David Ross wasted no time in naming Kris Bryant the Cubs’ leadoff hitter for 2020, a decision that was as much about timing as it was talent. Knowing how badly the team had struggled to squeeze even mediocre production from the top spot in recent seasons, Ross wanted to put a capable hitter there. But having seen how several otherwise capable hitters had previously failed, the manager wanted to give Bryant plenty of time to adjust to the role.
For a sport that is rooted in the quantifiable certainty of statistics, with new and more accurate numbers added every day, baseball remains a mental game.