Well-traveled duo gets their chance
Romine, Schwindel get major league at-bats that have eluded them
When any fan favorite is traded, let alone multiple franchise icons, it’s not an ideal position to be the players starting in their place.
Cubs infielder Andrew Romine, though, can’t help but chuckle at being in that spot.
“Oh, man, come on, I played in Detroit where every time somebody came out, they hated me for going in,” Romine told the Tribune on Wednesday.
Romine recalled when he was a utility player for the Tigers from 2014-17, coming in as a defensive replacement for Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler or Nick Castellanos — the type of players fans pay to see.
“Nobody likes you, but that’s one of the spots on the team,” Romine said. “You’ve got to have guys who are coming in to fill in when people get hurt or traded or whatever it may be.”
Romine has started at shortstop in four of the Cubs’ seven games since the July 30 trade deadline that saw them move shortstop Javier Báez, third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Romine was 7-for16 (.438) entering Saturday’s game against the White Sox with one of those hits a clutch, game-tying three-run homer off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning Friday.
Meanwhile, Frank Schwindel was again in the lineup Saturday at first base, where he started for the fifth consecutive game. Schwindel connected for his first home run with the team, a two-run shot in the 10th inning Friday as part of a 6-for-17 (.353) stretch to begin his Cubs career. Both players were added to the Cubs’ 26-man roster after the flurry of deadline deals.
“I mean, this is one of the toughest situations to come into, being one of the most loved guys of all time, the whole city behind Rizzo,” Schwindel said Wednesday. “He’s an unbelievable guy, just talking to him during training the times I’ve been at first when he’s at first.
“We’re in a tough spot as an organization, losing a lot of fan favorites and a lot of great baseball players, but that’s part of the process and we’re just going to go out there and give our best and maybe we could be them someday.”
For Schwindel, these were his first big-league starts at the position since 2019, when he recorded four with the Kansas City Royals. When the Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Oakland Athletics on July 18, Schwindel couldn’t help but wonder if he was insurance in case the Cubs made a bunch of moves — namely trading their Gold Glove first baseman.
On a personal level, Schwindel, 29, has experienced a three-week stretch that is “as crazy as it gets.” From the A’s adding him to the 40-man roster for a call-up in late June to getting optioned back to Triple A two weeks later and then designated for assignment days later, resulting in the Cubs claiming him, Schwindel’s journey hasn’t been smooth.
An 18th-round pick by the Royals in 2013, Schwindel put up good numbers in the minors over the years, especially at Triple A, where he has a .297/.334/.523 slash line in 1,311 at-bats over parts of four seasons. An extended opportunity in the majors hasn’t followed, but these next two months with the Cubs could finally provide that opportunity.
“You can never explain the roller coaster you go on emotionally, but you can’t beat this,” Schwindel said. “Once (Rizzo) left I knew there was an opening spot on the roster, not necessarily worried about starting but that opening, and I’ve always hit. So just going back to that, not trying to do too much, which I did at (Triple-A) Iowa but it ended up working out anyway. And then come up here and try to get back to a good rhythm, getting some consistent at-bats these last two days and go from there.”
Most of Schwindel’s limited big-league experience this year came as a designated hitter for the A’s, filling the role for five games after getting called up at the end of June.
“DHing is tough, especially when you’re not hitting as well as you want to be, just sitting in the dugout waiting for your next at-bat, watching video and probably overthinking a little too much,” Schwindel said. “Playing first gives me an opportunity to flush that at-bat, good or bad, and worry about playing the other half of the ball and helping the team make some plays.”
Schwindel has looked smooth at first, deftly picking throws and handling anything hit to him. His presence allows manager David Ross to play Patrick Wisdom at his natural position of third base and give the slumping Matt Duffy a break.
“I was impressed,” Ross said Wednesday of Schwindel’s first Cubs start. “A couple knocks out there (Tuesday) and he’s got contact in his past. You always take those those Triple-A numbers with a little bit of, like, see how it plays out in the big leagues, but it was a nice debut.”
Beyond evaluating talent for 2022, the final eight weeks present an opportunity for someone such as Schwindel or Romine to enjoy the major league at-bats that have eluded them. Ross said it’s refreshing and fun to watch players grow and get a chance to take advantage of the situation.
In Romine’s case, the last three years have been the most unpredictable of his life. Since the start of the 2019 season, he has been part of five organizations and appeared in only two big-league games before this season. His four hits with the Cubs are his most in the majors since 2018 with the Seattle Mariners.
“To be able to say that I’m playing baseball at 35 is something I never thought I’d be able to say,” Romine said. “Nowadays, I look at other people and see what’s going on in their life and how their career is going and I can feel what they’re feeling. I have empathy for what’s going on with them, and to be able to see some young guys come up and get a shot, it’s a dream come true for them and to downplay it would be against the rules of baseball. You’ve got to be excited for guys no matter who you are.”
Romine admitted it’s weird to be considered a veteran despite his age and 587 major league games over 11 years. He’s still adjusting to that label. It doesn’t feel that long ago when he was the young player who reached the majors and tried to establish himself. But now he gets to pass on all the things he has learned to his less experienced teammates.
While wins and losses don’t carry the same weight in these final two months for the Cubs as they did before the trade deadline, the final 50 games still carry value for players such as Schwindel or 24-year-old reliever Manuel Rodríguez, who notched his first big-league save Wednesday.
Romine works with Sergio Alcantara, 25, at shortstop and second base and is helping him through what Romine also experienced: playing multiple positions as a young player who wasn’t in the lineup every day. He understands how tough that role can be, so Romine wants to share whatever knowledge he possesses.
“That’s kind of what my goal is at this point,” Romine said. “My numbers are what they are. My career has been what it’s been. I’m not trying to go up there and hit 50 homers or something and change my career — to be able to accept mentally that you’re not the young prospect anymore and you’ve passed that point in your career.
“I feel like I’m almost obligated, for lack of a better word, to pass on what I know and to help the next generation in baseball.”