Your Kyle Schwarber Theory Probably Sucks
Hi all, it’s been a bit. I’ve had a lot of real-life work, personal things, and I am a bowler and this is tournament season (I’m not doing hot in that department right now). But in my absence, I’ve been able to read a lot of internet theories (which in itself is stupid, I know) on Chicago Cubs left fielder, Kyle Schwarber. Just when I thought all of the bad takes on Schwarber were done, these last 24 hours have proved me wrong (which often happens with the internet).
He’s on ‘roids!
Yeah, that formally pudgy loveable dude is definitely on steroids (insert rolling eyes emoji). Or he is just finally taking care of his body, with a mix of more intense cardio, reaction, flexibility, etc.
I have let myself go in recent years and ballooned to 238 pounds (I’m 5’10” and have always been an athletic sorta guy weighing under 200). In just the past two months I have been training and dieting (mostly a vacation-induced diet from fear of unleashing the gut to thousands of unsuspecting Dominican vacationers). I’ve lost 18 pounds, am physically stronger, have regained flexibility, and even sleep better. Now sure, that was a reach to pat myself on the back, but if a fat Chicago slob can do this in two months, why couldn’t a professional athlete be able to transform himself in four months?
Losing power
Really? Like really? Do you even know how hitting works?
85% of a hitters power comes from below the belt. The torque and power created from the hips and legs generate the power throw the zone. Reducing his body mass can only help get his hands and bat into the hitting zone faster, allowing for better timing especially on high fastballs. If you look back on last season, he had problems catching up to fastballs, especially high in the zone. This was mostly due to slow hands, which should be corrected.
The other 15% comes from strong and quick wrists (which he has) and then finally strength (which, again, he has).
Loss of body fat does not reduce a hitters power.
Still can’t catch a fly ball
No one in their right mind would ever say Schwarber is a Gold Glove-caliber defender. What you could say is metrics show he’s not as bad as you think he is. When you compile all of the data, from actual fielded balls to % of balls that should be fielded to % of plays rated as difficult, to errors to throwing, compiling everything – he sat as the sixth-best defensive left fielder in the National League.
Now that might be likened to the tallest dwarf award, and to get to that you have to add non-qualified players. But he’s working off of an ok starting point.
That baseline is what they used to go into this offseason’s training. The training where he worked out with Wil Venable and Doug Dascenzo all offseason. Where he worked on fielding agility, flyball routes, proper technique – all winter long. Which was also the first full winter he has ever trained as an outfielder.
Kyle’s whole career he was a catcher. His offseason training was catching drills. Getting better at balls in the dirt, pop time, quick throwing, calling games. His outfield experience was shagging fly’s in BP, and then the little experience he had once in the Cubs organization. Now that he’s finally devoted a whole offseason to learning how to be an outfielder – wouldn’t you assume he would be a little better than he is now?
Even if the defense is the worst part of his game, the Cubs have only one potentially weak defender, who you should reasonably expect to be better then ever.
So please just stop with your bad Kyle Schwarber takes. They are just as bad as you think his defense is.
#EverybodyIn
*Pic via Bleacher Nation
