Foot is good, but feat is better for Russell
Addison Russell put an exclamation point on his return to the Cubs on Saturday.
Activated from the disabled list before the game, Russell came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and blasted a home run to deep left field.
It was his first at- bat in 45 days after going on the disabled list in early August with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
“Joe [ Maddon] told me, ‘ Just be ready today; you may get to pinchhit,’ ” Russell said. “And it definitely worked out today.”
Russell received a standing ovation when he came to the plate, was greeted by jubilant teammates in the dugout, then came out for a curtain call.
The homer was Russell’s 11th, his first as a pinch hitter and the fifth pinch- hit homer for the Cubs this season. More important, Russell said his foot was pain- free.
Russell stayed in the game at shortstop in the ninth inning, and Javy Baez moved over to second base. Maddon reiterated before the game that Russell would return to shortstop despite Baez’s stellar play there the last six weeks.
Baez had made a compelling case to take over the role.
For one, he’s not coming off a foot injury this late in the season. He has a better arm and has shown great range. Baez has made only five errors since Aug. 3 and provides bursts of energy with the plays he makes on defense and on the basepaths.
His Gold Glove- worthy defense has saved the Cubs from giving up runs and losing games these last six weeks as they’ve held on to the National League Central lead.
On offense, Baez came in Saturday with a .290/. 340/. 503 slash line since Russell’s injury. He also has added eight homers, 27 RBI and six stolen bases.
But team president Theo Epstein and Maddon have left no doubt about where they want Russell to play.
“We’re a damn good defensive unit when Addy is at short and Javy is at second,” Epstein said. “I don’t think you could go wrong with how you throw those guys out there. But that’s how we’ve been, and that’s how we’ll be for the rest of this season.”
Russell said Baez’s play has made it a little easier to miss all that time.
“Javy plays a great shortstop, a great second base,” he said. “He is definitely fun to watch, and I enjoy watching him play. But as for the shortstop’s perspective, I’m happy to be back out there.”