Zobrist is back

[CSF77]

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/ben-zobrist-returns-to-cubs

 

[CSF77]

CHICAGO -- Ben Zobrist will always have a home in the hearts of Cubs fans. It was Zobrist, after all, who was pumping his fist, missing his helmet following a sprint to second and yelling into the Cleveland night after delivering the decisive double in Chicago's World Series triumph two Octobers ago.
Zobrist now has a chance to create more memories for Chicago this fall.
On Saturday night, the Cubs reinstated Zobrist from Major League Baseball's restricted list and added him to their 40-man roster. When rosters expand to a maximum of 40 players on Sunday, Zobrist will be officially activated for the North Siders, bringing an end to his nearly four-month hiatus while tending to a family situation.
"Honestly, it's just going to be good to see him, good to have him here," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "It'll be nice to have his personality and his spirit here."
In order to add Zobrist to the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated outfielder Mark Zagunis for assignment. Infielder David Bote was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to clear a space on the 25-man roster.
Due to Zobrist's restricted list status, the Cubs needed to reinstate the veteran utility man before the calendar flipped to September to ensure he would be eligible for the postseason. Any players in an organization prior to Sept. 1 are eligible for the playoffs, but Zobrist's situation had the added wrinkle of being inactive and not on an injured list.

Jordan Bastian

✔@MLBastian
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1167937707709890560

Ben Zobrist is here at Wrigley taking grounders. At some point today, Cubs need to add him to the 40-man roster. Will be added to active roster Sunday.



619
4:10 PM - Aug 31, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy

55 people are talking about this



Zobrist, who was placed on the restricted list on May 8, spent the past month working his way up the organizational ladder on a Minor League assignment that spanned four affiliates. This past week, he returned home to the Nashville, Tenn., area and the Cubs sent a group of pitchers so Zobrist could keep simulating game-like at-bats.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Saturday that he will probably use the 38-year-old Zobrist primarily as part of the rotation at second base. Zobrist will likely get the bulk of his starts against right-handed pitching and Maddon said he will consider him as an option for the leadoff spot. As it was last season, Zobrist will probably have built-in rest days to keep him fresh.
Zobrist has played outfield in the past, but there will be few innings available in the corners given the current makeup of the Cubs' roster.
More than anything, Maddon is looking forward to having Zobrist's "professional" offensive approach back in the lineup.
"That's the one thing that he always brings," Maddon said. "Normally, he doesn't expand the strike zone. One thing that we're getting a little bit better at more recently is to not do that, but he's always been the guy that sets that example when he leads off the game, and I've always loved that."

Jordan Bastian

✔@MLBastian
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1167873642300002304

Here's a look at how the Cubs' team contact% and swinging-strike% changed after Zobrist left in early May.

"Believe me, we've missed him a lot this year. It's been pretty obvious," Maddon said. "That's the one thing that he's always been able to do for a batting order."


21
11:55 AM - Aug 31, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy

See Jordan Bastian's other Tweets



Entering Saturday's game against the Brewers, the Cubs ranked 28th in the Majors in swinging-strike rate (12.4 percent), as well as 30th in both contact rate (73.7 percent) and percentage of pitches seen in the strike zone (40.4). In his career, Zobrist has turned in a 5.6 percent swinging-strike rate, 85.4 percent contact rate and 44.2 percent zone rate.
Last season, Zobrist hit .305/.378/.440 with 3.6 WAR (per Fangraphs) and a 123 wRC+ in 139 games, while Maddon closely monitored his playing time and catered to certain matchups. Zobrist only hit .241 in 26 games at the start of this season, but he did post a .343 on-base percentage with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12) while maintaining a solid contact rate (82.3) and swinging-strike rate (5.5).
"Baseball-wise, he's a great at-bat every time he hits," Rizzo said. "I don't care if he takes five years off. He'll come back and be able to work an at-bat."
For the Cubs, though, Zobrist's return is not just about what he does on the field.
"He's a steady influence," Maddon said. "He's always there to talk to others and pick them up. The young guys, you always see him having a little bit of a conversation with them."
Throughout this season, the Cubs have kept one of Zobrist's white home jerseys hanging in his locker.
"It'll be more than a usual callup, that's for sure," Rizzo said. "We're getting a very special player back to this organization and city that's been gone for a while."

Jordan Bastian covers the Cubs for MLB.com. He previously covered the Indians from 2011-18 and the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog, Major League Bastian and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian.

Read more:

• Chicago Cubs
• Ben Zobrist

 

[Omeletpants]

BOTE IS A BOUNCING BALL

 

[CSF77]

It won't impact anything with him. It was a technically. Bet he goes right back on today with the expanded.

Iowa is in the play offs so most call ups will be delayed so expect Bote added right away. But guys like Garcia, Alozay and Underwood will be involved with Iowa's play off chase.

 

[anotheridiot]

wow, why is it 10 days for Bote this time, I thought it was 5?

 

[anotheridiot]

It won't impact anything with him. It was a technically. Bet he goes right back on today with the expanded.

Iowa is in the play offs so most call ups will be delayed so expect Bote added right away. But guys like Garcia, Alozay and Underwood will be involved with Iowa's play off chase.

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated infielder Daniel Descalso off of the 10-day injured list. In addition, the following six players have been recalled from Triple-A Iowa: outfielder Albert Almora Jr.; infielder/outfielder Robel Garcia; right-handed pitchers Alec Mills and Duane Underwood Jr.; left-handed pitcher Brad Wieck; and catcher Taylor Davis.

Read more: https://www.cubshq.com/update/Cubs-announce-seven-roster-moves-27433#ixzz5yHnitHNf

Guess they are not too concerned over the iowa playoffs.

 

[anotheridiot]

Alzolay called up today? That would mean no playoff roster for him in the pen either right?

 

[Major Tom]

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/ben-zobrist-returns-to-cubs

Am I hearing things or was Zorbrist's walk up music that voice I loathe, yes Juliana.

 

[Rory Sparrow]

Am I hearing things or was Zorbrist's walk up music that voice I loathe, yes Juliana.

Wrong forum

 

[Rory Sparrow]

Am I hearing things or was Zorbrist's walk up music that voice I loathe, yes Juliana.

That was my second favorite Cubs music moment, behind the time when that Cubs intern played Prodigy "Smack My Bitch Up" when Chapman came in from the bullpen.

 

[MDB111™]

Wrong forum

That was his 2nd post.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Fun fact, Zobrist used to ride on my school bus.

 

[anotheridiot]

Well, wedding ring still on, walk up music the same, divorce has been put on hold, seems like they are working things out. Good to have that stability in the dugout for the rest of the guys, its almost a david ross role now.

Guess we just wait for some experts to start dissecting their relationship and making it worse.