Chicago Cubs: Position-by-position matchup versus the Indians

Anthony Rizzo versus Mike Napoli

Which team’s first baseman hit more than 30 home runs? Knocked in more than 100 runs? Score more than 90 times? Walked more than 70 times?

The answer: Both teams. The offensive stats are almost even. Almost. The first basemen for both teams produce at a very high level. However, Rizzo holds a large advantage in batting splits (.292/.385/.544 compared to .239/.322/.471) and strikeouts (108 to 194).

We witnessed Rizzo’s struggles in the postseason; however, that changed dramatically thanks to Matt Szczur‘s bat. He finished the NLCS on a 7-for-14 streak with two home runs and five runs batted in. Napoli also struggled this postseason to the tune of hitting .179 with one home run and two knocked in.

It is a close battle, but one area pushes one player over the other. That is batting with men on base. Napoli only hit for a .253 average with men on, and a lower .237 with runners in scoring position. Rizzo was key all season batting .310 and .341 in those respective areas.

Advantage: Cubs

Javier Baez versus Jason Kipnis

Which story do we follow here, the regular season or the postseason? Jason Kipnis is an All-Star in every sense of the word. He scores (91 runs), can hit for power (41 doubles and 23 home runs), and steals bases. Kipnis is crucial to the success of the Indian’s offense.

He is dangerous with men on base and when ahead in the count. But, when pitchers get ahead of him, he struggles. Like Napoli, Kipnis strikes out at a high rate.

With coming to the plate two-thirds of the time as Kipnis, Javier Baez compares well to his counterpart. Both can swipe as bases as needed, and both can hit home runs and doubles.

And both strike out. However, with starting at second base this postseason, Baez has flourished. Hitting .342, with seven runs batted in and scoring seven times, Baez earned NLCS co-MVP honors.

Additionally, with limited time at second base during the season, Baez still prevented identical number of runs from scoring than Kipnis. In the postseason, Baez’s defense saved games.

Advantage: Cubs (by a very slight margin)

Addison Russell versus Francisco Lindor

Two young and impressive shortstops. Both produce offensively and defensively. Let us just look at stats.

Lindor: .301/.358/.435 split, 15 HR, 78 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 99 runs scored. +17 defensive runs saved

Russell: .238/.321/.417 split, 21 HR, 95 RBI, 5 stolen bases, 67 runs scored. +19 defensive runs saved.

You can make an argument for either player based on these numbers, however, the postseason is a different story.

Lindor leads the Cleveland offense charge this postseason, batting .323. Russell struggled. While both knocked in four, Russell scored six times compared to three for Lindor.

Advantage: Draw 

Kris Bryant versus Jose Ramirez

Could there be two players more different than the third basemen for each team? Jose Ramirez hits for average, uses his speed to steal bases, scores runs. Kris Bryant gets hits, drives in runs, and scores.

Ramirez’s best weapon his is speed. Hitting .312 for the regular season, he legged out 46 doubles and swiped 22 bases, scoring 84 runs. While he does not strike out much, he is susceptible to grounding into double plays.

Bryant possesses a combination of getting on base and power. He led the majors with 121 runs scored, hit 39 home runs, and knocked in 102. While Ramirez produces better in his home park, most of Bryant’s offensive prowess was displayed on the road. With home field advantage laying with the Indians, Bryant’s ability to perform on the road is key.

Advantage: Cubs

Ben Zobrist versus Coco Crisp

To be honest, this is a surprise matchup. Neither player started in left field in the regular season on a perpetual basis. However, both were tasked with that job this postseason.

Why? Because both players have extensive postseason experience, including a trip (or two) to the World Series. And, they each have one ring.

That is were the comparisons end.

The man with the best name in baseball, Coco Crisp, is a lifetime outfielder. After 15 MLB seasons, time has slowed him down. Once a stolen base leader, Crisp only swiped 10 bases this year and was caught five times. He hit .231 for the season and scored 54 runs.

Zobrist is only two years younger than Crisp, but his production has yet to slip. The 2016 All-Star batted with greater production this year that in years past. For the first time since 2011, Zobrist scored more than 90 runs and has more than 75 runs batted in.

This postseason, their run production are nearly identical.

Advantage: Cubs

Dexter Fowler versus Tyler Naquin

The veteran versus the rookie. The All-Star versus the New Kid.

The strength of both Fowler and Naquin is their ability to get on base. Fowler is one of the best in the majors, ranking in the top 10 with a .393 on-base percentage. Had Naquin qualified, his .372 OBP would be close to the top 30.

Even so, Fowler’s base running ability allowed him to score 84 runs. And, his switch-hitting skill does not limit him to facing only right handed pitching.

The Cubs are loaded with left-handed pithcers. Naquin has only 40 plate appearances against lefty pitchers. Terry Francona could bring in Brandon Guyer in those situations. Even so, the Cubs pitchers have shown they can handle anything.

Advantage: Cubs

Jason Heyward versus Lonnie Chisenhall

Pick your poison. Do you like offense or defense, because that is the battle here. Maybe.

Offensively, the Indians hold the edge, or do they?

Chisenhall: .286/.328/.439 split, 43 runs scored, 25 doubles, 8 home runs, 57 runs batted in.

Heyward: .230/.306/.325 split, 61 runs scored, 27 doubles, 7 home runs, 49 runs batted in.

So, other than average, the numbers are very similar. At least during the regular season.

Defense? Not even close. Heyward’s 28 defensive runs saved overshadows Chisenhall’s four.

Tiebreaker: Team WAR for this position. (0.4 to -0.3)

Advantage: Cubs 

Rotation versus Roberto Perez

The Cubs feature a three-headed monster at catcher, and all played value able roles this postseason. Combined, the combination for Willson Contreras, David Ross, and Miguel Montero hit three home runs and 10 runs batted in. Montero’s grand slam versus the Los Angeles Dodgers pushed the Cubs to a Game 1 NLCS win. Ross and Contreras can hold runners to bases and prevent steals.

Roberto Perez may have played in 61 games during the season, he started every game during the ALCS. He scored four runs so far this postseason, with a home run as well. But his production does not come close to that of the Cubs’ catchers.

Advantage: Cubs

Conclusion

I know. This is a site dedicated to the Chicago Cubs, and thus, there may be an inherent bias towards our team. Noted. But comparing the stats, is easy to establish which team has an advantage over the other. But, just to further my point, here are the positional WAR stats for each team from Baseball-Reference.com. The number in bold is the higher of the two.

Next: Maddon leads Cubs' to World Series

Indians: First (-0.7), Second (1.7), Third (-0.3), Short (3.3), Left (0.1), Center (-1.0), Right (-0.3), Catcher (-2.9)

Cubs: Frist (4.1), Second (2.1), Third (3.7), Short (2.7), Left (2.0), Center (0.4), Right (0.4), Catcher (0.2) 

There you have it. But, these are just numbers. The World Series is decided on the field.

This is going to be fun!