The big question around baseball is what are the Chicago Cubs going to do with Kyle Schwarber. Well, the Cubs may not be the only ones that need to answer that question; the Cleveland Indians might have to as well.
For Cleveland, the question means figuring a way to get Schwarber out. After being on the disabled list for over six months due to an ACL tear, Schwarber has appeared from nowhere to No. 5 in the Chicago batting order.
In Game 1 of the World Series, Schwarber crushed a double of the wall in right field for the hardest ball the Cubs hit all night. He drew a walk from Andrew Miller the nearly unhittable reliever for the Indians. Nevertheless, the Indians prevailed to take a 1-0 series lead.
For Chicago, the only decision manager Joe Maddon has is how to use Schwarber. The right field situation for the Cubs has become a big mess. Maddon has made Jason Heyward, a $184 million signing, into just a pinch hitter and defensive replacement in the late innings.
The Cubs skipper does not appear to trust any other player on the roster to that position. Chris Coghlan the starter in Game 1 was sitting on the bench again after going hitless.
The big problem for the Cubs is that Schwarber is not cleared by doctors to play in the field. As the series moves to Chicago and Wrigley field and the Cubs face Josh Tomlin who is prone to give up home runs, Schwarber might be forced to sit on the bench, until a pinch-hitting role comes up.
Schwarber could still play if a doctor is willing to clear him to play in left. That would shift Ben Zobrist to right and help the batting order.
The Cubs left fielder has been tough for Cleveland to get out. In his first start in the majors, against the Indians no less, he had four hits as the Cubs routed the Indians 17-0.
In his next start, he had two hits, which included his first major league home run. However, he has had a hard time finding a position to play – 41 games in left, 21 as catcher and four in right field. Yet, he has not played any of those positions well.
In just the second game of the season, it appeared he was lost for the entire year with a torn ACL, but he has appeared from nowhere and created what many call a good problem for Maddon.
