CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have gotten especially good this season at teasing fans into believing that perhaps they were getting back into the race. Winning three of four against the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend might have done that once again. But Monday’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins quickly brought everyone back to reality.
That might be what the next two months hold for a team that’s probably not bad enough to bottom out but has dug itself too deep a hole to get back in the race. Here are some takeaways from an up-and-down Cubs season that’s been more frustrating than many expected.
Hodge’s quick rise into the circle of trust
It took a lot for Porter Hodge to finally get to the big leagues. The Cubs went through several relievers and suffered numerous injuries before Hodge’s name was called. Daniel Palencia, Jose Cuas, Keegan Thompson, Colten Brewer, Hayden Wesneski, Luke Little and Richard Lovelady all got a shot before Hodge made it up to the majors May 17. But even that was short-lived; an extended look didn’t come until a month later after more injuries piled up.
But given the chance, Hodge has delivered and moved quickly into a high-leverage role in manager Craig Counsell’s bullpen. Counsell was high on Hodge’s stuff in spring training but was concerned about his ability to consistently throw strikes. In 23 1/3 innings, he has posted a 2.70 ERA with a 28.3 percent strikeout rate. The walk rate (10.9 percent) is still a bit elevated, but not to the point where he’s costing his team games.
“More than strikes, just his competitive pitches,” Counsell said. “When I say something to Porter, it’s like, ‘The freebies are what hurt you.’ It’s not the competitive balls that hurt you. It’s the big miss where you’re not making the hitter responsible for the pitch necessarily. As that has lowered, he has become more effective, I think.”
Porter Hodge, Vicious Sweepers. 😤 pic.twitter.com/kfLN61TwqI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 21, 2024
Hodge is arguably one of the most talented arms the Cubs have. Like Nate Pearson, the stuff is there. The Cubs are looking for consistency and execution. For young pitchers especially, knowing your stuff can play in the zone is about trust. Seeing big-league hitters struggle to handle your pitches builds a pitcher’s confidence. It’s how Adbert Alzolay went from someone with walk issues in his first couple of stints in the big leagues to a strike-thrower in a couple of years.
Hodge has just 15 2/3 innings at Triple A and under 300 total in the minors. Counsell acknowledged “it’s come quick” for Hodge, and he’s not exaggerating. At just 23, he’s been key to a turnaround for a bullpen that’s had the second-best ERA (2.66) in baseball since June 1.
“For Porter, a lot of it is just reps,” Counsell said. “Being on the mound, getting in the game. He’s made great adjustments this year. I think our pitching coaches have done a wonderful job with him getting him to this place. I think there’s still more growth to come.”
Trio of promotions pushes youth movement to the cusp
The Cubs have one of the best farm systems in baseball, with arguably up to seven prospects in the top 100. With the promotion of Matt Shaw, James Triantos and Kevin Alcántara to Iowa and Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie and Cade Horton (currently on the injured list) already there, that puts six of those players at Triple A.
“Prospects being moved up means they’ve had success,” Counsell said. “Moving to another level and the level closest to the big leagues is more experience. So when you start to look at that, to me the safest thing to say is it signals depth in your position-player group. Especially for next year.”
There are questions about where these players would all fit, of course. The infield looks set, so where do Shaw or Triantos play? Alcántara is a strong center fielder, but the future for Pete Crow-Armstrong appears bright. Ballesteros needs much more development behind the plate, but his bat could be ready soon. Caissie could provide some left-handed slug, but the Cubs already have five outfielders fighting for playing time.
Owen. Caissie.🚀 pic.twitter.com/JAagbPMHDn
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 4, 2024
But depth is never a bad thing. These things have a way of working themselves out. The Cubs can use these players or others on their roster in trades to fill other areas of need. Having “too much” talent is never a problem. It’s about choosing the right players to keep.
As far as who can help this year, if the team doesn’t get back in the race, Caissie probably has the best chance. He’s been at Triple A all season and needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter. Alcántara is the only one already on the 40-man but arguably is the farthest away — which still isn’t that far. But if the Cubs get back in the race, that would likely change the calculus, as need trumps any 40-man issues.
“Where that all kind of plays out, it gives (president of baseball operations Jed) Hoyer some choices, certainly,” Counsell said. “We’ve got a lot of high-quality position players now at the Triple-A level on the cusp of the big leagues. That’s where an organization wants to try and get themselves.”
Bellinger pushing through the pain
Cody Bellinger had one of the four hits for the Cubs on Monday night and has nine hits in seven games since returning from the IL, where he landed with a fractured left middle finger. Though he’s producing at the plate, Bellinger is still working his way back to play defense, sticking to designated hitter for now.
“He’s still struggling throwing,” Counsell said. “That tells you he’s still feeling it hitting. When he tries to make throws with intent, it’s not very enjoyable. We’re making progress. It’s just going a little slower. You won’t see him in the field this series. This is just (about) time.”
After Monday’s loss, Bellinger said throwing felt better during his pregame work. He said he still feels it at the plate as well and uses those timeouts he takes during at-bats to make sure the pain doesn’t linger too long. Last summer, Bellinger missed a full month with a knee injury. He came back a little quicker — 20 days — with this finger issue.
“I felt like it was good enough,” Bellinger said. “My swing was feeling pretty good going in. You never know until you get live ABs consistently. It was just one of those things where I felt like I could roll and help the team win.”
Bellinger has been helping an offense that’s looked deeper and more consistent of late. Of course, Monday’s loss, which Seiya Suzuki missed because of neck stiffness (Counsell said he expected him back in the lineup Tuesday), reminds everyone this offense still is nowhere close to last season’s version, which scored over 800 runs and provided optimism that 2024 could be a step forward.
Until the Cubs prove otherwise, it’s probably best to keep looking at the big picture and what this team can be for 2025 rather than trusting that an improbable run for the playoffs is coming in the final 47 games.
(Photo of Porter Hodge: Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA Today)