Cubs shortstop Addison Russell news and videos

[http://www.csnchicago.com] Blackhawks Bulls Cubs White Sox Bears Fire Notre Dame Big Ten Preps Video Golf Sports Business Inside Look Beer Money Horse Racing NASCAR NCAA Sky CSN Fantasy Sports CSN Talent TV Listings Channel Finder MORE TV Listings Channel Finder Alerts Contests Shop Tickets Rotoworld Golf Channel Comcast SportsNet Search Latest Video 0:56 Sale on Marlins hitters: 'They made stuff happen out there' 0:51 Ventura on controversial call to end the game 0:46 Ventura: It was Sale's 'big inning that really did him in' 1:50 Full MJ jersey guy gets a call from Jordan himself 0:53 Highlights: Mondialiste wins 34th Arlington Million 2:10 SNC: CM Punk fan Cammy Can gets him to tap out 0:59 Jason Coats calls his first MLB home run 'a special moment' 0:35 Shields: 'I'm just glad things are starting to go our way' Addison Russell How Addison Russell can help Cubs take off again How Addison Russell can help Cubs take off again By Patrick Mooney August 05, 2016 9:46 AM Latest Cubs Talk Baez celebrates Monica Puig winning Puerto Rico's first gold Despite home runs, Hendricks looks dominant Cubs bullpen implodes in loss to Cardinals Around this time last year, the Cubs bumped Starlin Castro off shortstop and strengthened their up-the-middle defense with Addison Russell’s sense of calm and explosive athleticism. That decision helped catapult a borderline wild-card team toward 97 wins and the National League Championship Series. Could the Cubs take off again by moving Russell into the middle of their order? It’s already happening, with the Cubs going 13-6 since the All-Star break and last year’s rookie No. 9 hitter starting to establish himself at fifth or sixth in Joe Maddon’s lineup matrix, where only Anthony Rizzo (78) and Kris Bryant (68) have driven in more runs than Russell (65) this season. “It brings out the best in him,” Maddon said. “He’s taken advantage of all those opportunities. I feel really good about him up there when something is going on. He gives you his best at-bat. “For the most part, he chases less. He’ll accept his walks more often. He does a lot of good things when there’s folks on base.” [MORE: How Oakland helped redirect Jon Lester and turn Cubs into contenders ] Russell is quiet, even around teammates, with super-agent Scott Boras describing his client as an old soul, even at the age of 22. Inner confidence helps explain why Russell has put up an .822 OPS with runners in scoring position and notched eight game-winning RBI this season, finishing tied for second in the NL with 22 RBI in July. Russell is seeing 3.94 pitches per plate appearance, on pace to finish with almost 20 homers and coming off what could be the first of several All-Star appearances. Around this time last year, people wondered how a young group would handle the pressure of a pennant race, forgetting that a kid born in 1994 doesn’t worry about the weight of the franchise’s history. “We just want to play, man,” Russell said. “Go out there and prove a point. The players that we have are here to battle – and we’re trying to win it all.” That motivation pushed Oakland A’s executive Billy Beane to give up Russell in the blockbuster Jeff Samardzija trade on the Fourth of July 2014. There will be what-could-have-been reminders during this weekend’s three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum, but props to the A’s for trying to win, refusing to go into tanking mode and not being so obsessed with what Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus thinks of their farm system. [SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans! ] That’s why you collect prospects – not for top-five placements in the minor-league rankings – but the chance to win a World Series. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein credited Beane for his bold, decisive move during the conference call after the Samardzija/Russell deal – and just gave up his best prospect (Class-A shortstop Gleyber Torres) and another former Oakland first-round pick (Double-A outfielder Billy McKinney) in the 4-for-1 Aroldis Chapman trade with the New York Yankees. Epstein’s front office didn’t acquire a hitter at this week’s non-waiver deadline, believing in the lineup that got the Cubs to this point. Now a team with the best record in baseball (66-41) looks ready to take off again, with Russell helping power that engine. “He’s just growing,” Maddon said. “That’s the beauty of development. The biggest thing I used to always really focus on in the minor leagues was: What did a guy look like in April? And then what does he look like in August? Did you see any real growth, development? The things you talked about and worked on in spring training and the first month of the season – do you see it as being better now? “He’s the perfect example of everything’s gotten better.” Tags: Addison Russell , Chicago Cubs Addison Russell explains why he's thriving in five-hole in Cubs order Addison Russell explains why he's thriving in five-hole in Cubs order By Tony Andracki July 16, 2016 1:49 PM Latest Cubs Talk Baez celebrates Monica Puig winning Puerto Rico's first gold Despite home runs, Hendricks looks dominant Cubs bullpen implodes in loss to Cardinals When Joe Maddon released his Fourth of July lineup against the Cincinnati Reds, it was a bit surprising to see Addison Russell's name fifth in the batting order. That marked the highest Russell has hit in the order in his big-league career (he also hit fifth in one game last season). Russell spent the majority of 2015 hitting ninth (116 of his 137 starts) in the Cubs lineup — behind the pitcher — as Maddon allowed the young hitter to adjust to MLB pitching. [RELATED - How Kyle Hendricks has taken on Jake Arrieta role with Cubs ] Since that holiday matchup with the Reds, Russell has become the Cubs' new No. 5 hitter against left-handed starting pitchers and he's found a lot of success in that spot. The 22-year-old shortstop has posted a .364 average, 1.182 OPS and three homers in the five-hole. He has driven in 10 and scored seven runs in five games in that spot, including two RBI and a run in Friday's win over the Rangers. It's a super small sample size, but Russell feels comfortable hitting fifth. "I like hitting in that spot a lot," he said. "Seems like you get a little bit better pitches to hit to put the ball in play. I'm usually hitting with some runners on, so I really like that spot." Russell said he feels like he gets more pitches to hit because instead of hitting seventh or eighth with the pitcher right behind him, now he has Jason Heyward or Javy Baez following him in the order. He also likes it because there's a better chance he gets an extra at-bat in a game rather than hitting lower in the order. It's interesting that Russell is having this success in the five-hole given that his numbers against left-handed pitchers on the season are dismal (.184 AVG, .690 OPS), but obviously the move up in the order has helped normalize those numbers. [SHOP: Grab your own Cubs All-Star Game gear ] Russell has succeeded at driving in runs all year hitting after the heart of the order and is on pace for 95 RBI, which would be the highest mark for a shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki drove in 105 with the Colorado Rockies in 2011. "I'm not afraid to hit with runners on," Russell said. "There's just a comfort level with runners on and being up in the lineup that's clicking right now." Maddon's order will undoubtedly change when Dexter Fowler returns to the Cubs' lineup and pushes Ben Zobrist back to the cleanup spot full-time (instead of leading off against left-handers), but for right now, Russell looks like he's found a home in the five-hole. Tags: Chicago Cubs , Joe Maddon , Addison Russell How Addison Russell can help Cubs take off again Addison Russell explains why he's thriving in five-hole in Cubs order FOLLOW US Facebook Twitter Google Plus Instagram ©2016 Comcast SportsNet Chicago, LLC A Division of NBC Universal Advertise Affiliates Employment Opportunities Internships Independent Programming Report Parents Guide to TV Ratings Press Release Contact Us Tickets CSN Talent Privacy Policy Purchase Policy Term of Service Live FAQ Ad Choices GET NEWSLETTERS & ALERTS SIGN UP