Opening Day for the Cubs is usually meet with 'This Year's Our Year' signs and silly goat tributes, a slew of some fan-lore good juju created in hopes of increasing the Cubs chances of finally breaking the curse and winning their elusive World Series title.
Well, they did that all last year, and now it's time to just actually talk baseball for once instead of wondering if they'll do it, and the Cubs have some questions that have yet to be answered this late in spring training.
The roster was just recently cut to 31 players Monday afternoon, and while it's becoming clear who is in competition for roster spots, nobody has a clue what Joe Maddon plans on doing with his opening day lineup. We know Jon Lester will be involved, being the opening day starter, and it's safe to assume regulars like reigning-MVP Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, and Kyle Schwarber should find their names on the lineup card. But beyond that, it's really a mystery, and Joe Maddon is trying to keep it that way.
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CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 25: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a double during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game One of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)[/caption]
Cubs Rule 5 pick, lefty Caleb Smith[/caption]
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 25: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a double during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game One of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)[/caption]
The Lineup
Maddon is keeping his lineup ideas to himself, but he did offer this tidbit of wisdom yesterday to ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rodgers.Before the game Maddon said Almora would play against righties this year when the match up works for him. We wondered about opening night
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 28, 2017
But what does this mean?! Well, for starters, you can expect Kyle Schwarber to start the season as the lead-off hitter, which most likely means Zobrist will slide into the clean up spot. Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation and Dan Szymborski of ESPN did some of the math on whether or not having Schwarber lead-off really adds any benefit, but the idea of Schwarber leading off has more to do with not messing with what worked in 2016 and less about his fit in that spot of the lineup. Plus, Schwarber is excellent at getting on-base and talking his walks, a quality Maddon demands from his table-setter. That means Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo fill-in at the 2nd and 3rd spot of the lineup, with the rest still unknown, but if I had to guess this is the lineup I would expect to see this Sunday against the Cardinals.Against Carlos Martinez. Jon Jay obviously familiar with team and park...Maddon said think outside the box..wouldn't hint anymore than that
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 28, 2017
- Kyle Schwarber LF
- Kris Bryant 3rd
- Anthony Rizzo 1st
- Ben Zobrist 2nd
- Addison Russell SS
- Jason Heyward RF
- Willson Contreras C
- Jon Lester P
- Jon Jay CF
Cubs Rule 5 pick, lefty Caleb Smith[/caption]
The Bullpen
With the rotation already set for the season, the Cubs not just have bullpen arms to figure out with the pitchers. Currently, the team has nine arms on the team, and almost all them look safe except for the two lefty handed relievers. Veteran Brian Duensing and the Cubs Rule 5 pick Caleb Smith look to be the final pieces Joe Maddon has to decide on. While neither Smith nor Duensing have had good springs, both are sporting 4.00+ ERA's this spring, Smith being the younger of the two and while also being a Rule 5 pick it would make sense for the Cubs to keep him over 34-year-old Duensing. Here's how I see the bullpen shaking out once camp breaks this Friday.- Wade Davis RH
- Hector Rondon RH
- Pedro Strop RH
- Koji Uehara RH
- Mike Montgomery LH
- Justin Grimm RH
- Carl Edwards RH
- Caleb Smith LH
