Two more errors by shortstop Starlin Castro and a costly one by second baseman Addison Russell in a 3-0 loss Wednesday night boosted the Cubs’ lofty season error total to 39 – second in the NL to Milwaukee.
But Maddon downplayed potential concern over the errors, in particular the recent glut on routine plays by Castro.
“The last play tonight I don’t know if that was a product of his last at-bat or not,” said Maddon, referring to Castro’s muff of a ball straight to him a half-inning after he stranded two runners with an inning-ending grounder.
“He’s done a lot of good things. I would say the problem mostly with him has been the routine play more than anything else.”
Castro, who has eight errors this month after committing just three in April, is second only to Washington’s Ian Desmond (13) at his position in the National League.
“He’s had a couple mistakes, I don’t disagree,” Maddon said. “But for the most part I’ve been fine with him at shortstop.”
The fielding on the infield has been an issue overall recently.
Since a streak of eight errorless games earlier this month, the Cubs have committed 12 in their last nine – five by Castro and three each by rookies Russell and third baseman Kris Bryant.
Maddon called it “a little bit of a youthful thing,” which might help explain Bryant and Russell – both of whom made their major league debuts within the last six weeks.
And both of whom were on the field hours before batting practice Wednesday taking infield.
Russell’s error Wednesday put him in the lead among NL second baseman with seven errors – in 14 fewer games this season than the next second baseman on the list (Cardinals’ Kolten Wong with six).
Bryant (seven) is second to Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison (eight) among NL third basemen.
“We work on it constantly, man,” Maddon said. “It’s a lot of routine stuff. We have made a lot of really good plays on defense, and the one that seems to bite us is more the routine stuff.
“That’s just repetition and technique. Just being fundamentally sound. We’re working on it always. …
“We’ve just got to get better.”
