Chicago Cubs Jason Heyward has a chance–if he gets out off leadoff

The Chicago Cubs Jason Heyward has a chance if he only he ‘breaks out’ out of the leadoff spot

Let’s face it. The Chicago Cubs Jason Heyward doesn’t like leadoff. He despises it. Still, Joe Maddon put them there, because there were ‘no other options.’ There were other options. But Heyward was a scapegoat, as mentioned below.

So would you, Joe Maddon, subject Heyward to this instead of spots two through eighth? It doesn’t make sense. Still, Maddon still threw him out there for 147 plate appearances. The result? A .147 average, with all the numbers lower than the ‘not leadoff’ numbers.

Source: FanGraphs

So why would Maddon leadoff occasionally? Well, he had  ‘no choice.’ Seriously? Look, I never realized that the numbers were so skewed. I thought it was near .250, give or take. I had no idea it was under .150. And the WAR numbers for defense? Pretty sketchy if I’m honest.

In 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals–the prior season the Cubs picked him up–he had a 6.6 WAR. In Brian Mischler’s post,  he doesn’t feel like that is possible. Matter fact, neither do I. But I digress. It’s a high number, higher than you think.

Since then, he’s had a WAR of 1.3, 2.2, 1.6 and 2.0. He’s played ‘out of position’ for most of Cubs’ career. Maddon played him out of position and hurt his WAR totals. Try this: Look to play him 40 games in right field, give or take.  Then you can see how it pans out. I’ll tell you this–I think he’ll be a 3.0 WAR or above. I’m calling my shot.

Heyward can be the defensive threat that he needs to be. But he needs to be the offensive threat he’s become–two through eighth. Period. A .286 average looks better than a .147 average. I am just saying.

Heyward has become a solid player–if not in the leadoff spot. And for some reason, he makes more errors in centerfield than in rightfield. No reason. Just does. If not for that first season (10 games, zero errors), he’s committed more errors in the later years.

Heyward needs to stay in right and see where he goes. I feel like it’s going to be beneficial for David Ross.