Another way to look at lineup construction is WAR (wins above replacement). The 2013 Cubs were a AAA team by the fact the top offensive WAR players were:
1. Castillo, c 4.4
2. Rizzo, 1b 2.6
3. Navarro, c 2.0
4. Valbuena 3b, 1.6
5. DeJesus, cf 1.6
6. Schierholtz, rf, 1.4
7. Murphy, 3b, 1.0
8. Ransom, lf, 0.9
It shows what a mess the Cubs were last year when the third best player is a back up catcher, and a late season off the scrap heap journeyman infielder is your 7th best player.
If one believes WAR path to line up construction, last year's line up would have been:
1. Castillo, c 4.4
2. Rizzo, 1b 2.6
3. Valbuena, 3b 1.6
4. DeJesus, cf 1.6
5. Schierholtz, rf, 1.4
6. Soriano, lf, 0.8
7. Barney, 2b negative 0.5
8. Castro, ss negative 0.6.
