Cubs responds to ESPN report that team envisions Russell at SS over Baez |
The Chicago Cubs are on a massive roll with an impressive 22-6 record in their last 28 games.
On Tuesday, there was a ESPN report by Karl Ravech that internally the Cubs envision Addison Russell at shortstop and moving Javier Baez around the infield between second base, shortstop, and third base. “A lot of the people I spoke to that know the Cubs intimately, that’s how I’m being told the Cubs internally feel,” Ravech said on ESPN's 1000's Waddle & Silvy. “That they are better off when Báez has the ability to go play second base and go play third base. Again, I totally understand the argument that I wanna leave Baez at short. I love him at short, who’s a better shortstop than Javier Báez? “But I know that the Cubs, a lot of them feel like they are better when Russell is your everyday shortstop, and you can take Javy Báez and move him around.” Cubs President of Operations Theo Epstein refuted the report and said they are sticking with Baez right now as the everyday shortstop. Cubs manager Joe Maddon also said the report was erroneous as he knows that you don't want to disrupt the team chemistry when the ballclub is firing on all cylinders. "I like what it looks like right now, Maddon said. "I mean, the vibe cannot be topped. The feeling among the group is outstanding. I would not want to upset that apple cart in any way, shape, or form. I don't think it's wise."
