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4 takeaways from Chicago Cubs’ weekend series, including Nico Hoerner filling a void and the Rick Sutcliffe scale

paul sullivan, chicago tribune
·5 min read
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Four takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ weekend at Wrigley Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers, their first series loss since the opening three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.

1. Pat’s back

Pat Hughes returned to the Cubs radio booth Sunday following a five-game absence that began last week in Oakland, Calif.

“It was just a case of losing my voice,” Hughes said in a phone interview. “It started that Monday night in Oakland, and I just couldn’t do it.”

Hughes, who will receive the Ford C. Frick award in July at the Baseball Hall of Fame, doesn’t believe it will be a recurring problem.

“I sure hope not,” he said. “You get to a certain age and you have fear of anything out of the norm. I try to take good care of myself and try to exercise as much as I can and eat right and all those things. Age is kind of a cruel thing.”

The 67-year-old Hughes, who wasn’t in pain, has been taking antibiotics. He just couldn’t speak, a prerequisite for calling a baseball game.

The Cubs had an off day Monday, so Hughes’ only responsibility was an interview for the “Peanuts, Popcorn and Crackerjacks” podcast hosted by Jeff Santo, the son of his former radio partner, Ron Santo. Otherwise, Hughes rested his voice for the upcoming San Diego Padres series and next week’s road trip to Miami and Washington D.C.

The Cubs and WSCR-AM 670 wisely told Hughes to take his time coming back, which he did instead of rushing back to action. While Hughes’ game-calling skills made him a Hall of Famer, his back-and-forth banter with partner Ron Coomer also is essential to a good broadcast. A discussion of the A’s press box possum during a game in Oakland was as interesting as the ballgame.

2. Which way will it go?

The Cubs came back to Earth a bit against the Dodgers, losing three of four to them after a 5-1 West Coast trip where a giddy Marquee Sports analyst Rick Sutcliffe appeared ready to crown them.

No big deal, Cody Bellinger said.

“I think that we’ve all in this locker room have lost three out of four before,” Bellinger said. “You have to be really good at bouncing back and that’s what we’re good at. A lot of the guys in here have bee through that plenty of times before.”

The Cubs are 12-9 and on pace for 88 wins heading into Tuesday’s three-game series against the Padres, where they’ll miss former Cubs ace Yu Darvish.

If the Cubs win 88 games, they should contend for a wild-card spot.

But is an 88-win pace sustainable? It certainly is if they continue to be among the league leaders in runs scored and pitching. But not if manager David Ross gets pocketed by in-game “pockets” where the main leverage guys in his bullpen — Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger — struggle.

But so far, so good. We’ll rate the Cubs four “Suts” on a five “Suts” scale:

  • Five Suts: I’m telling you this team has championship vibes

  • Four Suts: My goodness, they look like they’ll be playing in October

  • Three Suts: Never underestimate a David Ross managed team

  • Two Suts: It doesn’t happen overnight, but watch out, people, for those 2024 Cubbies

  • One Sut: These guys really care

3. Top Gun Watch

Nico Hoerner’s .355 average ranks second in the leadoff spot to the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr.’s .374, and Hoerner’s 20 runs scored is tied for second with Acuña behind the Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien’s 21.

The Cubs have lacked a true leadoff hitter since Dexter Fowler departed for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017, and the glaring weakness has been an obvious factor in their downfall from the 2016 champs to another rebuild. Having a leadoff man and a relatively set lineup has been beneficial to the Cubs’ early success.

“I think it’s valuable more than having the perfect mix,” Hoerner said. “There probably is an optimal lineup each day, but I do think there is value in consistency and routine. I’m used to getting on base and having Dansby (Swanson) behind me. There’s kind of a rhythm to it. I enjoy that.

“When you look around the league, oftentimes the best teams have that consistency, whether it’s the Cardinals or Braves or the Dodgers.”

4. Friendly Confines, R.I.P.

Former Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks played at Wrigley Field from 1953-71 and was its greatest ambassador.

“Ballplayers come and go, but Wrigley Field endures,” Banks told the Tribune’s Bob Logan in 1985. “As long as Cub fans take their kids out to the Friendly Confines and show them where baseball should be played, the chain will be unbroken.”

Banks made the term “Friendly Confines” part of the lexicon of Cubs fans and it has endured for generations, aided by announcer Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray.

So it’s been sad to hear the Cubs now welcoming fans to the “Federal Landmark” over speakers before games, an apparent attempt to make the phrase trendy. It hasn’t worked, of course.

Wrigley will always be known as the “Friendly Confines,” no matter what the Cubs marketing geniuses decide.