Levine: Many Ways That These Cubs Can Win A Game
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As the old expression goes, there are plenty of ways to skin a cat. The Chicago Cubs have taken that phrase and converted it into, "There are plenty ways do win a ball game."
The versatile group under manager Joe Maddon has added new meaning to the term team victories. This multi-faceted way of winning has been done with a wide array of talented pitchers and players.
On Monday, the winning combination revolved around seven perfect innings from the bullpen in relief of injured starter Jason Hammel. Led by four perfect innings from left-hander Travis Wood, Chicago played tight defense and got the most out of the little offense it mustered in a 2-0 win.
Talent developed and acquired by the front office has given Maddon so many ways and weapons to march to victory each day, and the Cubs have done so in an MLB-best 35-14 start.
"The first thing I see with our group is calm," Maddon said in response to the many ways he can find a winning formula each day.
"I see young professional players who are calm under all circumstances. They are ready and their focus is outstanding but they are calm. hey are calm about their moment."
Veterans like second baseman Ben Zobrist show what preparation and execution really mean.
"This team has a lot of strengths it can draw on every day," said Zobrist, who's riding a 16-game hitting streak.
"Yesterday was a good example of our bullpen. Look how well they pitched. That won us that ballgame right there. Basically you don' t think about it until one particular area of the team shines. There are a lot of ways we can win."
Good starting pitching, solid bullpen arms and lockdown defenders in the field have been givens in the diverse way the Cubs have played .710 baseball.
The player development is still growing on offense, despite the fact that the Cubs are second in the league in runs scored.
"I look at them like a scout," Maddon said about his young offense learning on the job.
"You are always going to give a present and future grade. The present level for the most part is going to be lower. They are not going to hit every day on a high level in the major leagues. It is going to take a while to get to that 70 or 80 number (referring to the scouting system of rating players' tools on an 20-80 scale).
"When I look at these guys, I do expect them to have some difficult moments. Two or three years from now, I am thinking what these guys are going to look like. So the part of the game that I expect to speed up for our young players is the offensive side of the game."
The beauty of what Maddon sees is that player development doesn't block this team from continuing to win at a record pace.
"The great thing about our young guys is they are talented and very willing to learn," Wood said.
"That is the nice thing about our guys. They take a lot of pride in their game and want to get better. Just to see that on a daily basis is pretty impressive."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
