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We’ve seen this coming for a while now, but Joe Maddon finally kinda/sorta confirmed that Ian Happ will be leading off for the Cubs (at least for now) yesterday to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“I haven’t finalized anything, but (it’s) a combination of what we thought in the beginning, and then he went out and has grabbed it and gotten better,” Maddon said of Happ. “I think he’s answered that he can do this and that he wants to do this.”
Uh, ya think?
Spring Training stats are meaningless but take these numbers how you want:
-Ian Happ: .342/.432/1.300/5 HRs
-Kyle Schwarber: .385/.489/1.233/3 HRs
-Addison Russell: .364/.395/.970/2 HRs
-Willson Contreras: .321/.345/1.166/4 HRsThese guys are ready for 2018. It's gonna be fun.
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) March 21, 2018
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Yes Spring stats are almost entirely useless, but it’s the only platform Happ has had to showcase his leadoff abilities and he’s dominated. Part of the reason for Happ’s success has been his willingness to take on the responsibility that comes with setting the table for the rest of his teammates.
“It’s exciting. I’ve felt really comfortable there all Spring, and I’m really enjoying the role. I’m excited to get to this season and start getting on base for these guys for real.”
It’s an exciting development, but Happ still has a ways to go to grab Fowleresque control of the leadoff spot. Gordon Wittenmyer points out in his piece that switch-hitting Ben Zobrist is still an option when healthy and Albert Almora will get looks at the top against LHP.
But, for now, the Cubs feel like they’ve found a primary solution for a problem that plagued the 2017 lineup all season long. That’s about all we could have asked for heading into the Spring.
