CHICAGO -- We knew the Chicago Cubs would hit home runs this year and we had an idea that with the additions of Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant, Jorge Solerand Miguel Montero they would take a few more walks. But did anyone see them leading the league in stolen bases?
"Station to station base running is awful," manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs stole five bases in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. "I've been involved in that. It happens. It's no fun. You can't take advantage of moments."
The Cubs are taking advantage of every possible moment as they've strung together four consecutive wins, arguably giving their best efforts of the season in the first two games of their series against the Pirates this week. After swiping four in an inning for the first time since 1997 they've taken over the lead in the National League with 25 this month. Anthony Rizzo has six already, tying a career high for one season.
"I'm confident I'm going to break my season high," he joked after the game. "I never want to be one-dimensional. That's how you lead this team by example. You go first to third, you break up the double play, you run out ground balls."
And you steal bases.
The Cubs have been doing all of the above pushing themselves to five games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2009 season. Tuesday's offensive output may have been the best since about that year as well. The Cubs had 12 hits, 6 walks and those five stolen bases.
"We did it all," Rizzo said.
Well, almost.
"We didn't hit a homer," he said with no disappointment in his voice.
If a single game could sum up what the front office has been trying to accomplish since they arrived in 2011 then Tuesday was it. The Cubs saw 159 pitches in eight innings at the plate. They've been able to get to opposing bullpens early in games – Pirate starter Jeff Locke left after 3.2 innings – and extend leads or come-from-behind when necessary, all the elements of a good offense. And then there are those surprising stolen bases.
"I wanted us to be better base runners, all of a sudden it's translating to stolen bases right now," Maddon said. "There's that musketeer/cavalier attitude where you're not afraid of making a mistake. I really want to breed that within the group and in the minor leagues."
You want to know what effect a manager has on a team? Does anyone think the personnel the Cubs employ would be leading the league in stolen bases if not for Maddon?
"We're prepared correctly and that's what you get," Fowler said.
Fowler and Rizzo had a fun back-and-forth in the clubhouse after the game regarding the steals. Rizzo's sixth theft of the season came with Fowler taking third while Rizzo was stealing second behind him.
"That was an easy one," Rizzo said. "I tell Dex all the time, 'go' so I can get an easy bag."
Fowler responded, laughing: "He's on the coat tail."
Maddon was quick to point out the pace that their stealing bases might not keep up. It all depends on the matchup.
"I don't want them to run for running sake," Maddon said. "If the math adds up you give it a go."
All that base running talk brought Maddon around to his former friend and coach in Tampa Bay, Don Zimmer. While managing the Cubs during their run to the playoffs in 1989 Zimmer famously called a hit-and-run with the bases loaded. Maddon smiled, remembering having talked to Zimmer about it.
"You're going to see the Zim play sometime this summer," Maddon declared.
It's hard not to believe him and right now it's even harder not to believe it will work. Everything on offense is clicking and the Cubs have yet to start hitting home runs consistently.
It's a sound strategy: Manufacture some runs while the weather is cold but once it heats up they may not have to do much running. A nice jog around the bases will do.
"Those are going to start coming for all of us and even add on to this good thing we have going," Rizzo declared.
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