For a while there, it looked like Ian Happ was being left for dead in Iowa. Or maybe that he was being left there just long enough to build up enough trade value to bring something back at the deadline. Turns out neither was the case, though Happ’s sporadic playing time hasn’t spoken volumes about his manager’s faith in him. That will change for at least the next series after Happ provided more value in a single game than several once and future Cubs have offered over much larger samples.
After getting 19 plate appearances over five consecutive starts beginning with his August 26 call-up, Happ’s name didn’t appear in the starting lineup in any of the next six games.