I think our definitions of swagger is different, Craig. To me, it's not necessarily "cocky." It's attacking with confidence, not just sitting back waiting for the long ball. The announcers have been pounding about that this year, which I've been glad to hear. Hit the ball somewhere, maybe something good will happen. For a short time, and, yes, you're correct, it's the ups and downs of hitting, the Cubs had my definition of swagger...now they don't.
I guess I'm suggesting nothing has necessarily changed in terms of mindset or approach. Baez was swinging for the fences when they were hot, he's swinging for the fences when they were cold. No change. Bryant had good AB's hot, he's giving the same types of AB's when he's cold, he's just not hitting the ball as well. Sogard is giving the same competitive situational AB's now as when they were hot.
Certainly when you have lots of baserunners and guys in scoring position, especially with <2 outs, there's more opportunity for small ball and situational execution.
I'm thinking the intentions haven't really changed, it's just the results. When hot, weak contact goes for bloop doubles, and ground balls find holes. When cold, grounders are DP's. When you're hot, aggressive baserunning sometimes works and looks aggressive and exciting, and maybe the Mets make a crummy throw and Marisnick scores and we love those aggressive make-things-happen Cubs. When cold, the opponent executes and he's out; Ross's run-and-hits become DP's.
For me, I think I have some selective memory, too. If a guy gets picked off or thrown out on the bases but they score 5 runs and win anyway, I'm not sure I remember those baserunning outs that much, I remember the run-scoring plays instead. But when getting shut out, I tend to remember the pickoffs and failed run-and-hits.