The Chicago Cubs aren’t playing a regular-season baseball game tonight at Wrigley Field, but they’re not fighting either, so I’LL TAKE IT PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
Here’s the Cubs’ first legitimate lineup we’ve seen since March 11. I’m dizzy
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Kris Bryant, 3B
2. Jason Kipnis, DH
3. Javy Baez, SS
4. Kyle Schwarber, LF
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Victor Caratini, 1B
8. Nico Hoerner, 2B
9) Albert Almora Jr., CF Ian Happ, CF
This is actually quite a revealing lineup, considering everything. As we know, manager David Ross is still contemplating his split play time at second base for 2020, deciding between veteran Jason Kipnis and rookie Nico Hoerner. And in his first real summer camp exhibition lineup, he found a way to get the two of them there against the White Sox.
Hoerner, who has the best glove, takes the position on the field, while Kipnis, who probably has the best bat (at least against the right-handers in the short term) takes the place of Anthony Rizzo as the first left-hander in the lineup behind Leader Kris Bryant Victor Caratini, meanwhile, covers Rizzo’s place at first base, and everyone else lines up.
(UPDATE: see below. Happ is now in CF) However, there is a large part of the consequences: with Caratini taking over as designated hitter, Kyle Schwarber is still in left field, which has pushed Ian Happ to the bench as Albert Almora Jr. serves center. This is not a regular season game, so I won’t read too much about it, but this is clearly a group of beginners and there are only two Summer Camp games left. He’s all the stranger with a right, Drew Anderson, taking the mound for the White Sox (Almora is historically much weaker against RHP). Again, I don’t want to go too deep into this right now, it legitimately couldn’t mean anything, but it certainly stands out, given our expectations for center field and the way Happ finished last season and produced in the spring.
We’ll have a full Pre-Gamin ‘post closer to game time (7:05 CT). It is good to be back.
UPDATE: I’m completely sure why, but Albert Almora has been scrapped in favor of Ian Happ, who takes over CF and is ninth. According to Jordan Bastian, Almora is fine, this is just an “alignment adjustment”, which I don’t fully understand.
Ian Happ will start at CF tonight, actually. pic.twitter.com/amQKSXYiQt
– Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 19, 2020
