Happ or PCA? Cubs’ lineup decision looms as star rookie shines |
Anthony Pasquale
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- 5 hours ago
On the heels of the Cubs’ first sweep of the season, discourse about the team’s future at the top of the lineup has begun, thanks to a stellar showing from Pete Crow-Armstrong during MLB’s rivalry weekend.
In three games against the Chicago White Sox, PCA accounted for 12 runs (8 RBI, four runs) and was 8-14, including a home run, a double, and two triples. His stardom is continuing to rise, and the league is taking notice. He leads the National League in WAR through 48 games, with 3.1. Since Ian Happ went down with an injury during the Mets series about 10 days ago, PCA has spent the last eight games in the leadoff spot and has been a difference maker. In 36 plate appearances at the top of the order, the second-year pro slashes an absurd .353/.361/.765. The Cubs’ offense has been potent all season, but with PCA at the top, the Cubs' offense has averaged over six runs per game. That is not a knock on Happ; he is a strong leadoff hitter in his own right. The Cubs were 22-17 in the 39 games in which Happ led off. It’s a larger sample size than PCA’s eight-game spurt, and Happ has performed admirably. The 30-year-old is hitting .269 and getting on base at a .364 clip. There are reasons to like both players at the top of the order. Happ provides the veteran presence you want to start games. He sees more pitches than anybody on the team and has an excellent eye, often setting the table for Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki to drive him in. He also has above-average power and speed, so that he can create some offense on his own. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a bit less disciplined at the plate — only 14 walks in 48 games — but the reward is an absolute spark plug. PCA is on pace for over 40 home runs and 40 steals, so anytime the ball is put in play, it is a threat for the opponent. Thanks to the protection that run producers like Tucker and Suzuki have offered him in his leadoff stint, PCA has been a chaos producer at the top of the order. But now, as Happ is set to be reactivated from the injured list, Craig Counsell and the Cubs are faced with a decision to make. The likely outcome, especially since Happ has not batted anywhere else this season, is to return Happ to the leadoff spot. But even then, does that mean the Cubs put their player on pace for a 40/40 season in the 6 or 7 hole? Do the Cubs experiment with Happ leading off and PCA batting second, or vice versa? Does Happ leadoff vs lefties and PCA vs righties? We’ll see. It seems foolish not to have Pete Crow-Armstrong bat as much as possible, simply because of how much of a threat he is in the box and on the bases. He is currently the player that people are coming to the ballpark or turning on the TV to see. If that is your logic, keeping PCA near the top of the order makes sense. Happ has historically gotten on base at an elite clip, but also displayed last year that he can be a run producer as he knocked in a career high 86 runs, so he could hit 4th or 5th if need be. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, but Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said that the Cubs have "two really good options" at the top of the order in Happ and PCA.
