Instead of simply observing Chicago\u2019s Gold Glove infielders and gaining exposure to the club\u2019s gameday routines \u2014 which is how Cubs manager Craig Counsell initially framed the promotion \u2014 Ram\u00edrez was the starting second baseman.<\/p>\n
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\n Pedro Ram\u00edrez reacts after hitting an RBI double in the second inning. (Photo by Griffin Quinn\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
That decision moved Hoerner to shortstop as Counsell gave the day off to Dansby Swanson, a superb defender who\u2019s batting .189 in the fourth season of a seven-year, $177 million contract. With duffel bags and suitcases strewn about the locker room for the upcoming road trip to Pittsburgh and St. Louis, Mota helped connect Ram\u00edrez with Hoerner for a quick conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just talking about things that could happen in the game,\u201d Ram\u00edrez said through an interpreter. \u201cCommunication is important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Counsell had already signaled a two-day reset for Ian Happ, the team\u2019s longest-tenured player who\u2019s in a deep slump and a contract year. Michael Conforto again started over Happ in left field, a position that could also be manned by Ram\u00edrez or Kevin Alc\u00e1ntara, another top prospect recently summoned from Triple A.<\/p>\n
Perhaps a mental break would benefit Seiya Suzuki, who has one home run across his last 15 games and a .593 OPS in May. Then again, signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract this past offseason was supposed to help prevent these extreme downturns.<\/p>\n
Bregman has one home run in May and a .682 OPS so far this season. More than leadership skills, the Cubs need their new All-Star third baseman to produce on the field at a higher rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not playing good baseball,\u201d Bregman said. \u201cIn all phases, we need to get better. We need to prepare and execute better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt starts with me, obviously. Too many empty plate appearances.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Jed Hoyer\u2019s front office not expecting much action until much closer to the Aug. 3 trade deadline, the Cubs will have to tinker and hope their pitchers get healthy. Between their versatile infielders, at-bats for the designated hitter and the corner spots next to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, this could get interesting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a group that loves playing, and I love that about them,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cBut I also think we\u2019ve got some guys that are just not on it right now. As much as going out there every single day and fighting through it and wanting to be out there is kind of wired into them, sometimes a day of just watching and not having to figure it out in the game and compete is helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
After going 15-0 at Wrigley Field between April 12 and May 7, the Cubs returned from a three-series road trip and submitted an 0-6 homestand in which they never led at any point during those first five games against the Milwaukee Brewers and Astros, a fading club that does not resemble the playoff contender from its glory years.<\/p>\n
Hoping for a spark, the Cubs watched Ram\u00edrez notch his first major-league hit \u2014 an RBI double that propelled a three-run second inning. But that lead was short-lived, even against an Astros team that has the following names on the injured list: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Josh Hader, Hunter Brown and Lance McCullers Jr.<\/p>\n
Shota Imanaga, the Cubs\u2019 de facto ace amid their own set of health issues, gave up seven runs in Sunday\u2019s loss, which followed his ugly outing (eight runs allowed in 4 1\/3 innings) in the first game last week against the Brewers. This is the first time in his major-league career that he has lost three consecutive starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the world of competition, there\u2019s a fine line,\u201d Imanaga said through an interpreter. \u201cWe won 15 games in a row at home, and there were specific situations where it can roll either way. Right now, it\u2019s rolling towards a loss.\u201d<\/p>\n