Matt Shaw completes an already dangerous Cubs lineup

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The potential search for a third baseman on the trade market for Chicago Cubs team president Jed Hoyer and his front office. In an era when third basemen aren’t as productive as years past, prying any good ones away from teams, contenders or not, would have been difficult and come at a high cost.

The Cubs always saw Matt Shaw as the best-case solution to their hole at third. Whether he could actually produce was the only question worth asking. From the time Shaw was sent to the minors on April 14 to when he arrived back on May 19, Cubs third basemen posted a 38 wRC+ with just four doubles in 105 plate appearances.

Before Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, in 59 plate appearances since his return, Shaw had a 132 wRC+ with six doubles. Then, against the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal, Shaw went 2-for-3 with another double.

Where once there was a revolving door at third, Shaw has taken a great lineup and solidified its one weak spot.

“I think we’re dangerous right now,” Craig Counsell, Cubs manager, said. “What you always want is — they say, ‘length,’ which really just means you have a lot of players who are capable of changing the game and doing something to help on a daily basis. I think that’s what we have.”

When Shaw was sent down to the minors, he was tasked with making some mechanical adjustments — he’s more upright in his stance — and worked to rebuild his confidence. Shaw said the mechanical adjustments didn’t take long to become second nature.

Seeing the results over the last few weeks has Matt Shaw believing he belongs. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

“He’s himself offensively right now,” Counsell said. “That’s the biggest positive. He needed the reset. He did a good job with his time, our staff did a good job with his time in Iowa.”

Shaw has always been known for his ability to hit the ball hard and on a line. In his first stint in the big leagues, he had a line-drive rate of 20.5 percent and a hard-hit rate of 12.5 percent. That led to a 63 wRC+ and a very uncharacteristic 26.5 percent strikeout rate. This time, the line-drive rate has jumped to 23.9 percent and the hard contact is at 26.1 percent. His strikeout rate is back to a more Shaw-like 15.3 percent.

“It’s good to see those results,” Shaw said. “Even when they’re catching it, I’m spinning the ball better, hitting more fly balls, hitting balls harder. It feels like baseball’s always felt for me.”

Those early struggles took a mental toll on a player who has had very few slumps in his professional career. Seeing the results over the last few weeks has him believing he belongs.

“Just mentally I needed to get back in a position where I’m on time,” Shaw said. “Get on top of the baseball. I just feel like myself again. Realizing that I can be myself and play here in the big leagues, it’s exciting.”

What’s exciting for anyone watching the Cubs is that this offense feels complete. There are no weak spots in the lineup. This is a group that can handle a slump from one key player because someone else will step up.

“Every day I’m trying to put together better at-bats and continue to grow,” Matt Shaw said. (Rafael Suanes / Imagn Images)

Having so much talent, whether it’s a veteran like Kyle Tucker or an emerging star like Pete Crow-Armstrong, means there’s very little pressure on Shaw to perform. Just go out there and be yourself. The rest will take care of itself.

“I want to perform no matter what,” Shaw said. “I want to be a great contributor to this lineup. Every day I’m trying to put together better at-bats and continue to grow. I feel very blessed to be in a great lineup. We’re winning games and putting together amazing at-bats one through nine. Being in a great lineup is a lot of fun. You can see that watching us play, we’re having a lot of fun.”

In one of his first days back in the big leagues, Shaw had a question for veteran Justin Turner: “When did it go from feeling like the big leagues to just baseball?” There can be an overwhelming nature for athletes when reaching the highest level. The pressure is intense, the need to perform is high. Failure could mean you might be sent packing.

Shaw allowed that feeling to overwhelm him once before. Now he’s at peace with his failures. In fact, he has learned from them. In doing so, he has become the third baseman the Cubs so desperately needed.

“That’s how I’m starting to feel,” Shaw said. “I’m realizing this is just baseball.”

(Top photo: Griffin Quinn / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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