WITH THE CHANCE to hit reset this
offseason, the Cubs split the difference,
firing the only manager alive to lead the
team to a World Series but retaining the key
players from those 2016 champs. David Ross,
a part-time catcher on that club, takes over
for Joe Maddon after three years at ESPN,
becoming the latest MLB manager to
assume the role with no experience. Chicago
is counting on Ross’s relationships with his
former teammates, as well as the knowledge
he acquired during a 15-year career, to
revitalize a club that had the third-highest
payroll last season yet won just 84 games.
His first issue to address: the Cubs’
defense, which ranked 11th in the NL in
efficiency. Though Jason Heyward’s powerpicked up, the five-time Gold Glover lost
a step in rightfield, with a career low in
defensive runs saved. Meanwhile, Albert
Almora Jr.’s offense nosedived (.236 average,
.271 OBP), forcing Maddon to bench his
best centerfielder for a subpar defender
in Ian Happ. Cubs pitchers struck out an
additional 111 men last year, but still allowed
an extra 57 hits and 72 runs. Some of those
additional hits were homers, but some of
them were hits falling in that didn’t drop in
the previous three seasons.
If Ross can turn around his team’s
defense, perhaps by leaning significantlyon data-driven positioning, the Cubs
should contend for a playoff spot. Their
NL Central rivals did little over the winter
to establish a clear front-runner in the
division, and third baseman Kris Bryant,
first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop
Javier Báez, righthander Kyle Hendricks
and lefthander Jon Lester are more than
capable of steering the club back to October.
Yes, a bullpen headlined by Craig Kimbrel
presents many questions, as does an aging
rotation. But Chicago has enough to emerge
on top in a decidedly undecided divison.Even after an embarrassing collapse at the end of 2 0 19, it’s not unreasonable to
expect a revitalization of Chicago’s veteran core under its first-time skipper.OVER
UNDER 85.5|JAVIER BÁEZ|DF|He isn’t the offensive force he once
was, but then again it’s not unusual for a 37-year-old to lose a
little bat speed. What’s remarkable, though, is that Báez still
has the fastest hands in the newly formed NL North—he slaps
down tags at second base like he’s 27—which is why he’s
Y\\ek_\:lYjÊ[\j`^eXk\[Ó\c[\ij`eZ\)')0%N\[feÊknXek
to say El Mago’s glove is the only reason he remains on the
roster, but it makes his presence a lot more, um, defensible.2030 PREDICTION
MOVING UP
BRAD
WIECK
5.71 ERA | -0.7 WPA
A lefthander
acquired from
the Padres last
year, Wieck
fanned 18 in
10 innings last
September
and held
righthanders
to a .183
average in ’19.MOVING DOWN
CRAIG
KIMBREL
6.53 ERA | -0.5 WAR
After signing
with Chicago
last June,
Kimbrel
imploded. He
had the worst
hard-hit rate
of his career,
jumping from
27.1% in ’18 to
50.0% in ’19.JEFF HAYNES (BÁEZ); DYL AN BUELL/GE T T Y IMAGES (LESTER)
If new manager David Ross can
turn around his club’s defense,
the Cubs should contend
for a playoff spot this season.