Building the Perfect Cubs Lineup
There is just under a month until Opening Day!
With so many changes to the Cubs roster, I am going to help Craig Counsell build the perfect batting lineup.
As seen in years past, Counsell likes to change his lineups based on the opposing pitcher. Last year, specifically, there was a lot of controversy around his lineup construction with Michael Busch. Busch had one of the best seasons on the team, but Counsell would often only play him against right-handed pitchers.
The lineup will likely be structured differently this year, factoring in the departure of Kyle Tucker, the addition of Alex Bregman, and Matt Shaw no longer being the everyday third baseman.
After studying different lineups in the Majors over the years, I know a few things to be true. The leadoff hitter needs to be good at getting on base, the second hitter is typically your best hitter, and the three and four hitters should produce power. For the rest of the lineup, it is advantageous to mix up the handedness of the hitters, and having guys that get on base at a high rate near the end is key to setting up the top of the order for success.
With this in mind, this is the lineup I would pencil in for the majority of the season if I were Craig Counsell.
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Carson Kelly, C
- Ian Happ, LF
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Matt Shaw / Moisés Ballesteros, DH
That lineup addresses every aspect I touched on earlier. This lineup would be successful because it plays to everyone’s strengths while highlighting the depth the Cubs’ front office has built over time. The changes I could see to the lineup I made are moving the designated hitter position around, since Counsell may want more speed in the nine-hole on days that Ballesteros gets the nod.
I can envision Bregman and PCA moving up slightly, as they are some of the best hitters this club has to offer. That was a heavily debated aspect of last season’s lineups; people wanted Crow-Armstrong near the top of the order. Personally, I don’t think that is beneficial due to his strikeout struggles, but only time will tell what Counsell elects to do.
While I believe the lineup I constructed is the most productive for the Cubs, the order can only impact so much. Regardless, there will be the same nine hitters getting three to four at-bats per game, especially because it is only natural that the lineups of each Major League team fluctuate as the long season moves along. The hope is that by October, the lineup can be in a solidified position to ensure success.
People may debate the effectiveness of changing a lineup, but one thing is for sure. When the game moves into the eighth and ninth innings, you always want your best hitters up to the plate.
I am looking forward to seeing this process unfold all season long, but I really just can’t wait for the season to start!
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Categorized:Cubs