By Bruce Levine–
MESA, Ariz. (CBS) — Its official: Kyle Schwarber will be Joe Maddon’s man leading off for a good majority of the games in 2017.
Maddon first talked about the possibility during the winter meetings in December. With previous leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler moving on, the Cubs were forced to think outside of the box.
Enter the 24-year-old slugger who missed all of the 2016 regular season except for the first four games. An improbable World Series hero, Schwarber has shown an ability to take pitches and get on base, this despite the fact he is not fleet of foot or the prototypical leadoff type.
That led Maddon to look for impact rather than speed at the top of the lineup.
“This says that Kris Bryant is second and Anthony Rizzo is third,” Maddon responded to the question of what opposing managers will think about this different lineup. “None of it will be attractive to them. There is pause involved there. If you don’t pitch to him, the guys coming up next are really pretty interesting. We have to keep them healthy. With good health, you are going to see all these guys get better.”
Maddon was asked about the amount of games he projects Scwarber playing on his reconstructed left knee.
“One-hundred and forty sounds like the right number,” Maddon said. “That is about the right number. He will play everyday, but you must do that with some kind of forsight. We will not want to beat him up and have that knee bark at him. He will get a day off against a certain tough left-handed pitcher. Otherwise, you will see him out there”
The Cubs really do not have a speed player to lead off when Schwarber is rested. Maddon does have other nice options.
“Zobrist is an option,” said Maddon. “Albert (Almora) hit lefties well. You might not get the same tendency to walk. However, you can get that double in the gap or over the wall. That is what Albert can do. We will see how it goes. Maybe Addison (Russell) will be the guy. As of right now, that would be my thought.”
Maddon brought up the name of Brian Downing. The former catcher and designated hitter started to lift weights and add muscle mass in the late 1970s. He went from a skinny catcher with the White Sox to a slugging leadoff man with the Angels.
Downing was the first slow footed lead off man to have success at the top of the order in his era, boasting a lifetime .370 on-base percentage.
The Cubs do not want Schwarber to change a thing in his batting approach.
“I don’t want him to change anything,” Maddon said. “His DNA is to see pitches and take walks. Just have good at-bats. I will have a conversation with him. The talk will be about please not changing anything. Just go up there and hit.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2mlPR16
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