Michael Conforto Emerging As Key Hitter Off Cubs Bench
Craig Counsell’s strategic pinch-hitting is transforming the North Siders’ bench. After a rocky start, Michael Conforto's clutch power is fueling late-inning rallies and delivering dramatic walk-off wins.
Manager Craig Counsell has pushed all the right buttons lately. Counsell has done a nice job navigating a depleted bullpen in the early going. The Chicago Cubs bullpen has the 12th-lowest ERA (3.
85), the seventh-fewest walks (47), the seventh-fewest batting average against (. 229), and the fourth-lowest WHIP (1. 23).
Counsell’s approach to managing the bullpen has paid off. He’s made it work despite all the injuries. At one point, the Cubs had Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Caleb Thielbar all on the injured list.
The one area, though, that Counsell has especially thrived in to begin the season is how he manages his bench. It seems like the Cubs manager is always pinch-hitting for the right players in the right situations. That was exactly the case in Monday’s walk off win over the Cincinnati Reds.