We do not know what more Albert Almora can do to secure a starting job.
Last night, Almora became the first Cubs player to drive in six runs during a game
he did not start since Mandy Brooks did it at Philadelphia on Aug. 25,
1925.
The 2017 Cubs have been marred by the lack of scoring and lapses in defense. A solution to part of those woes has been sitting on the bench for most of the season.
Almora is the best defensive center fielder on the team. But he has been used in 117 games as mostly a defensive replacement.
Almora stat line: 270 AB, 34 R, .285 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 1 SB, .330 OBP, 0.8 WAR.
But Joe Maddon has preferred to put infielder Ian Happ in the outfield.
Happ's stat line: 321 AB, 51 R, .255 BA, 22 HR, 56 RBI, 8 SB, .329 OBP, 1.5 WAR (-0.2 dWAR).
Happ has more versatility by playing both outfield and infield positions. He is also a switch hitter with power.
But Maddon used to preach defense as a means of winning. That is why he continues to play Heyward in RF even during his batting slumps.
Maddon made the choice of power over defense with Happ over Almora.
The best defensive outfield Maddon could put on the field is Jay in LF, Almora in CF and Heyward in RF. The best power outfield is Schwarber, Happ and Zobrist. Maddon has been mixing and matching all season to find some sort of balance.
The Cubs will have some tough choices in the off-season. The farm system has no real premium assets to trade for missing pieces for 2018 (starting pitching, back up catcher, closer, bullpen arms). Someone from the current major league roster will have to be dealt.
Kyle Schwarber falls in and out of favor. He is hitting just above .200 with power numbers. But he is still a defensive liability in LF and he has not returned to catching since his serious knee injury. Most scouts believe he is destined to be a DH in the American League. But the front office loves "their guys" and Schwarber is one of their guys.
So is Happ and Almora, both first rounders. Maybe in the post-season line up where defense is valued more, both Happ and Almora will be starters. But it is doubtful. If Russell comes back, he will start at short and Baez will move to second (blocking Happ from his natural position). That would move Happ to the outfield, to displace Schwarber (doubtful because of his post-season heroics) or to start in center over Jay and Almora.
No matter what happens this year, Almora has great value being some team's starting center fielder in 2018.
