(670 The Score) The Cubs promoted 23-year-old outfielder Alexander Canario to the big leagues last Friday as rosters expanded in September, but he has yet to see any action in the six games since, much to the chagrin of some fans.
Before the Cubs’ 11-8 win against the Giants on Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field, manager David Ross explained why Canario hasn’t had any playing time. Ross did so by reaffirming his belief in his established veterans. Ross wants to ride the players who have propelled the Cubs to great success in recent months, and he wants to give them every opportunity to work through their slumps in the times they’re struggling. Ross believes showing faith in players and letting them find a rhythm is what’s best for his club.
“Look, we’re in a really good position to win,” Ross said. “The guys that got us here are going to play. And the guys that are on the bench, if they’ve got roles, they’ll fill in those roles. (Nick) Madrigal has moved in and out (of the lineup). (Patrick) Wisdom has moved in and out. (Miles) Mastrobuoni is here to run. Canario got called up for a September call-up. He’ll play when he’s needed and fills in nicely or the game gets out of hand one way or the other – get some at-bats, get in the outfield. I think the future is bright for a lot of our minor leaguers that are coming up, but now’s not the time that I’m trying to get those guys at-bats.”
“For me, I don’t think the formula is … if somebody goes cold for a week, sliding in somebody in their place where you don’t know what you’re getting and what if that (player) goes cold for a week? Now you’ve lost faith in the player. This time of year, it’s like we’ve got these guys that have gotten us here, we’re going to play them. We’re going to ride with them. They’re going to go through ups and downs.”
As an example, Ross pointed to outfielder Mike Tauchman’s four-hit game in the Cubs’ 15-7 win against the Reds on Sunday as a reason for why he likes his approach. Tauchman had been in a 2-for-18 slump, but Ross felt he was a driving force in the victory Sunday.
“The professionals that we have, the winning players we have that are on this team and have done a really nice job, we’re going to continue to ride those guys all the way to the finish line,” Ross said.
Canario was hitting .276 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 36 games at Triple-A before being called up by the Cubs. The Cubs acquired Canario in a trade that sent third baseman Kris Bryant to the Giants back in 2021.