Chicago Cubs: Looking at past decisions that impacted this year’s team

Chicago Cubs: So what’s the replacement plan?

The Cubs weren’t going to give Fowler the contract he received from the Cardinals. In this sense, it’s unfair to blame the front office for letting him walk. However, their mistake was not having a true contingency plan for his departure.

Schwarber was supposed to be the guy due to his keen eye for the strike zone and ability to get on base. Even then, though, the team was moving one of its sluggers out of an RBI spot. Sure, you can hit home runs anywhere, but Schwarber is better suited in a non-leadoff role.

The Cubs have had three offseasons to find a reliable replacement for Fowler atop the order. In 2019, their leadoff hitters rank dead last in MLB in average and on-base percentage.

Part of this is due to Ben Zobrist — a reliable leadoff option — taking a personal leave of absence this season. Zobrist deserves no scrutiny for stepping away. Had he been with the club all season, though, the Cubs would rank higher in those two categories.

Be that as it may, the leadoff spot has been a position of question for three seasons running. One has to wonder how the Cubs offense would look with an everyday, on-base machine player hitting ahead of the team’s All-Star core.