Numbers tell story of patience paying off for hitters

Numbers tell story of patience paying off for Cubs hitters – Chicago Tribune

Mark Gonzales Chicago Tribune
Maturity and veteran experience helped the younger Cubs ease out of their growing pains of last season that culminated with a run to the National League Championship Series.

The truest test of that development will be on display Friday night when Cubs hitters attempt to sustain their blend of patience and production in Game 1 of the NL Division Series.

 In the time since President Theo Epstein cited the need for fewer strikeouts and a high on-base percentage nearly a year ago, the Cubs have addressed their vulnerabilities of last October when the Mets’ pitching staff exposed their weaknesses.

The addition of Ben Zobrist, who drew a team-high 96 walks from the middle of the batting order, lengthened the lineup while creating more run-producing opportunities for Addison Russell in the second half.

Meanwhile, sophomore slugger Kris Bryant, 24, had 49 more plate appearances but lowered his strikeout total by 45 with a new swing.

Russell increased walk total by 13 while increasing his on-base percentage 14 points to .321.

One of the most satisfying improvements under the watch of hitting coach John Mallee has been that of once-free swinging Javier Baez.

Baez, who struck out in 41 percent of his big-league plate appearances in 2014, lowered his strikeout rate to 24 percent in 450 appearances.

“We wanted to make better contact as a team, and we said it wouldn’t just be guys we brought in,” President Theo Epstein said. “It would be that and a little bit more of an emphasis on (plate discipline). The experience the guys (gained helped), and we certainly made better contact this year.”

The Cubs led the National League with a franchise-record 656 walks while dropping from 15th to 11th with 1,339 strikeouts (down from their franchise high of 1,518 with rookies Bryant, Russell and Kyle Schwarber).

The Cubs went from fifth in on-base percentage to first with a .343 mark, which was largely responsible for them finishing second with 808 runs — including Bryant’s league-leading 121.

“The more opportunities you’re going to get, the better off you’re going to be,” said Anthony Rizzo, who drove in a career-high 109 runs with Dexter Fowler (.393 on-base percentage) and Bryant (.385) batting ahead of him.

Zobrist, whom the Cubs signed to a four-year, $56 million contract last December, set the tone with his patience — albeit from the cleanup spot in the second half when Fowler returned from the disabled list and Russell moved from near the bottom of the batting order to fifth.

Zobrist, 35, exhibited exceptional patience considering he played in the American League for the first 10 years of his career and had to learn a new group of pitchers.

Zobrist’s .386 on-base percentage was 114 points higher than his batting average, and his patience provided a timely learning tool for Russell, who drove in 45 of his 95 RBIs in July and August.

“He’s getting on base,” Russell said of Zobrist. “He’s hitting for power. He’s hitting for slugging. He’s taking his walks.

“He takes his at-bats well. He’s a professional.”

Roster update: Jorge Soler continued making progress from his side injury and seems likely to make the playoff roster. That seemingly would leave two spots for Albert Almora Jr., Tommy La Stella, Matt Szczur and Munenori Kawasaki with the left-handed hitting La Stella and Kawasaki possibly having an edge.