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Cubs manager Joe Maddon has explained since the spring training that he intends to send Addison Russell back to the base stop position at the start, if and when he would be allowed to return from his suspension. 40 games for domestic violence.
But with an imminent comeback on May 3 and Javy Baez playing in the short term as a National League star, could this move be more fluid by the end of next week?
"It's still a discussion we need to have," Maddon said Wednesday night after another big Baez match in the Cubs' 7-6 win over the Dodgers, who pushed their record to over .500 for the first time. "We have to wait and see how well Addison is doing. I do not want to do the kind of thing that does not go at all without discussing in detail with the players themselves. "
It is not clear if a discussion is more necessary with Baez or Russell, but one thing became particularly clear during the 9-2 Cubs wave over the last two weeks: Baez plays like a determined man to return no only at the All-Star. Game but maybe also force the Cubs to move Russell to second base.
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He returned home on each of the last two nights, on the right field and the left field, respectively. His three-point shot in the sixth inning Wednesday created the tie.
He also prevented five potential baserunners with hard games on the field, including a single setback in the sixth hole and a throw of more than 90 mph in first place to allow Joc Pederson not to lose his speed.
"He looks simple," said veteran Cole Hamels, who kicked off the season by scoring a season 's record, while he was working around a powerful Dodgers team. He pitched in the sixth inning and left without a decision.
"I've been very lucky to play with very good points that have allowed MVPs and very good careers," added Hamels, who played with former MVP Jimmy. Rollins in Philadelphia and double star star Elvis Andrus in Texas. "He's just in line with these guys."
Jason Heyward, who added a second homer with three points in the sixth: "You can not read about Javy. You have to watch it. "
Russell began Wednesday a week-long minor league mission, in anticipation of his early return, played short-stop for the AAA Iowa class and scored a goal against four with a walk.
3rd after Wednesday's HR.
Maddon has long preferred Russell's "chrome-free" consistency to the often spectacular, less consistent athleticism of Baez. Baez has significantly improved this part of his game and has a much bigger arm.
Between Maddon and some members of the front office, the shortstop remains at least a topic of debate.
"It's a big problem to have," he said.
Meanwhile, the Cubs' least troubling problem during their two-week rebound after a 2-7 start was their starting rotation. He earned a silver medal of 1.67 for those 11 games. Jon Lester is expected to join the group on Thursday against the Dodgers after returning from hamstring injury during the April 8 home opener. The Cubs announced the impending decision on Wednesday.
Hamels had won three consecutive starts before Wednesday's decision. He has averaged seven innings in these three starts, without allowing a walk in any of them.
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