For the Chicago Cubs opening day can’t come soon enough. The North Siders are coming off a disappointing exit in the wildcard round and an off season where they didn’t make many flashy moves and as per usual expectations are through the roof. Many predictions have the Cubs finishing last in their division and experiencing a significant drop off from last season’s 95 win total.
While many expect a massive decline from the Cubs, it may be more realistic to expect that the North Siders will be back to their normal winning ways. I’m not saying they should be considered the favorites to win their division, but if enough things go right it can be a better season than most people are anticipating.
The Cubs are relying on several players that under performed last season to get back to their career averages, some under the radar moves to have high rewards, and a clean bill of health for superstars plagued by injuries. If all three of those options, or maybe just two, happen there may be another long October in Wrigleyville.
So without any hesitation here’s our 2019 Cubs season preview:
INFIELD:
This is one of the areas with the most question marks that could end up being a strength for the Cubs. The most reliable player here is first baseman Anthony Rizzo, if healthy you can expect around 25 home runs and 100 RBIs from him.
The rest of the infield is where things get hazy. Kris Bryant is coming off a year riddled
with injuries. Two years ago Bryant was nearly the unanimous MVP and was considered one of the top players in the game but after last season fans and media members seem to think he’s expendable. The fact that people actually want him traded is completely mind boggling, Bryant is one of the top two third baseman in the league and has all the tools to be one of the best players the league has to offer. The only reason he didn’t have the numbers to back that claim up last year was because he was playing through injury. When healthy Bryant has one of the best swings in baseball and last season it was so visible that he wasn’t able to execute the mechanics of that swing perfectly because of his shoulder. Last season was a fluke and if he’s 100% this year it’s not unreasonable to expect him to be back in the MVP conversation.
The positions of shortstop and second base are a complicated situation. Javier Baez will start the year at shortstop while Addison Russell is suspended. What the Cubs will do with Russell after the first 60 games is a mystery but they certainly have options for the middle infield. Baez is coming off a career year where he had 34 home runs and 101 RBIs and he is certainly capable of putting up similar numbers again so Joe Maddon will definitely use him every day. Maddon will have options at second base as Ben Zobrist and David Bote are capable of being everyday second basemen and even Ian Happ has a background of playing the infield. Joe Maddon will certainly have plenty of options and if he can balance playing time properly for all these options the Cubs will likely have one of the deeper infields in the National League.
OUTFIELD: This is one area that the Cubs are relying on players to take steps forward and may benefit from some regularity in the lineup decisions. Albert Almora has shown flashes of being a gold glove caliber center fielder but struggled to find the lineup every day. Almora can be an elite player for the Cubs, an heir to Dexter Fowler in the middle of the outfield, but for whatever reason cannot seem to find his way into Joe Maddon’s inner circle. Maddon will have to realize Almora is the best man for the job and play him everyday and hopefully the youngster can develop into the special talent he was billed to be.
The corner outfield positions aren’t as crowded for the northsiders as they’ve been in recent years. Despite his shortcomings at the plate, Jason Heyward is entrenched as the everyday right fielder and justifiably so. Heyward is one of the best right fielders in all of baseball and that reason alone is enough to keep him in the lineup. Heyward is the type of player that if he could exceed expectations at the plate can be a difference maker for this team. It’s not outside the realm of possibility to think Heyward can be above average at the plate because he has been in the past. In his time with Atlanta and Saint Louis, Heyward was a threat in the field and at the plate which is what led to his hefty payday with the Cubs. If he can come remotely close to his former self offensively, it could be akin to a big free agent signing for the Cubs.
In left field Cub fans can expect Kyle Schwarber and the previously mentioned Ian Happ to share playing time. Defensively Happ is the better option but Schwarber’s bat needs to be in the lineup regardless of his defensive shortcomings. The thing about Schwarber’s defense though, is that he was much improved last season and figures to be even better this year. If Schwarber can earn a regular position at left field, Happ will most likely join the crowd of competitors for the second base job and be a jack of all trades for Maddon similar to the way Ben Zobrist has been in the past. Happ can play the infield and outfield, hit from both sides of the plate, be a threat as a pinch hitter, and even be a relief pitcher at times.
CATCHER: The Cubs are one of the few major league teams fortunate enough to have an elite young catcher in Wilson Contreras. The 26 year old struggled in the second half last season but has shown in stretches in the past that he can play at an MVP caliber level. The problem with Contreras is he is a very emotional player so when he hits a rough patch he gets inside his head which brings him down even more. Finding a reliable backup catcher could be something the Cubs look for. Victor Caratini has shown he can be a reliable bench player but Maddon has liked carrying a veteran catcher to work with some of his older pitchers. Maybe now that he is in his fourth season Contreras can be trusted enough to work with the entire pitching staff.
PITCHING:
Last season everything that could go wrong, went wrong for the northsiders pitching staff as they were plagued by key injuries. If the Cubs are to return to form this summer their starting rotation will need to stay healthy and be more consistent. Perhaps the key to the pitching staff is the health of Yu Darvish. The Cubs paid a large price for Darvish’s services and were let down when right hander only started eight games and dealt with a variety of mysterious injuries. If he can return to the level he pitched at with Texas it could be just like adding a big name free agent (starting to sound familiar?) The rest of the rotation hinges on the same concept as Kyle Hendricks has shown he can be a Cy Young contender but struggled to adjust last season when hitters figured out his approach. Jon Lester has been everything the Cubs wanted him to be but will he regress now that he’s on the wrong side of 35 years old? The addition of Cole Hamels might’ve saved the team last season, he can be a large contributor in the middle of the rotation this year. Jose Quintana was one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball when he played for the White Sox but has struggled in the bigger spotlight on the northside. If he can return to his all star form he can be one of the best fifth starters in baseball.
The bullpen is the Cubs biggest question mark heading into opening day. This is one area fans wanted to see Theo Epstein make a big splash at in free agency but were disappointed with the results. The main additions to the ‘pen were under the radar signings like Brad Brach and Luke Haggarty to have big impacts at a low risk. Most of the improvements to the bullpen can occur if, I feel like I’ve said this before, players that struggled last season can do what they’ve done in the past. Mike Montgomery has proven he can pitch multiple innings in close games. CJ Edwards showed signs of being the closer of the future for the Cubs but had trouble bouncing back from a bad at-bat last season. Tyler Chatwood was a flop as a starter last year and will be pitching from the bullpen this year. While he lacks a strong fastball like most relievers, perhaps his selection of off speed pitches can catch batters off guard late in games. Pedro Strop was one of the only consistent relievers last season before suffering from injuries, expect him the be relied on heavily in key situations. Brandon Morrow suffered a strange injury last season but can be a legitimate closer if he can stay healthy.
The bottom line for the Cubs is they have a lot less to worry about than people think. They have some elite infielders, a deep outfield, quality starting pitching options, and a lot of upside in the bullpen. The key for the Cubs is getting things to go right. The northsiders are relying on a lot to go right and if things don’t pan out, don’t be surprised if there are big changes in Wrigleyville come the off season.
Comentarios