Rizzo did great in the leadoff spot last year, but I don't know what the team's overall performance or record was in those games. It's possible his excellent individual stats were outweighed by losing him in the heart of the order (plus the fact he's the slowest runner in the league).

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The Cubs finished last in leadoff OBP last season.
Rizzo made for an effective leadoff hitter but I'd rather have him in the 3 hole with Bryant leading off. Both have good OBP but I think the better run potential is with Bryant on base and Rizzo at the plate v. Rizzo on base with Bryant at the plate.

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Could be inneresting if Bryant would adjust his extreme uppercut. But that will never happen.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

He has said as much.

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Elections have consequences.

The sabermetrics nerds have done their best to denigrate the effectiveness of a good leadoff hitter, but the Cubs offense really struggles to score runs consistently because they have not developed or signed a good leadoff hitter. A contact guy with speed that works counts would seem to be essential to diversify the Cubs home run or nothing lineup. The one thing all Cubs fans have in common is that they greatly overvalue Cubs players. His stats over past few years show a good, not great player.

They've had a feast or famine offense with no ability to take walks and multi-batter OBP deserts. Leadoff man hasn't really been the problem as much as the other stuff...It's just an excuse.

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All reports point to Bryant leading off, and Rizzo batting 2nd.

Breaking news? Source? I haven't heard this anywhere else.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

One source I immediately came up with is the Chicago Tribune:

Anthony Rizzo is primarily expected to bat second for the Cubs in 2020. We also know that Kris Bryant will begin the year as the team's leadoff hitter. It is clear that new manager David Ross wants to maximize the at bats of his two best hitters. Javier Baez will likely hit third of fourth most days, which gives Chicago a lot of firepower atop their lineup.

Let me be more clear: I was being facetious. There are multiple threads discussing Kris Bryant leading off that were posted Wednesday.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I am aware of this, but did not see anything about Rizzo batting 2nd. Ether way, I posted it, if its irrelevant, then just ignore.

And adding a high OBP leadoff man wouldn't help solve the issue of "multi-batter OBP deserts"?

And adding a high OBP leadoff man wouldn't help solve the issue of "multi-batter OBP deserts"?

That would be wonderful.

Bryant
Rizzo
Baez

No problem

Contreras
Schwarber
JHey
Happ/Almora
Inf 4
Pitcher

Problems

Cubs need 7 pretty solid OBP guys to go anywhere.

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Agreed, it was incredibly frustrating to watch Schwarber, Contreras, Heyward, Happ, and Almora get themselves out by chasing high fastballs last year. The Cubs were pretty easy to pitch to at times because of the complete lack of plate discipline, will Ross get them to take more of a team approach at the plate? How many times last year did these guys fail to make contact with a runner on third and less than two outs? Team will struggle to win 80 games this year unless they take a more disciplined approach at the plate.

This might be the first time in cubbie fan history that they undervalue a white player who came up through their organization.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Yelich extension is 7/188. Bryant has to sign for cheaper than that because he ain’t as good . Give him 7/ 150 see if he bites . Yelich contract is a big L for Bryant .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

I said this last year, KB won't get a 200 million contract, he'll be 29 and he's not as valuable as Yelich.

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Do you think KB is a top 20 position player in MLB?

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I think Yelich's contract is an aberration, and I don't think it signals a downward trend in player salaries. I can understand why Theo might want to offer Bryant 7/150, but he has zero incentive to take that deal. I think his worst case scenario as a free agent is likely higher than that amount.

Maddox comes to mind. Maybe the second....

I disagree , especially if Yelich’s next two years are anything like he’s been putting up ( which Bryant has never approached ) How can Bryant / Boros then go into free agency and say “ yeah we want 7/ 225 or no deal ? Yelich’s deal is a terrible blow to Bryant’s future contract .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Time will obviously tell, but I think Yelich's contract was more about him wanting to stay in Milwaukee, for some unfathomable reason, rather than what he could have gotten on the open market. I would be stunned if Bryant doesn't easily clear 150 million.

I think he is but I can't argue that he has played like one in the last two years.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I think he'll have a solid year but there are so many young guys that are equal or better than him currently. I don't think he'll be a top 25 player this season. I hate his long upper cut swing and he's soft, no tolerance for pain.

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