Cubs can’t spell torrid without ‘D’

Almost lost in all the attention the Cubs’ hitting has received during their hot start is how much better the team is fielding than a year ago.

Upgrading the overall defense, particularly a shaky outfield, was a significant offseason priority.

“And they did that,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said.

The difference in the early going might be as impactful as what the seven-runs-per-game lineup has done.

“Defense wins games,” said Jason Heyward, the Gold Glove right fielder, the Cubs’ biggest-ticket – and perhaps biggest-impact – addition since last season. “You can score as much as you want, but you have to keep the other team to one less run.”

Errors tell only a small part of the fielding story, but the fact the Cubs have only two – including one on a play in which they got the out anyway – is a sign of how far they’ve come since a year ago when they committed four in their first four games, went through a rash of early season miscues with rookies who debuted soon after, and spent most of the season in defensive mediocrity.

Team president Theo Epstein said in October that shoring up defensive flaws was one of the off-season priorities – then added Heyward, second baseman Ben Zobrist, brought back center fielder Dexter Fowler and taught sharp-fielding, athletic infielder Javy Baez how to play center field.

“Outfield defense was hugely important, and we felt there was a chance it could turn into a weakness if we didn’t give it some needed attention,” Epstein said Thursday. “Heyward was a great fit as the best defensive right fielder in the game, who can also play center field, in addition to the on-base skills, base running, makeup, age and other attributes that make him a special player.

“Zobrist has always been an excellent defender who didn’t have quite his normal range last year due to the knee injury. We felt he would bounce back and help us on defense at a number of positions.”

On Wednesday night, for instance, the Cubs won 9-2. But Zobrist, now fully healthy, made a diving play in the first inning with runners at the corners, two out and a run already in to save a run and end the threat. The Cubs answered with a big first inning of their own.

Three innings later, Heyward added the play of the game, diving to rob Scott Schebler of a hit on a low liner toward the gap.

“He’s a technician,” said manager Joe Maddon of Heyward, describing the jumps he gets, angles he takes and judgment. “Some of that can be taught, the technical part. But his instinct for the ball, his ability to move quickly or read the swing of the bat [can’t].”

Said Epstein: “Heyward has been a weapon in right field already.”

The upgrade in right was even more significant considering he replaced the Cubs’ worst outfielder of last season, Jorge Soler, who moves to left for most games.

The Cubs also get a full season of Addison Russell at short, after he stabilized the position when he and Starlin Castro swapped middle-infield spots last August. The versatile Kris Bryant, who started in left Thursday, has improved at third, in particular with his throws.

“You can see a lot more smoothness out there,” Maddon said of Bryant. “The pat’s not happening with the glove; he’s just taking it out and he’s throwing it. It’s really nice to watch.”

Even within the potentially huge loss of Kyle Schwarber’s bat and emotional presence to a season-ending knee injury, the Cubs gain one consolation in the ability to keep better fielding outfielder Matt Szczur on the roster when Baez returns from the disabled list in the next few days.

“It gives us a lot of confidence having them behind us, I can tell you that,” starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks said of all the upgrades. “Pitching to contact a lot more, we’re a lot more confident getting off barrel instead of trying to get swings and misses.”

Helping compensate for some of last year’s fielding deficiencies was a pitching staff that led the majors in strikeouts.

“We have played good, steady defense so far early in the season, and it has helped our pitchers stay efficient and effective,” Epstein said. “It’s really important not to give away extra outs early in the season when pitchers aren’t fully stretched out and you want to give them all enough rest.”

The Cubs are one of only three teams in the National League that haven’t allowed an unearned run so far.

Their only errors came on a two-out, eighth-inning fielding error by Bryant at third in the second game of the season, and an errant pickoff throw to first by Jason Hammel on Friday — which first baseman Anthony Rizzo salvaged by throwing out greedy runner Nick Ahmed on a close play at third.

“We’ve got a solid group, top to bottom, front and back,” Arrieta said. “It doesn’t matter what aspect or component you look at, we’re pretty strong. So it’s just our job now to hold up our end of the bargain and go out there and win ballgames.”