Time to put PCA at leadoff spot? Counsell waves the stop sign
Pete Crow-Armstrong is climbing the ladder, with his batting average up to .294 following a slow start to the season.
Is it time to finally put him at the leadoff spot in the order? Ian Happ, who has led off all season, is hitting .268, after all, with 9 fewer stolen bases.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell held up the stop sign when asked about a potential lineup shift before Friday's rain-delayed game against Philadelphia.
“I think our lineup is executing at a really high level right now,” Counsell said. “The way it's structured, who's around you kind of determines how your matchups are later in the game. We've got Pete kind of insulated, so he's going to get a lot of right-handers and he's really performing against right-handed pitchers (.312 average).
“Seiya (Suzuki), we haven't faced a lot of left-handed starters, but we've had left-handed relievers in there and Seiya has really taken advantage of hitting between (lefties) Michael (Busch) and Tuck (Kyle Tucker).”
In other words, if it's not broken, don't fix it. The Cubs offense has performed better than anyone could have hoped. Heading into Friday's action, they lead all of MLB in runs, hits, stolen bases, batting average and OPS. They were second to the Yankees in slugging, third in home runs behind the Dodgers and Yankees, and fifth in doubles.
What Counsell means by insulated is Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed hitter, typically bats after right-handers Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, and ahead of the two righty catchers, so he's less likely to face left-handed relievers.
Opposing teams are likely to use their lefties at the top of the lineup against Tucker and Busch, which is why the right-handed Suzuki fits well between those two. Suzuki was back in Friday's lineup at DH after missing a game with a sore wrist.
“I think we're in a good spot with (the order) right now,” Counsell said. “It's more important who plays than the order. I think they're producing, so no intention right now.”
OK with emotional PCA:
Craig Counsell also weighed in with some interesting thoughts on Pete Crow-Armstrong's tendency to get frustrated when he doesn't do well at the plate.
Crow-Armstrong, 23, is the Cubs player most likely to slam his bat or batting helmet to the ground after making an out.
“I want him to grow from that,” Counsell said. “It's not on me to tell him (to calm down). I did the same thing. All of us did the same thing. If we don't want to acknowledge we did the same thing, we're kind of lying to ourselves.
“So you grow from it and you learn from it and sometimes it helps you get to the next moment. It's part of growing up and I think it's a good part. I think it's a fun part. I think to myself, 'Why would I want to take the emotion out of the kid?'”
The passion he shows on the field is a major reason Crow-Armstrong is quickly becoming one of the most popular Cubs.
“We feel that,” Counsell added. “That's why people are chanting his name. So let's enjoy that and understand it comes with maybe a couple other things. I think he's a really entertaining baseball player. The fans will tell you.”
Around the horn:
Manager Craig Counsell said pitcher Javier Assad had a recurrence of the oblique strain he suffered during spring training and will need to rest for an undetermined period. Assad experienced soreness after his second rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. …
The Cubs are taking a wait-and-see attitude with reliever Ryan Pressly, who had his right knee drained Tuesday and hadn't pitched since Sunday. “Just figuring out the best way to navigate through a season,” Counsell said. …
According to OptaStats, the Cubs are the first team in major-league history to record as many as 37 home runs and 35 stolen bases in their first 25 games.