Chicago Cubs: Like Alex Rodriguez, Kris Bryant Puts Fear into a Lineup
There are some hitters who just “look” like hitters. And when they step up to the plate, by their very stature they put the fear of God into a pitcher. Alex Rodriguez, even in the twilight of his career, was that kind of a player. And in the infancy of his career, so is Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs.
The first time I saw Josh Hamilton play in a ballgame was around 10 years ago when he was trying to resurrect his career playing for the Class A affiliate Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay). I didn’t know the full story at the time (drug issues), but I did know this. This guy was chiseled in muscle and he looked like he could swing with one hand with more authority than most… and that he was destined for big things.
And when you go back in baseball history, it gets interesting as to which power hitters instill fear in a lineup and those who do not, despite their prowess for hitting for power. For example (and open to arguments of course), Roger Maris at 6’0″ 200 lbs and Hank Aaron at 6’0″ and only 180 lbs did not provide the same impact as a Giancarlo Stanton, who steps in at 6’6″ and 245 lbs. It’s not real, but it’s part of the mental side of baseball. And as Yogi Berra taught us, “90% of this game is mental, and the other half is physical.”
Hitters Who Can Change a Lineup
When he was with the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez changed the dynamics of the entire lineup because you knew what he could do, even if he didn’t. Kris Bryant at 6’5″ 230 lbs acts in the same way in the lineup of the Chicago Cubs. And while his 39 home runs this season speak for themselves, it’s the genuine fear that he could hit another one on any pitch and on any count that changes everything for a pitcher.
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And it doesn’t matter that, much like Alex Rodriguez, he strikes out three of every 10 times he comes to the plate. Because the other side of the coin is that pitchers don’t want to pitch to him. And that has resulted in a .425 OBP and four runs scored over five games in the NLCS.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers don’t have that kind of presence in their lineup. Who do you not want to see at the plate in a tight situation? Adrian Gonzalez, who’s hitting .222 with two home runs in the postseason?
So, it’s an advantage to have guys like Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, who also has that menacing look at the plate and has 32 home runs to back it up. It’s just another compelling aspect of the differences between the two teams playing in the NLCS this year. The Cubs have that element of fear in their lineup. But the Dodgers just might be able to do it with guys of less “stature” at the plate like Corey Seager and Justin Turner.
Next: Tigers 2016 Season Review
We’ll find out Saturday night beginning at 8:07 PM ET when the first pitch is thrown at Wrigley Field, as Clayton Kershaw tries to stem the tide of the Cubs’ march to the Fall Classic and a date with the Cleveland Indians.