Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs’ number two hitter (which is accurate in metaphorical terms as well), is batting .173 with a .283 wOBA. Yet Joe Maddon likes what he sees from the hulking slugger. Specifically, the eccentric t-shirt magnate appreciates War Bear’s plate appearances when he works counts and raises the pitch counts of opposing pitchers.
Before Tuesday’s game in beautiful San Diego, the Chicago media asked Maddon whether he would move Schwarber down in the order in similar fashion to what he did with Jason Heyward last year. Maddon went on to explain that, unlike Schwarber, Heyward had real mechanical flaws that needed to be addressed.