Before the Mets pulverized the Cubs in the NLCS, there was legitimate debate over whether the hottest hitter in baseball was Mets 2B Daniel Murphy or Cubs OF Kyle Schwarber. The hulking Cubs left fielder was crushing balls out of the park much like Murphy, and in the case of a moon shot in Game 5 of the NLDS, he even called it.
Schwarber’s postseason is over now. He slashed .333/.419/.889 with five home runs and eight RBI. And yet, in a recent article on Grantland, a scout referred to Schwarber as “unplayable.”
3 Reasons Donnie Baseball Isn't To Blame For Dodgers NLDS Flameout
The scout was referring to Schwarber’s performance defensively in left field. He committed a slew of costly blunders, and in myriad ways. He muffed fly balls, dove at balls that got by him, or let batted balls bang off his wrist. Even when he caught the ball he seemed very unsure of himself. For all the power he brought to the table, he was a clear liability with the glove, and playing in the National League, manager Joe Maddon couldn’t hide him.
“He can’t read fly balls, he has a slow first step (and all subsequent ones too), poor instincts,” the scout said. “Just looks bad out there on every single play. Adam Dunn–ish … or even worse. He will always be one of the worst OFs in the league if he stays there.
How Does Murphy's 2015 Postseason Compare To Carlos Beltran's 2004?
“Right now he is a disaster with the glove in the OF. Unplayable at present.”
The Cubs have a lot to think about then. Schwarber at the plate projects to be an absolute star. He smacked 16 home runs in 69 regular season games this year, and tore up the minor leagues before his call-up. At 23, he’s one of MLB’s brightest hitting prospects. Players like this simply do not get traded, but for the Cubs, the haul could be great enough to consider it.
If Schwarber is removed from the picture, the Cubs’ lineup remains fully stocked with young talent. Anthony Rizzo (26) is still at first base, Kris Bryant (23) is at third, Starlin Castro (25) and Addison Russell (21) up the middle, and Jorge Soler (23) in right. This group of players was mowed down by four Mets pitchers, all under 28, and the Cubs might want a piece of that kind of action.
Would Theo Epstein rule out making some probing phone calls to the Yankees about right-handed ace Luis Severino? A package from the Red Sox around Eduardo Rodriguez? Maybe the Cubs ask for two or three prospects close to MLB-ready, but in any case, Schwarber’s offensive potential will make any American League club at least think long and hard about parting with some pitching.
It’s not like the Cubbies couldn’t have used it.
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
