Cubs Potential Postseason Surprises
While the season isn’t over (but it mostly is) and there are still 23 games left on the Chicago Cubs schedule; fans, media, and amateur media are all beginning to look towards the postseason. While looking ahead to those playoffs we could see some potential surprises.
So go into this with an open-mind. There are 23 games remaining for all of this to be dispelled. There are 23 games left for someone to get injured, or win a job back. There are 23 games left for someone to excel or falter. There are 23 games left.
Cubs NLDS roster
Don’t expect to see the likes of Tim Federowicz in the playoffs, there very well could be a couple of surprises on this year’s playoffs roster. One of which, and has been rumored so, is Jason Hammel.
While Jason has had a very good year for the Cubs in 2016, 14-8 record with a 3.50 ERA in 151 IP, playoff roster spots are rare and the face-off between two fifth starters in the playoffs tend to be a matchup of bullpens anyways. While some think that Hammel will just make the move to the pen, his most disastrous games have seen things unravel in the first inning – which isn’t something you want from a bullpen arm.
No, the Cubs just might be better off keeping Jason off the roster altogether, and keeping the likes of CJ Edwards Jr as a lock down reliever to pair with Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, and Aroldis Chapman and seeing Travis Wood and Mike Montgomery as the premier long men.
Catcher situation
When Willson Contreras was called up most thought he was here up until the playoffs, at that point the vets would take over from there. That’s not the case, Contreras not only is earning his way onto the playoffs roster – he’s the starter.
There is little doubt that the Cubs lineup is at its best when Contreras is in there, but now defensively the team is at its best with Willson calling the game behind the plate. His maturation over the course of the last several months has been one of the best story/non-stories on the Northside this season.
So with Willson earning the starting catchers job, and David Ross being Jon Lester’s personal catcher, Miguel Montero is likely out, right?
Actually no. Miguel’s play over the past several weeks (.400/.464/.600 over his last 28 games) Miggy has earned himself a playoff roster shot. While he probably won’t see much time behind the plate, he will be called upon as a left-handed bat late in games.
Offense vs defense
While not much of a surprise, Javier Baez will more than likely start in six of every seven games. The question is where.
Baez is a better fielder than the regular starter at probably five of the eight positions on the field. With this in mind, where in the world will he play?
Well, the best Cubs defense actually has Kris Bryant in left field and Baez at third base. With all things being equal, we will more than likely see Baez and Bryant at 3B and LF respectively. The wold card is second base. If after the first couple of games Zobrist’s bat goes silent, we very well could see Jorge Soler in LF, Bryant at 3B, and Baez at 2B. Probably…
Jason Heyward
What in the world will the Cubs do here? While Heyward is the best defensive player on the team, Jason’s bat has equalized his production to virtually nothing. If the Cubs find themselves in a series with the San Francisco Giants, a team with dominate starting pitching, there will be a huge urge for Joe Maddon to get offense into the game. If there is a Kyle Hendricks vs Madison Bumgarner matchup in say a Game 5 which the series is tied, you can bet Jorge Soler will man right field.
In general it is our thought that the Cubs will turn to a platoon of Soler and Heyward in right field during the playoffs anyway. If Heyward shows the same dominating ability as he did in the 2015 playoffs, that will end, but he will certainly have to earn his spot in the everyday lineup once the calendar turns to October.
Starting Rotation
Nothing that will be said here will change the fact the Jake Arrieta is the defacto ace of the Cubs pitching staff. But sometimes the ace might not give the team the best chance to win, as odd as that may sound.
The Cubs are going to have home field advantage up until the World Series, if the make it that far, and the two best Cubs pitchers at home in 2016 have been Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester. Now, I’m not going where your mind probably just went (Kyle), but I would go with Jon Lester in Game 1 at home, then Hendricks in Game 2, followed up with Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, and here’s why.
Lester is 8-2 with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.914 WHIP at home this season. But possibly more importantly he has the second most playoff experience on the Cubs staff behind John Lackey.
Then you pitch Hendricks, at home, where he’s succeeded all season. This is putting Hendricks, and the Cubs, in the best position to be successful.
Then you have Jake and John on the road. Jake, while he hasn’t been his most dominate self in 2016, is still 1000 times better than most any third starter in baseball. Coming back with the most experienced starter in Game 4, which is often the most important game in a series, could seal a NLDS up for the Northside club.
One more thing…
Don’t be surprised however the Cubs end up faring in the playoffs. If they win it all, it will be because their entire organization has been building towards this since the Ricketts family purchased the team. If they lose, they didn’t choke, but 2016 just wasn’t their time. This team, and this organization will be back in this spot again. They will continue to learn how to advance, get better, and eventually bring home a World Series championship.
