Now what? One year after Rain Delay Speech, Cubs still waiting for Jason Heyward’s next breakthrough

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title => "Now what? One year after Rain Delay Speech, Cubs still waiting for Jason Heyward\u2019s next breakthrough"
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article_body => "One year after The Rain Delay Speech, the Cubs have enormous respect for Jason Heyward as a clubhouse leader and a Gold Glove defender \u2014 while still facing questions about if he will ever again be an offensive presence, whether or not that still makes him an everyday player and how to salvage their $184 million investment.<\/p>\nThe hitting coaches who supervised Heyward\u2019s swing overhaul last offseason in Arizona are gone, with John Mallee fired, assistant Eric Hinske taking the lead job with the Los Angeles Angels and Chili Davis and Andy Haines now overseeing an all-or-nothing lineup that scored 822 runs during the regular season and then posted a .530 OPS in 10 playoff games.<\/p>\nWith team president Theo Epstein signaling that the hard-to-find prototypical leadoff hitter is probably more of a luxury than a necessity with this group \u2014 and admitting trading big-league talent to get much-needed pitching is a real possibility \u2014 the Cubs need Heyward to be the well-rounded player they envisioned when they gave him the biggest contract in franchise history.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s good that we have an opportunity to have a lot of the same guys in this room on this team, because that goes a long way,\u201d Heyward said inside the Wrigley Field clubhouse after the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Cubs in the National League Championship Series. \u201cYou look at teams in history that have done well in the postseason, they make it known they expect to be in October. That\u2019s an awesome thing.<\/p>\n\u201cBut I personally am looking forward to having another opportunity to go to work in the offseason and do more to help. I feel like if I get some more done, it\u2019s a different result for this team as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\nHeyward\u2019s uptick in production only left him with a .715 OPS, or 35 points below the big-league average this season. It still represented an 84-point boost from last year\u2019s offensive spiral. He also put up more homers (11) and RBI (59) this season, even while getting 111 fewer plate appearances than he did in 2016.<\/p>\nDuring these last two postseason runs combined, Heyward went 7-for-65 (.108 average) with zero homers, one RBI and 16 strikeouts, becoming more of a part-time player\/defensive replacement than a lineup fixture.<\/p>\n\u201cI definitely see an improvement,\u201d manager Joe Maddon said. \u201cI am absolutely seeing more hand action in his swing. There\u2019s less push in his swing. I think he\u2019s done a lot of really good work and it\u2019s going to keep getting better. The guy\u2019s so committed to getting better.<\/p>\n\u201cHis willingness to adjust \u2014 to understand or believe that he needed to do something differently \u2014 it starts with that. Some guys may be so hardheaded that they\u2019re unwilling to adapt or adjust.<\/p>\n\u201cHe was looking for some new answers, and he found some new things. When you make adjustments like that, you\u2019re always wanting to see that instant gratification, and there was some, I thought.<\/p>\n\u201cGive it some time, and this could really continue to get better, because he\u2019s so committed. He\u2019s such a good athlete. He\u2019s so strong, and now he\u2019s starting to feel his hands in a way that he had not for a while. That\u2019s what I\u2019m seeing.\u201d<\/p>\nA big idea behind the Heyward megadeal was that even if he bombed in the first year, he would not have to reinvent himself in his mid-30s and scramble to make up for declining physical skills and health issues. Maddon talks about Heyward being in that sweet spot for a big-league player in terms of ability, knowledge and experience \u2014 age 28 \u2014 but eventually time won\u2019t be on their side anymore.<\/p>\n\u201cI would like for him to stay on the same path,\u201d Maddon said. \u201cI think he\u2019s growing into the adjustment that he\u2019s made. I think next year\u2019s going to be a pretty good indicator of where he\u2019s at. From where he was last year \u2013 to the adjustments he made in the offseason into this season \u2013 and now he\u2019ll have another offseason to really fine-tune that.<\/p>\n\u201cWhen you see him next year, you\u2019ll find out exactly where he\u2019s at developmentally as a hitter.\u201d<\/p>\nHeyward, a finalist this year for his fifth Gold Glove, is still a game-changer in right field, and someone who runs the bases with an alertness and an aggressiveness that can shape an entire team\u2019s mentality.<\/p>\nThough Heyward doesn\u2019t really like to talk about it or promote himself as a leader, the meeting he led in a Progressive Field weight room during last year\u2019s epic World Series Game 7 win over the Cleveland Indians is another sign of the calming, energizing influence he has on teammates.<\/p>\nEpstein wants to believe Heyward can still be the 6-WAR force you saw during four of his first six seasons in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s really the standard,\u201d Epstein said. \u201cBy definition, I think he can improve more than marginally from where he is right now, because he\u2019s done it in the past.<\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s what we want to get him back to \u2013 being a six-win player. And in order to do that, he\u2019s got to continue to play his great defense, continue to run the bases really well, (plus) the added benefit of everything he does in the clubhouse and with his leadership and professionalism.<\/p>\n\u201cBut to be that type of player again, there needs to be some improvement with the bat to get back to that level. We\u2019d love to see that, which means driving the ball more consistently to all fields and getting on base more and being a little bit more of an extra-base threat.<\/p>\n\u201cHe\u2019s done it before, so you\u2019re never going to give up (the idea) that could come back. This is a guy who has a ton of pride and understands that he has contributed to a lot of wins and to a World Series title and to another successful season this year, but that there\u2019s more he can do and wants to do.<\/p>\n\u201cI have no doubt. He\u2019s a proud guy. He\u2019s a talented player. And there\u2019s some room for improvement offensively.\u201d<\/p>\nHeyward, who has no-trade rights through 2018 and an opt-out clause after that season, didn\u2019t take the same victory lap many of his teammates did after the World Series, moving close to the team\u2019s Mesa complex and going back to work in the cage. That attitude won\u2019t change now after a disappointing NLCS that quieted the dynasty talk around Wrigleyville.<\/p>\n\u201cOnce you get a taste of it, you want to have it again,\u201d Heyward said. \u201cWhen you fall short, absolutely, it gives you some more motivation, new perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Cubs

