Did the Chicago Cubs sacrifice wins by waiting to promote Kris Bryant, Addison Russell?

The Chicago Cubs played a dangerous game in waiting to promote top prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell. Will it cost them in the end?

When the Chicago Cubs chose to send top prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell at the end of Spring Training, the team did so knowing full well that if they could survive the first twelve days of the season, they would save themselves earn themselves another year of service from their stud rookies. It seems like a small trade, especially when you consider that the Cubs only played 8 games in that span due to off days and a postponement.

But what did those 12 days cost them?

At the time Bryant was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs had decent success, posting a 5-3 record during their opening span. That’s pretty respectable considering they opted to send two of their top-25 players to the minor leagues to start the season. Once Bryant arrived, the Cubs went 1-2 before opting to also recall Addison Russell to play second base. Russell, who will play second base for the Cubs, will be recalled prior to Tuesday’s game.

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All and all, that’s five losses before the team was considered to have the best available roster. And all together, five losses are not a lot in the grand scheme of a 162-game season. However, it was enough to put the Cubs 1.5 games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals. While some would tell you that the early games in April aren’t worth getting worked up over, we need to keep in mind that just two games separated the NL Central winner from the runner-up last season and three playoff spots were decided by three games or less.

The question is; could Bryant and Russell have made a difference in those losses? Let’s take a look at each of them.

Loss One – Opening Day – 0-3 Loss to Cardinals

An interdivisional rivalry against the St. Louis Cardinals was lost as Cards’ ace Adam Wainright and their lights out bullpen limited the Cubs to just 5 hits. Mike Olt, who “won” the third base job out of Spring Training went 0-4 with a pair of strike-outs in the contest, including going down swinging with one out in the ninth inning. However, he only left one man on base in the contest, so it is tough to say that Bryant could have made much of a difference. Admittedly though, debuting with the team on Opening Day would have allowed him to carry forward his spring momentum, and also would have avoided the circus show that ensued when he was promoted last week.

As for Russell’s counterpart, Tommy LaStella went 1 for 3 in the the game. However, LaStella left two men on in the contest.

April 10 – 1-5 Loss to Rockies

This game was a bit more one-sided in favor of the Rockies, as Mike Olt and Arismendy Alcantara went a combined 1 for 7 with 2 strike-outs and left five men on base. As a whole, the Cubs stranded 19 men in the loss to Colorado with Olt and Starlin Castro (batting in the clean-up spot) stranding 4 apiece. Having a proven run producer like Bryant in the 4-hole could have made a significant difference, as would giving him the opportunity to hit in the thin Colorado air.

April 14th – 2-3 Loss to Reds

This is the one that hurts the most. Olt, who came into the game in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch hitter, saw his spot in the line-up come back around in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two-outs and runners on first and second, Olt has the winning runs on base and just needed to drop a base hit into the outfield to score the tying run from second. Instead, Aroldis Chapman overpowered him with four consecutive fastballs(the last three topping 100 MPH), striking him out to end the game. Now in fairness, had Bryant been in the line-up and slotted in the four-hole, his spot would not have come up in the bottom of the ninth, let alone with runners on. But then again, the Cubs wouldn’t have started Jonathan Herrera at third base either.

On the flipside, the Cubs once again used Alcantara at second base and then replaced him with Chris Couglan later in the game. The pair combined to go 0 for 6 with a pair of strike-outs and four left on base.

April 17th – 4-5 Loss to Padres

With Bryant in the line-up for his Major League debut, it was an auspicious start to his career. The big third baseman went 0 for 4 with three strike-outs and stranded five runners. He was simply over-matched by the veteran James Shields, who made him look a bit silly at the plate.

Still without Russell, the Cubs used Jonathan Herrera at second base during this loss. However, Herrera had a solid game, collecting a hit and a pair of runs scored. One of those came while dancing at third base and forcing Shields into a wild pitch.

April 19th – 2-5 Loss to Padres

Bryant went 1 for 3 in this game, stranding 1 of the Cubs 15 runners left on base. Meanwhile, the pair of Alcantara and Herrera got the duties at second base and went a combined 0 for 5 with a pair of strike-outs. However, this loss showed the Cubs that they finally needed the upgrade at second base and Russell would get the call the next day.

How bad were the alternatives?

During the span that Kris Bryant and Addison Russell spent in the minor leagues, the Cubs saw less than mediocre play from their alternatives at third and second base respectively. But how bad was it?

To say that Olt breaking his wrist was the break the Cubs needed would be an understatement. He was slashing a .133/.188/.333 with 6 strike-outs in 15 at-bats before the injury. Needless to say, the Bryant call-up was happening regardless of the injury.

As for second base, the Cubs trio of LaStella, Herrera, and Alcantara has been equally dismal. LaStella lasted just two games, going 1 for 6 in the process. Meanwhile, the platoon of Alcantara and Herrera have been a combined 7 for 52 (.134), with Alcantara going down via the strike-out an amazing 11 times in 26 at-bats. The three failed to collect a single extra-base hit and mustered just 3 RBI in the process.

Needless to say, a change was in order for the Cubs and they had the right pieces to do it with. Of course, only time will tell if these five contests become more of a sacrifice than was necessary.

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