Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the “veteran bench player” narrative as sometimes “overdone.”
“But [Monday] night is an example of why that story exists,” Counsell said Tuesday before the Cubs’ 10-6 victory against the Rangers.
On Monday, veteran utility player Jon Berti appeared in a game for the first time in a week, starting at second base and batting eighth.
In his first plate appearance, leading off the third inning, he worked a nine-pitch at-bat against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and was awarded first when the ninth hit him. He stole second and third. Then he beat out the throw home on Ian Happ’s grounder to first.
“Just through instincts, experience, he created a run,” Counsell said. “And that’s why you get guys like that, right? And that’s what your hope [is] from those guys that maybe don’t play a lot with the nature of our regular lineup. Jon’s made a big contribution every day that he’s played. And [he] accepts what his job is, and it makes him prepared to, when he’s called on, to do his job well.”
The Cubs signed Berti to a one-year deal this winter, seeing his defensive versatility and athleticism as a complement to the roster. The 2022 stolen-base leader notched his 100th and 101st career steals Monday.
Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, who doubled and tripled in the game, said the at-bat of the night was Berti’s trip around the bases.
“That was a big run and a huge at-bat, and just such an individual moment for him,” Busch said. “I don’t think that there’s one way to score a run. And if you can tap into all the ways to score runs, I think you might as well, especially on a night like [Monday], where the ball is not probably going to go as far or as long as you want it to.”
The Cubs would go on to win 7-0, but those late-inning rallies weren’t a given on a frigid night. At the time, Berti’s run gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
“I work hard to stay mentally and physically as ready as I can,” Berti said, “so that when opportunity comes, I can help us win.”
Cold spell persists
The game-time temperature Tuesday was announced at 35 degrees — one degree warmer than first pitch the day before. But it was still among the 13 coldest Cubs games recorded at Wrigley Field, according to team historian Ed Hartig.
“You’ve got to acknowledge it, is the biggest thing,” Counsell said. “You have to acknowledge, it’s going to suck out there tonight. It just is. But that’s part of it, not [to] fight it. It’s going to suck, and it’s cold, and then you go from there.”
The Cubs have talked about using the elements at Wrigley Field — which was the least offensive-friendly ballpark in the National League last season, according to Statcast’s “park factor” — to their advantage, even on offense.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of it,” Counsell said. “But it’s still going to be cold tonight.”