Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora continues to hit, provide stellar defense

Chicago Cubs: Mix-and-match doesn’t matter to Almora

Far more often than not, if Albert Almora starts, he bats leadoff. It’s a spot that seems to suit him well, too.

In 128 plate appearances as the team’s table setter, Almora carries a .339/.378/.424 line this season. Maybe you’d like to see more separation between his average and on-base clip, but neither are even remotely close to being a concern. An inability to draw walks consistently remain present in his game, but he’s overcome it – thanks largely in part to a staggering .421 BAbip.

League average for that measure usually sits around the .300 mark. So you might be right in assuming Almora has had some luck in there, too. But, regardless of how he’s doing it, he continues to get on base (mostly via base hits) 200 at-bats into the season.

When he’s not in the leadoff spot, he’s hit well pretty much everywhere Maddon pencils him in. The lone exception to that rule? The nine-hole. He carries a dismal .238 OBP in 15 games as the nine hitter. The logic behind that is anybody’s guess – but you could point to a .176 BAbip out of that spot in the order. That’s a pretty stark contrast from the aforementioned .421 clip as the leadoff hitter.

Chicago Cubs: Outfield defense much improved with Almora in center

Now, talking about Albert Almora’s offense, we delved a bit more into metrics. But with his defense, a simple eye test does a lot. This guy utilizes his tremendous athletic ability to not only get to balls most wouldn’t – but also make the catch.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

Even trailing late Sunday to the Cardinals, Almora laid out and made a spectacular grab in the eighth – just the latest evidence of his defensive gifts. But what I personally like even more than these highlight reel grabs is the overall quality of the Chicago outfield with him in center field.

We all know what Jason Heyward is in right field. Simple. He’s the best right fielder in the game. A perfect combination of athleticism, arm strength and pure instinct, Heyward saves more runs than folks realize with his defense – even when he’s struggled at the dish. Pairing him with Almora on that side of the outfield certainly puts the Cubs in an enviable position.

But even when you switch over to left field, where guys like Kyle Schwarber take most of the reps, there’s a tremendous advantage to having his improved defensive ability side-by-side with Almora, who ranks well above league average in terms of most metrics.

Again, this is mostly eye test feedback. And I’m sure I’ll catch some flak for that – but sometimes, watching a guy on a daily basis tells you just as much as numbers. Albert Almora is one of those guys.

Chicago Cubs: We’re looking at a long-term answer in center field

He played a critical, underrated role in the team’s first World Series title in 108 years. Then, he followed it up with a robust performance last season while many of his teammates took steps in the wrong direction.

Albert Almora knows what he must do to stay in the lineup. And, at least thus far, he continues to do these things (rack up base hits, play solid defense) on a night-in and night-out basis. He’s probably never going to be a 20-homer guy atop the lineup. But, with the power that follows in the Cubs’ order, he doesn’t need to be.

Next: ICYMI: Cubs finding ways to win without the long-ball this year

His skillset is a nice throwback to the outfielders of yesteryear. These guys weren’t concerned with hitting home runs or padding stats. Albert Almora has one concern: helping his Chicago Cubs win – from late March till late September, with an eye on more October glory.