Comments on: And Leading Off For the Chicago Cubs Is… http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/ Just another Baseball Prospectus Local Sites site Sat, 16 Feb 2019 21:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: cicero sonny http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8744 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:25:25 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8744 I always like to see sluggers staggered like Russell-Bryant,then Hayward- Rizzo this way a pitcher has to pitch to the weaker hitter thus more hits and more RBI.

]]> By: Zack Moser http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8742 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:38:06 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8742 A Heyward-Bryant-Rizzo top of the order is all I have ever hoped for.

]]> By: theguz http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8721 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:19:38 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8721 Nice piece, Jen. Your data actually conclusively proves Heyward IS the leadoff–and the Cubs need Zo to NOT be. Zo’s .702 life OPS is brutal, and more trustworthy than you think. Closer look at Zo’s two largest-PA seasons at l-spot (’10 and ’14)= real bad OPS. As he was with Joe both yrs, u’d think the Mad Scientist would steer clear.

]]> By: Ryan Davis http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8718 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:36:14 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8718 It’s a part of why there’s a strong case to be made for Bryant as the number 2 hitter, IMO.

]]> By: victor19nyc http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8717 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:45:06 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8717 As I recall when I looked at the list Fowler was somewhere around #25 (Bryant was 20th).

]]> By: Ryan Davis http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8715 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:15:29 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8715 You’re right on what is a big part of being a lead off hitter. Of course, you want them to walk and get on base at a high rate. Most intelligent people won’t even debate that anymore, because the idea of Neifi Perez leading off is laughable to the majority of baseball folks. But a big thing, for me, is the pitches per PA. I think it’s hard to measure the value it brings for the rest of the lineup when the lead off man goes up there and makes the pitcher show you (and the rest of the team) his whole aresenal. Off the top of my head, Fowler was really good at that.

]]> By: victor19nyc http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8714 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:01:10 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8714 Here’s a name: Addison Russell. Maybe not for 2016 but eventually.
Stats aside what you want up top is someone to set the tone for the rest of the lineup, and AR’s approach is mature beyond his years. He ranked 13th in all of baseball in pitches per PA, an impressive indication of where he could be headed. His main obstacle is simply the need to improve his contact rate, perhaps (believe it or not) by being a bit more aggressive. Despite his several bat flings he was actually very tentative on numerous swings at pitches in the strike zone.
I think he’s very capable of .350+ OBP, and even .800 OPS, not super fast but a smart baserunner. I look forward to seeing him continue to develop.

]]> By: Joe Hayes http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/02/03/and-leading-off-for-the-chicago-cubs-is/#comment-8713 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:36:17 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=7876#comment-8713 Zobrist
Heyward
Bryant
Rizzo
Soler
Schwarber/Baez
Russell
Montero/Ross

I like veterans at the top with the R/L stagger to keep pitchers off-balance

]]>