More than a glove affair?
Marisnick wants to have impact beyond his defense
MESA, Ariz. — Jake Marisnick cruised into second base at a nearly empty Sloan Park on a cool Saturday morning.
A “B” game against the Arizona Diamondbacks represented Marisnick’s first action of the spring following a right calf injury that slowed his progress. It wasn’t a traditional game. There weren’t umpires, so TrackMan was used to determine balls and strikes, which then were announced through the ballpark speakers. Batting order didn’t matter — Marisnick led off the first five innings of the seven-inning game.
The “B”-game format allowed Marisnick to get the reps he needs as he works toward getting into a Cactus League game. He finished with three hits and one strikeout as the Cubs’ designated hitter, even testing his calf at 100% running from third to home to score. Marisnick expects to be ready for opening day. He will be off Sunday and then get in another game Monday.
The bigger test will come when Marisnick tests his calf playing the outfield. Cubs manager David Ross called Marisnick’s defense elite.
“He’s a guy that still has not reached his full potential in his eyes,” Ross said. “He’s continued to work toward that. He’s a guy that knows his role.
“There’s a lot to like about Jake Marisnick, for sure.”
Marisnick has developed a reputation for his defensive work, especially in center field. Since the start of the 2016 season, Marisnick’s +41 outfield outs above average are tied for 11th-best in the majors out of 116 players; teammate Jason Heyward ranks 10th (40) in that span.
Marisnick’s quick acceleration plays a role in his coverage. In 2019, the last full big-league season, Marisnick’s acceleration-burst average of 1.8 seconds was one of the best among outfielders over the last five seasons, trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier (3.0 seconds) and St. Louis Cardinals’ Harrison Bader (2.3).
Marisnick can be a gamechanger for the Cubs when they look to optimize run prevention, particularly in the late innings while trying to hold a lead. Marisnick is especially adept at catching balls heading toward the wall and to his right. The latter will be valuable when he’s in center field playing alongside Joc Pederson or Ian Happ in right.
Marisnick profiles as a role player for the Cubs who can be slotted into the lineup for spot starts against left-handers or if an outfielder needs an off day. But the Cubs likely will start the season with a four-man bench, one of whom will be the backup catcher, putting a greater onus on the other three players to be viable offensive options too, with pitchers hitting again in the National League.
Marisnick, a career .229/.281/.385 hitter with an 81 OPS+ in 701 big-league games for three teams, believes he can be a more complete player.
“I mean, I think everybody comes out here wanting to be an All-Star, a superstar,” Marisnick said. “You don’t play baseball to come out here and not make a big impact in the game. So that’s what I’ve been working at. I want to come out and make a big impact.”
He made some adjustments last season with the New York Mets but said he didn’t have a chance to play as much as he would’ve liked, appearing in only 16 games (eight starts). Marisnick didn’t delve into specifics on what he tweaked with his swing or approach, only noting that he simplified and got his body working together.
Building off success and being a reliable part of the lineup when the chances arise can create a chance to be more than a bench guy or part-time player.
“I’d go out and have a big game here and there, but it’s just knocking
down the consistency of doing it night after night or whenever I get the opportunity and be consistent with it,” Marisnick said.
Marisnick, who turns 30 on March 30, has started more than 81 games only twice during parts of eight season in the majors. They came in back-to-back years with the Houston Astros, starting 101 games in 2015 and 85 the following season.
The Cubs’ starting outfield is locked in, though Marisnick’s ability to play all three spots could create an opportunity if there is an injury or someone underperforms.
NEW ORLEANS — Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.
“Til the very end I exhausted myself to give everything to the Saints organization, my team and the great City of New Orleans,” Brees said in social media post on Sunday. “We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us.
“I am only retiring from football. I am not retiring from New Orleans,” he added. “This is not goodbye.”
The post also included a short video in which his four young children exclaimed, “Our dad is finally going to retire so he can spend more time with us!”
The decision comes after the 42-year-old quarterback won nine of 12 regular-season starts while completing 70.5% of his passes in 2020, and then won a wild-card round playoff game before New Orleans’ season ended with a divisional-round loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Brees missed four games this season with multiple fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. It marked the second straight season Brees had to miss part of a season with an injury after missing just one game because of injury in the previous 13. In 2019, Brees missed five games because of a thumb injury on his throwing hand that required surgery.
Saints coach Sean Payton said Brees had plenty of other injuries or ailments during his Saints tenure, but willed himself to play through them whenever possible.
“Over the years his durability and availability is quite amazing. I can recall so many of these different injuries,” Payton said. “He’s as courageous and as tough a player as I’ve ever been around.”