Cubs News: Maddon on benching Heyward during World Series |
Cubs skipper Joe Maddon has decided to try some new right fielders instead of $184 million man Jason Heyward.
In game one of the World Series, Maddon decided to go with veteran Chris Coghlan and tonight he has called the number of young slugger Jorge Soler. Maddon spoke to reporters on Wednesday afternoon and told them that Heyward was OK with the move. "He wants to be playing, there's no doubt, and I don't blame him whatsoever," Maddon said. "We had a good exchange of thoughts. He didn't leave angry. It was an open conversation. He's a very good baseball player and a big part of our future. For right now, in a small moment like this, [going with Soler and Coghlan]. And if we didn't have other options, we probably wouldn't do it." In October, he is batting 2-for-28 for a batting average of .071. Obviously, they had to make a switch from Heyward until he finds his groove back. For the season, he is batting .230 with seven homers and 49 RBIs. Before he signed that incredible contract during this past offseason, he was a career .262 hitter with 104 homers and 401 RBIs with an on-base percentage of .346. Hopefully, with a whole offseason to address his swing, they can get him back to his former self.
