Welcome back to Week Sixteen of our Patience or Panic series, where we take a look at three struggling players and provide recommendations on how you should react to their slow starts and subpar performance. For managers on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, tough decisions on these players might make the difference in a late-season push.
Ian Happ, OF, Chicago Cubs
Managers taking inventory at the All-Star Break might feel a little conflicted about Ian Happ. His 17 HR puts him on pace for nearly 30 by the end of the season, comfortably ahead of his previous career-high of 25. His high walk rate and everyday role on a good offensive team are boons to managers in points and OBP leagues. However, the batting average has tumbled to a career-worst .220, in part due to an alarming 31% strikeout rate, considerably higher than his previous four seasons.
The last two weeks have reinforced concerns, with only 4 combined runs and RBI during a 12-game stretch where the Cubs’ offense averaged almost 6 runs per game. To be a bit fairer to Happ, the Cubs scored 23 runs in their series finale against the Padres, during which Happ scored twice before being subbed out in the 8th inning. His teammates were able to take advantage of a position player pitching situation that Happ could not benefit from. Setting that game aside, Happ has only scored or driven in 2 of the Cubs’ 48 runs in those 11 other games.
Some of this is just baseball. Wrong time, wrong place. However, recent struggles have seen Happ drop to 7th in the order against LHP, which may result in fewer opportunities to rack up run involvements going forward. In fact, Happ has struggled mightily against LHP this season, to the point where managers should strongly consider benching him in these matchups to preserve batting average if necessary.
