Oh yeah, we’re talking about the leadoff spot for the Chicago Cubs and you bet your ass it’s about Kyle Schwarber.
*ducks for cover*
Quick question, I’m going off the assumption from last season, when Schwarber was terrible leading off and fans got pissed, but would you still be mad now if Joe Maddon put him back at the leadoff position?
Well, if that’s something that would irritate you, then you might want to brace yourself because Maddon might be going back to Schwarber batting leadoff.
Via the Chicago Sun-Times.
Don’t look now, but the Cubs’ 18-month search for a leadoff man might take them right back to where they started.
Will Kyle Schwarber be back at the top of the lineup?
“I have thought about it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It came up a couple times recently.”
“Listen, I’m not running to get there yet, but I’m not running away from it either,” Maddon said. “If it all makes sense, you’ll see him back up there, and he’ll embrace it.”
In 2017, Schwarber started as the leadoff hitter 36 times and only went 5-for-31, with four walks. Overall, Schwarber only batted .191 while in the leadoff spot and after getting moved down in the order he was sent down to the minors for two weeks.
Schwarber pretty much put up his rookie numbers during the second half of 2017, and heading into 2018 Maddon was still considering him to bat first. In spring training, Ian Happ won the game and after a few weeks into the regular season he lost it.
Right now the Cubs rank 24th in MLB with a .308 OBP from the leadoff hitter. Maddon has been using Albert Almora Jr. vs. lefties and Ben Zobrist vs. righties, but a change could be coming. The biggest problem for the Cubs as a whole has been the decrease in walks, but Schwarber has been one of the few Cubs who has actually excelled in that area.
In 29 games, Schwarber has walked 16 times, which is good for a 14.2% walk rate. He has a .268 batting average, but a .372 OBP. Ding! Ding! Ding!
I personally don’t hate the idea and it’s pretty obvious that whatever was wrong with Schwarber in the first half of 2017 is way behind him.
Maddon said he is not letting anything in the past influence what he does with Schwarber and the leadoff spot moving forward.
“I agree,” said Schwarber, who has crept toward the top with three recent appearances at No. 2, including Tuesday. “My swing was just messed up last year. I was messed up. I was in a bad place. [Leadoff] had nothing to do with it.”
“If he feels he wants me to do that, I’m up for it,” said Schwarber, who looks more calm and comfortable at the plate than at almost any time last year. “I’m just trying to stay simple, confident, be me and go from there.”
So, don’t be surprised if you see Schwarber at the top of the order, as he’s already been starting a few times in the two-hole.
Number one job of a leadoff hitter is to get on base and Schwarber has been great at it so far this season. Why not put him in there with no one really taking over the position this year.
