Guy hasn't played much SS in a while, but used to.
I wonder if Cubs will be OK with just Descalso/Bote as SS backups during the Russell suspension?
I hope so. Lots of off days and rainouts and stuff during the spring. So don't think they need a backup SS to give Baez rest-for-rest-sake days off during the first quarter.
Barring injury, I'd think Javy will be pretty fresh and strong enough to be pretty much every-day guy during first 40 games during which Russell is suspended. **IF** they want to rest Baez for a game or two, hopefull Descalso or Bote could be anti-awful enough to pick up one start, or two. **IF** Baez gets hurt (please no....) I assume you can cover with Descalzo for a few innings or a single start while you call up your defensive SS from Iowa as needed.
Probably the bigger question will be how they cover 2B during games with Baez at SS.
Perhaps that will be a question not only before Russell returns, but after as well? Descalzo, Zobrist, Bote, Happ, and eventually Russell, **somebody** will need to be the middle-infield partner for Javy. Obviously Russell is on a different planet defensively from those other guys. But who knows whether Russell will be able to hit enough to stay in the lineup ahead of the other guys. Hopefully Russell will emerge as a great-glove-plus-good-bat win-win. But that may be more hope than expectation, for now.