looking in April like an MVP for the next 10 seasons, has a .680 OPS over the past six weeks.
I’m not saying that it’s impossible to tell the difference between an aberration and a trend. But some players are performing uncharacteristically, and reversals of fortune shouldn’t be ruled out.
Just as you shouldn’t expect Corey Seager or Justin Turner to hit seven or eight homers every month, there are other players whom you shouldn’t expect not to turn it around.
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
We need a catcher who can hit, we don’t have one now.
Our pitching rotation changes week to week and there is no consistency.
Front Office has failed the fans with their poor decisions on the money they are spending.
butlerssc
Oh, groan.
Roberts said recently that Grandal has been hitting the ball hard but not getting rewarded. Do you have evidence to the contrary? He may have some bad ABs, but I’ll take Roberts’ version. Analysts and writers have praised his offensive potential, but no one looks good fighting nagging injuries and lingering slumps.
Frankly, your comment about the pitching is just plain dumb. Do you not follow closely enough to know injuries are the problem with the rotation?
Every FO is going to make good moves and bad ones. So far this one is doing pretty well and at least has a plan. And who do you think built what’s widely regarded as the best minor league system in all of MLB?