%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201092.7%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201092.7%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23293576%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23C82C2D%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%2256.8%2C78.5%2073.1%2C78.5%2085.5%2C78.5%2085.5%2C36.3%2085.5%2C0%2068.8%2C0%2064.9%2C6.2%2063.3%2C8.7%2052%2C0%2025.5%2C0%2021.8%2C3.8%20%0A%09%092%2C23.8%202%2C176.2%2025%2C200%2061.5%2C200%2085.5%2C176.2%2085.5%2C121.5%2056.8%2C121.5%2056.8%2C176.2%2039.5%2C176.2%2039.5%2C32.4%2039.5%2C23.8%2056.8%2C23.8%2056.8%2C57.2%20%0A%09%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22143.9%2C104.2%20143.9%2C48.1%20143.9%2C24.2%20152.1%2C24.2%20153.2%2C24.2%20153.2%2C0%20152.1%2C0%20106.8%2C0%2093.9%2C0%2093.9%2C24.2%20%0A%09%09106.7%2C24.2%20106.7%2C63.4%20106.7%2C116.9%20106.7%2C175.8%20130.4%2C200%20169.2%2C200%20183%2C184.8%20191.2%2C175.8%20191.2%2C146.2%20191.2%2C96.1%20191.2%2C24.2%20%0A%09%09201.4%2C24.2%20201.4%2C0%20163.7%2C0%20158.7%2C0%20158.7%2C24.2%20163.7%2C24.2%20169.2%2C24.2%20169.2%2C75.2%20169.2%2C127.8%20169.2%2C174.1%20169.2%2C175.8%20%0A%09%09143.9%2C175.8%20143.9%2C152.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M220.3%2C168v8.3h-10.5V200h62.1h12.7l28.5-23.8v-66l-5.2-5.1l-7.8-7.6l7.8-7.8l2.5-2.5V60V25.7%0A%09%09c0%2C0.7-8.6-7.9-25.7-25.7h-43H230h-20.2v23.8h10.5v96.7V168z%20M257.5%2C23.8h22.2v60.5h-22.2V23.8z%20M257.5%2C110.3h22.2v50.2v15.8h-22.2%0A%09%09v-29.4V110.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M331.9%2C176.2h-10.5v6V200h42.8h21.4h10.5l1-0.9l27.4-22.9v-56.9v-9.1l-13-12.8l10.3-10.2V25.7%0A%09%09c0%2C0.7-8.6-7.9-25.7-25.7h-74.8v23.8h10.5V45V176.2z%20M391.4%2C176.2h-5.8h-16.5v-66h22.2v17.9V176.2z%20M369.2%2C23.8h22.2v60.5H376h-6.9%0A%09%09v-5.6V23.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22443.3%2C175.8%20433%2C175.8%20433%2C200%20463.5%2C200%20475%2C200%20489.5%2C200%20489.5%2C175.8%20480%2C175.8%20480%2C147.6%20%0A%09%09480%2C25.5%20489.5%2C25.5%20489.5%2C0%20433%2C0%20433%2C25.5%20443.3%2C25.5%20443.3%2C130.4%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22505.6%2C175.8%20497.9%2C175.8%20497.9%2C200%20541.3%2C200%20552.9%2C200%20583.6%2C200%20595.1%2C187.7%20595.1%2C153.9%20%0A%09%09595.1%2C140.7%20566.9%2C140.7%20566.9%2C159.5%20566.9%2C175.8%20542.6%2C175.8%20542.6%2C160.5%20542.6%2C115.8%20556.6%2C115.8%20556.6%2C133%20580.1%2C133%20%0A%09%09580.1%2C67.7%20556.6%2C67.7%20556.6%2C85%20542.6%2C85%20542.6%2C25.5%20566.9%2C25.5%20566.9%2C60.8%20595.1%2C60.8%20595.1%2C0%20497.9%2C0%20497.9%2C25.5%20505.6%2C25.5%20%0A%09%09505.6%2C155.6%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22682.8%2C73.5%20682.8%2C0%20669.5%2C0%20659%2C5.5%20652.7%2C0%20627.3%2C0%20603.5%2C24.2%20603.5%2C91.7%20628.1%2C116.2%20654.3%2C116.2%20%0A%09%09654.3%2C128.5%20654.3%2C176.2%20630.8%2C176.2%20630.8%2C140.6%20630.8%2C128.7%20604.5%2C128.7%20604.5%2C151%20604.5%2C200%20619.1%2C200%20625%2C200%20629.8%2C195.2%20%0A%09%09630.7%2C195.9%20637%2C200%20666.3%2C200%20687.5%2C176.2%20687.5%2C107.3%20687.5%2C106.8%20667%2C83%20635.5%2C83%20635.5%2C24.2%20656.8%2C24.2%20656.8%2C73.