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Chicago Cubs: Pros and cons of Kyle Schwarber leading off

By Erik Mauro |
May 5, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Dexter Fowler was a catalyst for the Chicago Cubs in the leadoff spot for two seasons.  In 2017, the Cubs had to replace him.  The first option Joe Maddon turned to, without hesitation, was Kyle Schwarber.  There are both good and bad to having Schwarber lead off.  What are some of these pros and cons?

Pros

  • On base percentage:  Perhaps the most important quality of a lead off hitter, is their ability to get on base.  Schwarber is good at getting on base, over the course of his short career, Schwarber’s OBP is .334, to go along with a .764 OPS.  Schwarber has a fantastic approach up there at the plate, and it is one that should be able to stick in the leadoff spot long term, should the Cubs choose to leave him there.
  • Pitch count: Another good quality of Schwarber leading off, is that he will see pitches.  Schwarber will almost always work the count and get a good scouting report on the pitcher for the rest of the guys in the lineup.  Currently, Schwarber is averaging 4.35 pitches per plate appearance, good enough for 10th in all of baseball.  The league average is 3.89 P/PA, so, Schwarber is seeing more than enough pitches to suffice as a good enough lead off hitter.

    • Home run potential:

    It’s always nice to jump out to an early lead.  Schwarber has the chance every time he comes to the plate to lead off a game to give the Cubs an early lead with one swing of the bat.  That’s a rare commodity to have in a leadoff hitter and one quality that can not be understated.

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    Schwarber brings some good things to the plate as a leadoff hitter.  But, on the other hand, there are some negatives that have been found with Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff spot for the Cubs.

    Cons

  •  Strikeout rate: For as much as Schwarber will work the count and walk, he will also strike out just as much.  Currently, Schwarber is striking out at a rate of 28.2%.  That’s the same rate that he had in 2015, his rookie campaign.  Schwarber is making contact at a rate of 76.1%.  That’s the highest rate of his young career so far, actually.  However, that’s a tad low for a lead off hitter.  Then again, Schwarber doesn’t fit the mold of the conventional lead off hitter.  Is anything the Cubs do conventional, though?

    • Low batting average:

    Yes, in this day and age, batting average is pretty much becoming obsolete.  But, Schwarber’s is currently under .200, which is not good for the lead off spot.  However, Schwarber’s OBP is about 120 points higher than his batting average, and that will be enough 10 out of 10 times.  Everything about Schwarber’s peripherals suggests he’s going to come out of this slump soon, and he has shown signs of coming out of it recently, over the past week or so.

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    • Missing a big bat in the middle of the lineup: This is a minuscule thing, but the Cubs can afford to get away with it.  Schwarber’s bat profiles as a 4 or 5 hitter in any lineup, so, having him first may leave a team without a big bopper in the middle of the order.    The Cubs have Rizzo, Zobrist, Russell, Contreras, etc.  The Cubs can afford to get away with Schwarber leading off.  This could be viewed as a positive in some light because it gives more pop inn the top of the order due to the depth that the Cubs have.
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