You are only as strong as your weakest link. Thus says the paraphrased proverb originating from the late 1700’s. In baseball, that could mean anything. The team is only as strong as their pitching rotation, or eighth batter. Or the backup catcher. Anything.
And, when the chain breaks or is weakened further–through injury or transaction–fixing it is challenging. Having the right pieces to fill the gap and continue the strength of the chain becomes critical. For the Chicago Cubs, that means having a bench of quality players. These men allow for rest after long or late games and can be the epoxy to cover the vacancy when injury occurs.