good dolphin wrote:
so, how does this play out if Jackson is better than Scwarber (at his very limited snapshot in time)? Does he take AB away from him. Do they even give him a chance to prove he should?
If he is playing to his best, Jackson is the best OF on this team, bar none.
HICAGO -- The addition of Austin Jackson from the Seattle Mariners right before the Sept. 1 deadline to qualify for the postseason gives manager Joe Maddon a true defensive outfielder, as he’s been mixing and matching personnel since Jorge Soler went down with an oblique injury.
For example, on the Chicago Cubs' most recent road trip Maddon employed Kyle Schwarber in left, Chris Denorfia in center and Chris Coghlan in right in one game. All were playing out of position, and the formation came back to hurt the team. Even with a somewhat-healthy Dexter Fowler back in the lineup the Cubs needed some more depth.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Maddon said after the trade was announced on Monday.
Jackson has a career .334 on-base percentage, though he’s struggled since being traded to Seattle from Detroit last season. He could start some games, but the Cubs will most likely use him for defensive help late in contests.
“I’ve seen him for a long time in the American League,” Maddon said. “He’s a really good player. When he starts swinging the bat well he’s productive, a fine outfielder, good baserunner.”
Before Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Maddon admitted there could be a rotation that involves right, left, third base, second base and catcher in the final month of the season.
Think about that.
Five positions could be rotating depending on who’s on the mound for the opposition. Jackson could be part of that rotation, but the manager also admitted whoever is hot at the plate would see starts while the better defensive players enter in the second half of the game. A lot of what Maddon wants to do hinges on Kris Bryant’s ability to play the outfield.
“It permits you to utilize more players offensively,” Maddon said. “But you don’t want to impact your defense either, so when you put KB in the outfield I don’t think there is anything negative about that at all.”
Maddon will use platoons to his advantage. For example, when Javier Baez returns to the big leagues he could start at third base against a lefty while Bryant is in right or left. Jackson could be the other corner outfielder, or it could be Schwarber. Maybe Bryant remains at third and Denorfia plays one side while Jackson is on the other. Jackson is a center fielder by trade but shouldn’t have a problem moving to a corner if needed. Plus, if Fowler gets banged up again the Cubs have a true center fielder on the team. Again, a lot of it comes down to Bryant.
“I feel so comfortable putting Kris Bryant out there it’s ridiculous,” Maddon said. “I mean you shouldn’t but you do.”
If anything the presence of Jackson could take playing time away from Baez or Starlin Castro, especially if Maddon wants to begin a game with his best defense. That involves Bryant at third base and Jackson somewhere in the outfield, leaving second base to Castro or Baez unless Coghlan sneaks in there because Schwarber is in left.
Confused?
Hopefully, Maddon won’t be as he juggles a roster with just three everyday position players playing in the same spot -- Addison Russell, Fowler and Anthony Rizzo.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
