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The Verdict
I’ve read and processed damn near every article both for and against keeping Schwarber as the Cubs leadoff hitter for the rest of the 2017 season and I’ve come to the following conclusion.
Stick with him as the leadoff and ride the drought out.
I’m aware of the poor stats Schwarber has put up but I’m fascinated that he’s the only one that media pundits are focused on. The media acts like the rest of the Cubs team is absolutely destroying pitching which obviously has not been the case. Or how about the fact the offense has constantly been put behind the eight ball due to the starting pitching spotting the opposing team two or three runs early?
Maddon’s theory of putting Schwarber as the leadoff way back in February was predicated around the idea that he’d protect the hitters behind him, specifically Anthony Rizzo. While Schwarber is getting blasted for his low numbers, it’s not like Rizzo is tearing up opposing pitching either. Rizzo is currently hitting .213 and hasn’t had a hit since May 12. His struggles at the plate allows pitchers to be more aggressive with Schwarber, which they’ve done.
What about the fact that the Cubs rank dead last in RISP as a TEAM?
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That can’t be all of Schwarber’s fault right? The offensive woes are a team issue and while I understand Schwarber is the “table setter” as the leadoff guy, the offensive issues are bigger than just him.
I asked Schwarber’s high school coach Jason Cave what he thought about his former players role on the Cubs.
“Maddon is like a baseball computer genius in the form of a human. If you think about it, Kyle only leads off his first at-bat and Maddon is a big fan of batting the pitcher 8th. Therefore, Kyle has the ability to drive in the 7, 8, or 9-hole guy throughout the game. Kyle has been making solid contact and he’s a very smart leadoff hitter and I’m confident he’ll start to convert all this solid contact into some base hits. People have to realize the Cubs are getting everyone’s best shot right now because they’re the World Champs!”
I understand Cubs fans being nervous with the team’s start but it’s unfair to say Schwarber in the leadoff spot is the sole reason for the team’s offensive struggles. This isn’t a “you go, we go” type of argument here and as I mentioned earlier, he’s squaring balls up. It’s only a matter of time before those missiles start to find some holes in the opposing team’s defense.
Schwarber put his struggles into perspective for anxious Cubs fans.
“Many hitters have gone through what I’ve been going through. You just got to keep going.”
He knows he’s struggling but will undoubtedly get out of this funk very soon. Also understand, the Cubs went 15-25 at one point last season but because they had such a huge division lead at that point, Cubs fans kind of just shrugged off that stretch of bad baseball. Now that they’ve opened the season struggling, fans are calling for whole sale changes in the Cubs lineup (starting with Schwarber) and that is something I don’t see happening anytime soon.
Joe Maddon would agree.
“So it’s just one of those things we have to ride (out).”
Be patient Cubs fans, let’s ride it out with Schwarber.
