(670 The Score) Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is struggling at the plate as of late. In his last 30 games, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .185 with one home run.
But Crow-Armstrong brings the Cubs more than just his bat, which is what teammate Ian Happ has reminded during this recent difficult stretch. Happ pointed to a two-strike bunt during Sunday’s 7-6 comeback win over the Braves as part of how Crow-Armstrong can change a game for the Cubs.
“The impact he can make in a game is pretty special,” Happ told the Rahimi & Harris Show on Tuesday. “And the bunt was great; he got it down and obviously extended the inning. But I think the more impressive part of that was Dansby (Swanson) hit a double that didn’t get to the wall in a really short of the ballpark, left-center at Wrigley, it’s the shortest left-center in baseball, and Pete scored standing up.
“The impact that his legs have on a game when he’s on base is pretty spectacular. He made a couple great plays in center field. Like, he has a ton of ways to impact a game, even when he’s not hitting homers. It’s a really hard thing when you’re going through it a bit, your hits aren’t falling and confidence is waning a little bit.
“He has the ability to impact this thing in a hundred different ways. Just keeping him confident and believing in himself, because we've seen it throughout the year. We’ve seen what he’s capable of and what he can do He’s going to be a huge part of this team for as long as he wants to be here. Just reinforcing that confidence and belief that we have in him every day.”
The Cubs and Braves play the second game of their series on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.