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22774%2C78.5%20774.8%2C78.5%20786.4%2C78.5%20802.8%2C78.5%20802.8%2C0.7%20802.8%2C0%20786%2C0%20780.5%2C8.7%20769.3%2C0%20742.8%2C0%20%0A%09%09719.3%2C23.8%20719.3%2C83.3%20719.3%2C176.2%20739%2C196.6%20742.3%2C200%20778.8%2C200%20802.8%2C176.2%20802.8%2C167%20802.8%2C121.5%20786.4%2C121.5%20774.8%2C121.5%20%0A%09%09774%2C121.5%20774%2C176.2%20756.8%2C176.2%20756.8%2C50.3%20756.8%2C23.8%20774%2C23.8%20774%2C33.1%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M821.4%2C176.2h-10.2V200h11.2h45.8v-23.8h-6.5h-3v-65h5.5h11.7v7.6v47.7v9.7l14.7%2C23.3l0.3%2C0.4h25.2v-19v-4.8%0A%09%09h-5.5V140v-25.6l-13.3-13.3l-0.2-0.2l2.2-1.5l11.3-7.8v-2.5V24.2L882.4%2C0h-18.2h-11.6h-41.5v24.2h10.2v132.1V176.2z%20M858.7%2C24.2%0A%09%09h5.5h12.5V87h-12.5h-5.5V24.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22934.8%2C166.2%20934.8%2C175.8%20924.5%2C175.8%20924.5%2C200%20981%2C200%20981%2C175.8%20971.5%2C175.8%20971.5%2C133.1%20%0A%09%09971.5%2C81.9%20971.5%2C25.5%20981%2C25.5%20981%2C9.1%20981%2C0%20942%2C0%20930.5%2C0%20924.5%2C0%20924.5%2C25.5%20930.5%2C25.5%20934.8%2C25.5%20934.8%2C119%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1089.9%2C87.2V25.7c0%2C0.6-6.4-5.8-19.3-19c-2-2.1-4.2-4.3-6.5-6.7h-31h-43.7v23.8h10.5v24.2v55.5v72.8h-10.5%0A%09%09V200h74.8l28.5-23.8v-66l-13-12.8L1089.9%2C87.2z%20M1059.4%2C176.2h-22.2v-66h22.2V176.2z%20M1059.4%2C84.2h-22.2V57.5V23.8h22.2V25V84.2z%22%0A%09%09%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Chicago Cubs: Will Anthony Iapoce bring in big-time star power?
Back in the warm arms of launch angle data, the Chicago Cubs offense and hitting coach Anthony Iapoce could add some big-time power this winter.
Derived from his past philosophy and practice, new Chicago Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce is a lot more like John Mallee than Chili Davis. His former stint with the team and his tutelage and friendship with the former Cubs and current Phillies hitting coach suggests Iapoce is more of a ‘three true outcomes’ kind of guy rather than a spray it all over the field fellow.
While there certainly are elements of both philosophies you’d like your team to be able to execute, regardless of personnel or talent, it certainly makes sense to tailor your coach to your team at hand. That, of course, includes any potential future additions.
Also, given the fact the front office clearly believes last year’s offensive performance won’t cut it, it seems as though Davis, or, at the very least, his message, didn’t take.
Enter Iapoce.
Here’s a guy who spent three years with the Cubs at the onset of the rebuild (2013 to 2015) and knows most of the young core the Cubs would like to see succeed in a big way in 2019. He also seems to mesh with the great majority of players (and the front office).
