Chicago Cubs: When batting practice goes unnoticed

As Chicago Cubs’ hitters look to find their stride at the plate, maybe all they need is to get back to the basics.

The Chicago Cubs have plenty of talented, young hitters up-and-down their lineup. Players like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, and most recent call-up (Ian Happ), can strike fear in opposing pitchers’ eyes during any given at-bat.

Unfortunately, as the Cubs approach the final week in May, many of their prominent hitters are still struggling to find their footing at the plate. Most notably: Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, and Addison Russell.

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While it’s reasonable to expect the Cubs’ lineup to catch fire soon, as the weather starts to warm up, an even simpler solution might be implementing everyday batting practice.

For most teams, batting practice before games is considered the norm. Not if you’re the Chicago Cubs, though.

Speaking in the past about the importance of having his players take batting practice before game action, Maddon, going back to an April 2016 quote, provided by the Chicago Tribune, exclaimed:

"“We can set it up,” Maddon said of outdoor batting practice. “We still have our time, even if a couple guys wanted. It’s not like they can’t come out. If they want to, we’ll set up the time.”"

Clearly, having his players partake in batting practice before games isn’t a top priority of Joe Maddon. In fairness, plenty of hitters treat batting practice like a Home-run Derby event. To see how many balls they can crush beyond 450 feet.

Still, for struggling hitters, batting practice provides an opportunity to work out certain kinks in one’s swing. For a player like Schwarber, maybe that means practicing hitting balls to the opposite field, against the shift.

Practice makes perfect. While that saying isn’t meant to be taken literally, it’s simplistic message is that making practice an every-day habit can’t hurt. It can only serve to help someone improve their skill-set, come the long-run. Of course, as long as that is the intended desire.

This is why Joe Maddon should emphasize more to his players the benefits of practicing their hitting every day before games. Because it’s the only time a player has to visually work on improving his weaknesses at the plate, without them being painfully exposed during real-time action, just a short time later.

Sure, it’s definitely a conventional thought. And as we all know, Joe Maddon is anything…but conventional, when it comes to his managerial style.

Still, it’s a nice thought. One while going largely unnoticed, can reap benefits down the road for many Cubs’ hitters.

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