Lindsey Wasson/AP Photos
PHOENIX – When the Cubs began the season with some shaky defensive performances, the trend wasn’t expected to last.
“I don't think we've played our caliber defense yet,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said after the Cubs’ opening series in Texas. “I thought one of the things that we were really good about last year was playing clean games and playing really good defense. So we just haven't yet.”
Early this season, any mistakes in the field have been even more glaring because of the state of the rotation. Though Javier Assad and Ben Brown have filled in admirably, the Cubs have a smaller margin for error without lefty Justin Steele (strained left hamstring) and Jameson Taillon (strained back).