Cubs’ Matt Shaw will get first spring coaching begin in proper subject: ‘Loads of enjoyable’

MESA, Ariz. – Cubs proper fielder Matt Shaw dropped-stepped to his proper after which switched again to his left to camp beneath a fly ball.

That catch within the fourth inning was primarily the one motion Shaw acquired within the Cubs’ 3-2 loss Saturday to the Rangers. He additionally picked up a ground-ball single that deflected off the tip of second baseman James Triantos’ glove as he dove, and threw it in.

“Definitely a lot of fun,” Shaw mentioned. “Listening to [center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong,] he’s guiding me along.”

Shaw’s first spring coaching recreation within the outfield wasn’t a lot of a check. But he’ll get extra alternatives as he continues to be taught the place.

“You want the tougher plays, you want the plays that don’t happen as much,” supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned Saturday morning. “The fly ball that goes straight up and then he catches it, and then we all [say,] ‘Oh, he can play right field,’ that tells us nothing.

“We’re looking for more than that. So, you want action, you want weird plays. Those are the experiences that make you better and cause growth. And the best way to do it is just have innings out there.”

Shaw, transitioning this 12 months from third base to a utility function, has had related conversations with Counsell. The Cubs plan to play Shaw throughout, however outfield can be a spotlight in spring as a result of he’s had fewer recreation reps there.

“It feels like I’m kind of a kid again, running around, catching balls, diving and stuff,” Shaw mentioned earlier this spring.

Shaw performed outfield rising up, along with his most up-to-date expertise coming 5 years in the past in collegiate summer time ball.

“The biggest challenge is, now that I’m going to be playing outfield, playing second, playing third, just balancing all of that,” Shaw mentioned, “making sure I can stay healthy and stay in good shape.”

In addition to the Cubs teaching workers, left fielder Ian Happ is somebody Shaw can lean on for recommendation as he finds that steadiness. Happ got here up as a utility participant earlier than discovering a house within the outfield.

“I’m sure he’ll be super helpful,” Shaw mentioned. “He already has been.”

Shaw informed the story of how he reached out to Happ about whether or not he ought to get a 14 ½ -inch outfielder’s glove. The drawback is, producers don’t make baseball gloves that huge, which Happ made positive to let him know. Anything longer than 13 inches is banned within the MLB rulebook.

“It’s the little things, you know?” Happ mentioned.

He was joking, however the quip really summed up Happ’s actual recommendation for juggling a number of positions. Early in his profession, Happ leaned on tremendous utility participant Ben Zobrist for steering.

“You want to go and do a bunch of things in the outfield and be the best outfitter you can be,” Happ mentioned. “But Ben Zobrist was really good with me about, it’s not necessarily about making the flashy plays, it’s about doing all the little things.”

Happ plans to have related conversations with Shaw this spring.

Shaw can drill down on method in apply. But there are some parts to outfield protection, like communication, conditions, and navigating the wall, that may’t be totally replicated in that setting.

“True, true game speed, has to happen in-game,” Counsell mentioned.

Once Shaw will get comfy enjoying outfield in spring coaching, the subsequent problem can be enjoying proper at Wrigley Field.

“Be careful with the wind,” proper fielder Seiya Suzuki mentioned by way of interpreter Edwin Stanberry when requested what his recommendation could be. “And be careful about the wall next to the foul line; it’s dangerous.”