This mantra seemed to deviate a bit from the success of 2016 and 2017. Home runs were down and it seemed as if many of the players were sapped of their power, in general. Even Anthony Rizzo, the model of consistency the previous four years, experienced a bit of a power shortage and a huge slump to start the season that undoubtedly hampered much of the offense.
Chicago Cubs: Is Iapoce the golden goose?
But, really, what fans want to know is: Does this hire make it more or less likely that we land one of the two young blockbuster megastars in free agency this offseason? The answer is filled with rampant speculation and myriad variables, so let’s break it down.
More from Cubbies Crib
- 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
- Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are the two belles of the ball and prizes of the coming winter Ned Stark warned us all about. This long winter could certainly be made warmer with a few acquisitions (either via trade or free agency), but it’s unclear which way the front office might go.
If they do go the route of hefty price tag megastar, it would seem that one of the two would mesh really well with Iapoce’s hitting philosophy, and one wouldn’t quite so much. (Just sticking to sheer offensive ability and style here; not factoring in defense at all, which I concede might be a determining factor in the choice as well).
Manny Machado is a really good hitter. His lifetime slash line sits at .282/.335/.487. He walks a fair amount (and is getting better at it) and hits lots of doubles and home runs.
His lifetime ISO (isolated power; suggesting how hard and how many extra base hits he has and will hit) is .204; good, but not elite (Anthony Rizzo‘s lifetime ISO is .214, by comparison). Machado also seems to be trending in the right direction as he heads toward the prime of his career, as his 2018 season (still ongoing with the Dodgers in the NLCS) has been his best yet. Seems like a good candidate for someone like Iapoce to work with and sit in the middle of the Cubs lineup, right?
Chicago Cubs: Bryant’s best friend? Makes sense to me.
Bryce Harper is also a really good hitter. His lifetime slash sits at .279/.388/.512. He walks a ton (and is also getting better at it). He hits a bunch of doubles and home runs, too. His lifetime ISO is .233 (a notch above the Cubs’ best power guy, Kris Bryant, who rests at .230 lifetime).
More from Cubbies Crib
- 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
- Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
And, while most critics and fans would say Harper had a down year, he did lead the league with 130 walks and still posted a .889 OPS. If that’s his down year out of every three, it’s more than palatable. It seems as though Harper would be a good candidate to work with Iapoce and slot into the Cubs lineup as well.
So, which one would be better? Looking at the one number that Iapoce, the Cubs, and really, all of analytic baseball, seem to value most, OPS, it certainly seems one has a massive edge in the past and going forward. Comparing Machado’s OPS and Harper’s OPS over the course of their careers so far gives you the picture that one is a really good hitter and one is an elite hitter.
Machado sits at .822 and Harper sits at .900; in other words, the .078 difference is about the same difference between Machado and Jason Heyward (lifetime .753). Yikes. We all love Heyward’s defense and his strides at the plate were somewhat promising in 2018, but man. Jason Heyward is not an elite hitter by any stretch of the imagination and that’s essentially the difference you’re talking about when you look at Harper vs. Machado offensively.
Chicago Cubs: Do you have a preference yet?
Where do we go from here? Which is the way that’s clear? We’re still lookin’ for that blue pinstriped ballplayer that will be the prettiest we’ve ever seen. We’re also hoping we see them swing and make Wrigley shake on the TV screen come next October.
It won’t be Jimmy Dean. It might be Manny Machado. It’s likelier it will be Bryce Harper. With Anthony Iapoce now in the fold as hitting coach, both would likely be great additions to the offense, but Harper would seem to fit seamlessly into what the Cubs have been all about during the last few years. It’s just a question of whether or not they want to spend the money at this point.
Next. A Hickey is ALWAYS better than lukewarm Chili. dark
Regardless of free agent signings or megastars coming to Chicago, the hope is that Iapoce will lead the Cubs he knows and previously worked with (Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Albert Almora and Javier Baez), with whoever is brought in for 2019 back to the Promised Land and the previously reached heights of the 2016 offense.