Levine: Joe Maddon Goes Offense First In Wild-Card Lineup
By Bruce Levine--
PITTSBURGH (CBS) -- The Cubs' lineup for Wednesday night's wild-card game against the Pirates is quintessential Joe Maddon, with many moving parts. Maddon gave a nod to offense first, but if the Cubs get a lead early on the Pirates, Maddon will turn to his defensive team.
The gamble, of course, is whether balls fall in early on rookies Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, who are inexperienced in the outfield. Bryant will play left field, so that Tommy La Stella's bat can get in the lineup at third base, while Schwarber will play right field.
Schwarber will be more of a concern, because he has only played right field a handful of times, all recently. Maddon started grooming the catcher in the outfield from his second week in the major leagues, but the experience had been all in left field.
PNC Park has a quirky outfield that includes the deepest left-center field in baseball, with an irregularly shaped nook as well. The power alley starts at 383 feet and extends to 410 feet in the odd spot. Covering that ground will be a huge challenge for Bryant, who has been up to every challenge that the coaching staff has thrown his way.
The dimensions in right field are much smaller, so the less-fleet-of-foot Schwarber will be asked to roam far less distances. Schwarber has an area from 320 feet down the line to 375 feet in the right-center power alley.
The wild card in the wild-card game is Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler, the only experienced outfielder in the group. His defensive metrics have improved dramatically under Cubs coach Dave Martinez. Fowler will be asked to cover the alleys in the shifts that will be laid out by the number geeks and coaching staff.
Look for Maddon to turn to the defensive-minded Austin Jackson in the outfield and infielder Javier Baez at second base or third base if the game is close and/or the Cubs have the lead late. The game could end up with Bryant back at third base, Baez at second and Jackson in left field.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
