In taking stock of the Cubs' offense, Bryant and Rizzo are not having career years, but it's not as though they are having bad ones either. Bryant with .924 OPS (last year .939) and Rizzo with .894 (last year .928). I don't see any reason to complain about the job either of these guys is doing, particularly Bryant.
Contreras has been inconsistent, but his current .782 is really good. Heyward's .698, while not good, is a lot better than last year's .631. Baez' .745 is a slight improvement over last year's .737. Fowler (.824 last year) has been missed of course, though Jon Jay (.785), Albert Almora (.730) and especially Ian Happ (.870) haven't constituted a horrible drop.
The regulars who have struggled most are Schwarber (duh) .694, Russell .678 (last year .738), and especially Zobrist .678 (last year .831). It seems likely that Schwarber will get things straightened out. Who knows how much Russell's personal life has affected his play. Zobrist says he's been battling injuries all year.
After yesterday's debacle, Maddon noted that he has seen improvements recently in Cub hitters' approaches, with more balls hit to the opposite field and two strike approaches being better. Other than the starting pitching needing to get better, he emphasized the need for better situational hitting with runners on base.
I am a lot more optimistic about the Cubs'offense performing well in the second half than I am the starting pitching, even assuming Hendricks (who has been the Cubs' best starter this season, by the way) comes back and pitches well. Lester has had a number of good games, but certainly has not shown the consistency he's had up til this season. Arrieta has recently shown some encouraging flashes of his old self, but I'm not optimistic about him. Lackey is Lackey. And I'm not nearly as hopeful about Montgomery as some here.
But with regard to both the offense and the pitching, in the immortal words of Gust Avrakotos (Charlie Wilson's War): "We'll see."
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