Variety of options doesn’t pay off for Cubs at third base
Cubs manager Craig Counsell talked about having four third basemen to choose from before Friday's game.
He didn't say anything about using all four on the same day.
Third base was an adventure throughout the Cubs' wild 13-11 victory over Arizona at Wrigley Field. Vidal Brujan got his first start of the season at the position.
Brujan's very first chance resulted in an error. He fielded a grounder cleanly, then lost control of the ball as he started to throw it to first. The former Marlins utility player went 1 for 3 at the plate with a double.
Counsell sent Gage Workman out as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning, but he let a Randal Grichuk grounder roll under his glove to extend a 10-run inning. The play was ruled a hit, but Workman could have ended the inning if he had fielded it cleanly.
Justin Turner struck out as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth, then Jon Berti went in to play third in the ninth. The Cubs sent rookie Matt Shaw back to Triple-A earlier this week.
“I think we're going to use platoons (at third),” Counsell said. “Vidal's value is his versatility and his athleticism. There's not many players in this league that can play shortstop and center field.”
Last year in Miami, Brujan played nine positions, everything but catcher, and was used mostly at second base and shortstop.
Wicks up, Little down:
Before Friday's game, the Cubs called up left-hander Jordan Wicks and sent Luke Little back to the minors. Wicks took the mound in the eighth inning but was quickly removed after giving up three straight singles.
Little got the quick hook back to Iowa after walking four in less than an inning during his season debut for the Cubs on Sunday in San Diego.
“I think when he's throwing strikes, he's been an effective major-league pitcher and when he hasn't, he's not been,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Look, at this point Luke, coming off surgery, not a lot of innings, we've got to give him more work and get him in the strike zone more.
“Luke's a big man (6-foot-8) with a lot of moving parts. It's going to be a challenge for him. What we have to do as an organization is we're going to have to be patient with that process of development for him.”
Steele has surgery:
Cubs pitcher Justin Steele wrote on X and Instagram that he had surgery Friday, posting a photo in the hospital bed with his left arm in a brace. This is his second left elbow reconstruction and he's obviously out for the season.
“Just wanted to take some time to say thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts and prayers,” Steele wrote in the post. “Truly means the world to me the number of people who have reached out to my family and me. It’s appreciated beyond belief. I’ll be back soon and better than ever.”