SAN FRANCISCO -- Roster flexibility was a storyline for the Chicago Cubs on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants as manager Joe Maddon started a completely different outfield from the night before while Kyle Schwarber began the game at catcher for the first time in three weeks.
“I know it looks awkward from a distance, but internally it’s not that bad,” Maddon said of all the changes.
Kris Bryant started in right field for the first time while bench guy Jonathan Herrera got the nod at third base. With an ailing Dexter Fowler -- he’s day-to-day after a negative X-ray on his shin -- Matt Sczcur took over in center with Chris Denorfia in left.
Things are jumbled with Jorge Soler out of the lineup and Fowler banged up, so Maddon managed as best he could. But the elephant in the room -- especially if you follow social media -- is Bryant’s presence in the outfield. Could he play more out there in September when 2011 first-round pick Javier Baez joins the team? Maddon says yes -- sort of.
“Just to try and get certain bats involved against certain pitchers,” he said. “I’m not opposed to doing any of that stuff.”
The point is the Cubs aren’t planning for anything except their guys getting healthy but if a new addition or even bench player starts hitting, they are prepared for movement around the diamond. Baez has played second, short and third this year for Triple-A Iowa so he’s also ready for anything. After Thursday’s start in right field, Bryant has played in all three outfield spots this season.
“The fact that he’s comfortable and amenable to all that stuff makes it easier,” Maddon said of Bryant.
It gives Maddon flexibility but even so, moving players around the diamond isn’t ideal. Fowler’s injury hurt them as there were at least two plays to be made in center that weren’t against the Giants this week, while Schwarber’s rare start behind the plate had a rough moment when he threw a ball into center field. The runner eventually scored.
The catch-22 for Baez is finding those at-bats to earn more playing time. He might get a start as it’s needed, then if he has a big day at the plate he becomes a bigger thought for Maddon, just as Starlin Castro was earlier this week. After earning three hits on Tuesday, he was back in the lineup again on Wednesday.
Maddon has a lot to balance in the final weeks of the season, making sure he has enough defense while playing the hot bats. The Cubs don’t have a set 1-8 (or 9) and that can be a good thing, but it’s up to the manager to maximize the talent.