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Cubs

One year after The Rain Delay Speech, the Cubs have enormous respect for Jason Heyward as a clubhouse leader and a Gold Glove defender — while still facing questions about if he will ever again be an offensive presence, whether or not that still makes him an everyday player and how to salvage their $184 million investment.

The hitting coaches who supervised Heyward’s swing overhaul last offseason in Arizona are gone, with John Mallee fired, assistant Eric Hinske taking the lead job with the Los Angeles Angels and Chili Davis and Andy Haines now overseeing an all-or-nothing lineup that scored 822 runs during the regular season and then posted a .530 OPS in 10 playoff games.

With team president Theo Epstein signaling that the hard-to-find prototypical leadoff hitter is probably more of a luxury than a necessity with this group — and admitting trading big-league talent to get much-needed pitching is a real possibility — the Cubs need Heyward to be the well-rounded player they envisioned when they gave him the biggest contract in franchise history.

“It’s good that we have an opportunity to have a lot of the same guys in this room on this team, because that goes a long way,” Heyward said inside the Wrigley Field clubhouse after the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Cubs in the National League Championship Series. “You look at teams in history that have done well in the postseason, they make it known they expect to be in October. That’s an awesome thing.

“But I personally am looking forward to having another opportunity to go to work in the offseason and do more to help. I feel like if I get some more done, it’s a different result for this team as a whole.”

Heyward’s uptick in production only left him with a .715 OPS, or 35 points below the big-league average this season. It still represented an 84-point boost from last year’s offensive spiral. He also put up more homers (11) and RBI (59) this season, even while getting 111 fewer plate appearances than he did in 2016.

During these last two postseason runs combined, Heyward went 7-for-65 (.108 average) with zero homers, one RBI and 16 strikeouts, becoming more of a part-time player/defensive replacement than a lineup fixture.

“I definitely see an improvement,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I am absolutely seeing more hand action in his swing. There’s less push in his swing. I think he’s done a lot of really good work and it’s going to keep getting better. The guy’s so committed to getting better.

“His willingness to adjust — to understand or believe that he needed to do something differently — it starts with that. Some guys may be so hardheaded that they’re unwilling to adapt or adjust.

“He was looking for some new answers, and he found some new things. When you make adjustments like that, you’re always wanting to see that instant gratification, and there was some, I thought.

“Give it some time, and this could really continue to get better, because he’s so committed. He’s such a good athlete. He’s so strong, and now he’s starting to feel his hands in a way that he had not for a while. That’s what I’m seeing.”

A big idea behind the Heyward megadeal was that even if he bombed in the first year, he would not have to reinvent himself in his mid-30s and scramble to make up for declining physical skills and health issues. Maddon talks about Heyward being in that sweet spot for a big-league player in terms of ability, knowledge and experience — age 28 — but eventually time won’t be on their side anymore.

“I would like for him to stay on the same path,” Maddon said. “I think he’s growing into the adjustment that he’s made. I think next year’s going to be a pretty good indicator of where he’s at. From where he was last year – to the adjustments he made in the offseason into this season – and now he’ll have another offseason to really fine-tune that.

“When you see him next year, you’ll find out exactly where he’s at developmentally as a hitter.”

Heyward, a finalist this year for his fifth Gold Glove, is still a game-changer in right field, and someone who runs the bases with an alertness and an aggressiveness that can shape an entire team’s mentality.

Though Heyward doesn’t really like to talk about it or promote himself as a leader, the meeting he led in a Progressive Field weight room during last year’s epic World Series Game 7 win over the Cleveland Indians is another sign of the calming, energizing influence he has on teammates.

Epstein wants to believe Heyward can still be the 6-WAR force you saw during four of his first six seasons in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.

“That’s really the standard,” Epstein said. “By definition, I think he can improve more than marginally from where he is right now, because he’s done it in the past.

“That’s what we want to get him back to – being a six-win player. And in order to do that, he’s got to continue to play his great defense, continue to run the bases really well, (plus) the added benefit of everything he does in the clubhouse and with his leadership and professionalism.

“But to be that type of player again, there needs to be some improvement with the bat to get back to that level. We’d love to see that, which means driving the ball more consistently to all fields and getting on base more and being a little bit more of an extra-base threat.

“He’s done it before, so you’re never going to give up (the idea) that could come back. This is a guy who has a ton of pride and understands that he has contributed to a lot of wins and to a World Series title and to another successful season this year, but that there’s more he can do and wants to do.

“I have no doubt. He’s a proud guy. He’s a talented player. And there’s some room for improvement offensively.”

Heyward, who has no-trade rights through 2018 and an opt-out clause after that season, didn’t take the same victory lap many of his teammates did after the World Series, moving close to the team’s Mesa complex and going back to work in the cage. That attitude won’t change now after a disappointing NLCS that quieted the dynasty talk around Wrigleyville.

“Once you get a taste of it, you want to have it again,” Heyward said. “When you fall short, absolutely, it gives you some more motivation, new perspective.”