PHOENIX — The messaging has been instilled since the start of spring training. Third-base coach Quintin Berry oversees the Chicago Cubs’ baserunning responsibility with first-base coach Jose Javier, both of whom are in their first season with the organization. Over the last six weeks, Berry has preached fighting for every inch as the Cubs look to use their baserunning to be a separator against opponents. “Our guys have to understand you have to be engaged — it’s hard, it’s very difficult, to stay engaged,” Berry said. “Understand there’s opportunities to win with two outs, getting to the next base, doing things that’s selfless and being able to be there for your teammate and get to that next base, score from first, score from second with two outs, win those moments. “Our guys are really trying to take that all in and make that our identity.” The Cubs put that mentality on display in their domestic opener Thursday during a 10-6 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks (they lost Game 2 of the series 8-1 on Friday). Pete Crow-Armstrong got a superb secondary lead and jump to beat a throw to second base on a routine grounder with two outs to load the bases, setting up Miguel Amaya’s three-run double. In that same game, Matt Shaw showed off his speed and baserunning IQ as he scored from first base three times. “The biggest thing you can do is just be on time with your secondary,” Shaw told the Tribune. “We’ve worked on it, you just need to be on time when the ball’s hit and you’re landing, ready to go. … Being ready to run, expecting the ball to be put in play. “Everyone’s responded to it really well, we’re all in it together. We understand it’s important, it can win games.” Manager Craig Counsell believes the Cubs’ baserunning can be a team strength and wants them to take advantage of that. “We’re trying to get some of those details as good as we can, a day like (Thursday), it helps,” Counsell said. “And that’s what you’re after. Most days it goes unnoticed, and that’s kind of fine, but we’re trying to as a group make it important to each other. We’re going to try to keep doing it and you hope to gain little edges and you hope the little edges will turn into a big advantage like it did (Thursday) night.” The Cubs are an intriguing running team because of their mix of speed and base-stealing ability — Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner in particular — with veterans who have shown high IQ on base, a group that includes Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Dansby Swanson. The additions of Jon Berti, Shaw and Vidal Bruján, who is currently on the injured list, gives the Cubs in totality a different personnel group to better tap into on the baserunning side compared with their 2024 roster. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, left, and third baseman Matt Shaw celebrate after scoring against the Diamondbacks during the ninth inning on March 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP) Expect to see Berry be aggressive with his decisions. “It makes my job easy, everybody’s athletic, everybody can run a little bit,” Berry said. “So for me, it takes pressure off of me, especially at third base. I told everybody I’m going to send everybody if I get the opportunity to, you’re going to get sent. So I don’t feel like they’re going to put me in a bad position, I think they’re going to give me every chance to make the right call. 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Berry credited Javier and minor-league offensive coordinator Matt Talarico for giving players ways to visually see and implement the teaching and cues. “There’s a lot of things that happen in this game, it’s hard,” Berry said. “You go through ups and downs, you feel sorry for yourself or get caught in your own head. But for you to get out there when it’s not on your stat card, it’s not something that’s going to show up on the stat sheet, to do something for the team is huge, and it’s all in the mind.” The Cubs know they will inevitably experience days at Wrigley Field when the wind is blowing in and runs are difficult to score, especially on cold days in April or chilly October nights. They are confident the offense is capable of producing in different ways that won’t always rely on extra-base hits. Their baserunning ability and aggressiveness will play an important role in making that versatility a consistent reality. “I know how important it is being part of playoff teams and coming in to pinch run, I know how valuable it is,” Berry said. “I know how important it is. I know how it can help you win ballgames, big ballgames. And I think it’s something that you can’t take lightly. You’ve got to put the time in. You’ve got to put the work in. You’ve got to have the right mentality.” ...read more read less