Dansby Swanson perched on the highest step of the guests dugout Tuesday evening at Truist Park, a well-recognized but inherently totally different perspective.
Swanson, in his Cubbie blue jersey, took within the Atlanta Braves’ virtually two-minute tribute video earlier than the Cubs’ sequence opener in his homecoming. He tipped his hat to the group in acknowledgment of their ovation and to the place he gained a World Series title together with his childhood workforce.
“I just want to be able to soak it all in when it does happen,” Swanson stated beforehand. “I spent, six, seven years of my profession right here and nothing however nice reminiscences and assist from everybody from clearly the folks up high to the blokes that you just grind it out with daily to clearly the followers right here. Everyone’s at all times exhibiting me a whole lot of love and respect and particularly when it’s your hometown and the place you grew up, it clearly means a ton, if not just a little bit extra so.
“I‘ve been so grateful to play for the fan bases in general: Braves fans are everywhere from TBS, Cubs fans are everywhere from WGN. And the loyalty runs so deep, being able to experience that on both sides it’s been nothing short of amazing. It’s definitely a blessing.”
Swanson was capable of spend Monday’s off day at his dad and mom’ residence the place he loved a home-cooked meal — creamed corn and pal okra, his favourite — and recharged forward of the Cubs’ last six video games.
“Everybody over there, everybody here knows I’m very competitive so it wouldn’t really matter the stakes, like, I think winning is always the most important thing and will continue to be that way for probably as long as I live whether I’m playing or coaching or whatever I’m doing,” Swanson stated. “So it’s just a great opportunity for us to come out here and really build some momentum over the next few games.”
Swanson’s journey residence could be a perfect time for the shortstop to show round his offensive funk when the Cubs want it probably the most. Entering Tuesday, Swanson is hitting .219 with a .289 on-base share and .650 OPS over his final 187 plate appearances relationship to Aug. 7, a span of 44 video games.
Jeimer Candelario nearing a return
Last week, supervisor David Ross thought infielder Jeimer Candelario may return over the weekend because the Cubs wrapped up their regular-season residence slate or be again for Tuesday’s sequence opener in Atlanta.
Candelario wasn’t fairly prepared to come back off the 10-day injured record from a again damage that has sidelined him since Sept. 12. However, Ross stated Tuesday that Candelario is “really, really close” to being activated and within the lineup, doubtlessly as quickly as Wednesday.
Candelario would possibly get stay at-bats pregame Wednesday earlier than a willpower is made. The Cubs need to guarantee as soon as Candelario is activated he can keep within the lineup the remainder of the way in which with out concern for his again.
Those stay appears to be like for Candelario pregame Wednesday may come towards right-hander Adbert Alzolay. Alzolay performed catch Tuesday and if he felt good popping out of it, the subsequent step could be dealing with hitters. A depleted and examined bullpen would get an enormous carry every time Alzolay can come off the IL. There is optimism that may occur earlier than the top of the common season.
Ian Happ is a stroll machine
Ian Happ’s plate strategy has been a staple of his offensive recreation since early in his big-league profession, posting the most effective stroll charge of his profession in 2018.
Despite stretches the place he hasn’t produced the kind of slug the Cubs have come to anticipate from him, Happ’s means to work counts and draw walks has made him an everyday within the No. 3 spot of Ross’ lineup. His 98 walks coming into Tuesday are fourth within the majors and probably the most by a Cub since Carlos Peña’s 101 walks in 2011.
Happ is one in every of 4 gamers in MLB this season to tally at the least 75 RBIs and 95 walks, becoming a member of Atlanta’s Matt Olson, San Diego’s Juan Soto and Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.
“When you control the strike zone as Ian has in his career and takes pride in that and it’s part of his game, it makes you throw it in the zone and he has power,” Ross stated. “There’s a real threat in there so sometimes you scare guys out of the zone. Nico on base in front of him also causes a little bit of havoc when he’s at the plate so that creates a little bit of a distraction and disruption.”
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