Hello Cubs World,

I'm sure you were rooting for Gage Workman. I know I was. He looked good at the plate. He hits lefty. He plays key positions for which we need solutions.

But Gage's errors were even worse than Shaw's. Shaw had several errors in a small sample, even worse than we expected from the failed campaigns of Chris Morel and Patrick Wisdom in 2023 and 2024. Workman managed to outdo him by committing two errors vs the Dodgers in a single game that cost us a hefty lead - that game was only miraculously recovered by a team effort. Furthermore, his errors were pretty cringe- Berti would have succeed in the same situations.  

We've got the best bats in the game right now. We already can face the Dodgers or Yankees with confidence. We don't need our 9 hole hitter to contribute power whatsoever. What we need is a lock down defense and bullpen fixes, and the bottom of the order to simply get on first base anyway possible and attempt to advance as a runner.

Counsell saw an opportunity to ensure we have the best utility glove possible. So, enter the hitless wonder Nicky Lopez- one of the most efficient defenders in all of baseball. Berti is the best glove we had at 3rd. But Lopez is the guy you need to absolutely positively get the out - even as reliable as a Dansby Swanson. Every team loves a utility guy that is a "closer in the field". 

Sure, he hits about well as Justin Turner this year. Hence, you'll see much more use of our Catchers as a pinch bat. And Turner may soon be cut. 

But at a certain point, more bats doesn't do as much for us as more bullpen or more glove. The Cubs are just as bad at 3B as anyone this year, committing errors almost every other game! Let's be honest: Matt Shaw and Gage Workman both belong at 2B. They would tell you the same if you asked them- they both made the change only to fit team needs. I've been suspicious of the Shaw Experiment from the beginning, but a year in AAA and he could probably master the position.  He was rushed into a job and we all knew it. 

Berti is the real 3B option, and I'm getting tired of the endless search for power at the position. We don't NEED power when we got a guy who can steal 40 bags and basically mimic Hoerner's style. 2 years out of the past 4, he outhit Hoerner! He's capable of a .760 OPS combined with elite baserunning, and having 2 such guys in a lineup has many benefits. Berti is a better 9 hole option than most teams have in the 7 or 8 hole! Get over it and enjoy his job of restarting the lineup in the middle and late innings. If he's standing on 1st or 2nd, it will make Happ and Tucker look even better. 

Since the beginning of the season I have been arguing that he's our 3B in 2025 and a steal of a deal. At only 3 million base salary, he's easily worth 6-8m as our starter at 3rd. Shaw will get his chance to take over late in the season or next year or simply to be a pinch bat. He's under team control through 2030. 

As for Workman, I'm sure he'll stick with another team but it won't be at 3rd. He's destined to make a good starting 2B eventually.