April 29--Manager Joe Maddon said earlier this week that if you want to get more walks, you most likely will buy them in the form of acquiring players through free agency or through trades.
The Cubs acquired free agents Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward last winter to help with their on-base percentage and run production, but there's improvement from within that's helped ignite the offense.
Thursday's 7-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers marked the 11th time they've scored six runs or more. They're 11-0 in those games.
Also, the offense saw a season-high 199 pitches, surpassing their previous high of 198 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 win that was overshadowed by Jake Arrieta's no-hitter.
The Cubs drew a season-high 11 walks Thursday, surpassing their previous high of 10.
"There's a very talented lineup and a deep lineup," David Ross said. "We force guys to throw strikes, and that's a sign of a good ballclub that has a lot confidence in our ability. But it's a long season, and we're going to have ups and downs in our approach -- some hot, some cold."
Ross hit the 98th home run of his career in the second, and he also drew a walk. Second-year shortstop Addison Russell has shown the most improvement. Russell, who drew only 42 walks while striking out 149 times in 2015, has 12 walks and 14 strikeouts.
Ross drew a distinction between the Cubs' patience and that of the Boston Red Sox teams he played on (including the 2013 World Series champions).
"We want to hit strikes," Ross said. "We feel like we're not up there to take pitches just to take them. Guys are up there looking for their pitch. For a young group, that's a very mature approach.
"I see maturity in the approach from a young, talented group, which is completely different than Boston, which was more of an established veteran group that had been around the block. I'm seeing that kind of approach with this group."
