In an period of max-effort pitching and uppercut swings, the Chicago Cubs (9-6, 1st place, NL Central) are selecting a special strategy: persistence. They are not simply profitable video games; they’re dragging opponents by means of lengthy at-bats, racking up walks and punishing each mistake that follows.
And it’s working.
Coming into play Friday, the Cubs lead Main League Baseball in runs (96), RBI (93), walks (76) and hits (130). They rank within the high 5 in dwelling runs and doubles and are eighth in OPS.
However the actual story isn’t the slugging. It’s how they’re getting there.
They’re being aggressive within the zone, not outdoors of it. Name it selective aggression.
Per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, Chicago’s 13.0% stroll price getting into Wednesday led the league, and their potential to put off pitches outdoors the strike zone — simply 29.7% chase price, fifth-best in MLB — has made each inning really feel like a grind for opposing pitchers. They’ve additionally swung at 69.2% of strikes within the zone, the type of stability that will get right into a pitcher’s head early and sometimes.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker, the workforce’s high-profile offseason addition, has set the tone.
“Earlier in my profession, I might hit pitches off the plate,” Tucker informed Bastian. “That doesn’t essentially imply I ought to swing at them or need to try this. I believe should you simply have good plate self-discipline and are capable of take these pitches which might be shut or simply off or no matter, and get into higher counts, you’ll get higher pitches to hit.”
Tucker has performed simply that. He leads the league in hits (19), is second in doubles (6) and walks (14), and is a continuing on-base presence. Extra importantly, his strategy has develop into contagious.
