Building an all-Chicago team with Cubs, Sox players
For the first time in over a decade, there’s real intrigue to the Crosstown Classic.
The Cubs got off to their best start since 1907 this season, and despite an 0-4 stretch sit atop the NL Central at 16-8. The White Sox are 15-11, winners of five straight to get within 1.5 games of first in the AL Central.
The South Siders beefed up their roster over the winter to go along with an impressive group of young talent. The Cubs position player core is intact, and Ian Happ has been one of the game’s best hitters through four weeks.
This is the toughest season in a long while to execute an all-Chicago team with how many positions are close calls. Ahead of Round 1 of the Crosstown Classic, here’s one crack at building a team from the Cubs and White Sox rosters.
Eloy Jimenez and Schwarber are similar offensively, though Schwarber has more experience and gets on base at a higher clip. The deciding factor, though, is the guy everyone loves to call a DH, despite improvement with his glove, is much better defensively.
Yes, you can't ignore what Ian Happ’s done so far this season. But Robert, less than 30 games into his big league career, is a dynamic five-tool talent with the chance to be a superstar. Few rookies receive that kind of label, which speaks to the bright future he has ahead of him.
Heyward is as good as it gets in right field and would make this one of the game’s better defensive outfields. He’s improved at the plate each season in Chicago and has been one of the Cubs top hitters this season. The defense alone makes him an easy choice here.
In conducting this exercise, it felt wrong to leave Bryant off for all that he's accomplished in his five seasons. He's often underrated among others at his position, admittedly a stacked group. An All-Chicago team has to feature a former Rookie of the Year, MVP and three-time All-Star. He's improved defensively at third, too.
Tim Anderson is proving his 2019 season was no fluke. But there are few players who impact a game in as many ways Báez does, from his stellar defense to his elusive baserunning and strong bat. In the golden age for shortstops, Báez is one of the best.
Nick Madrigal has only played a handful of big league games and the Cubs have a platoon going with Jason Kipnis and Nico Hoerner. Is the best second base option here a third baseman? Moncada played second from 2017-18 and busted out for a .315 average with 25 homers and .915 OPS last season. That would play nicely in this lineup.
With due respect to Jose Abreu, Rizzo has been one of the game’s best first baseman since making his Cubs debut in 2012. They have similar offense numbers since 2014 (Abreu's rookie year) but Rizzo is the better all-around player as one of top defensive first basemen, with three Gold Gloves to his name.
Another close call. Grandal is the best pitch framer in baseball and well regarded for his work with the White Sox pitching staff. Willson Contreras is an offensive force and more athletic behind the plate but Grandal is right there with J.T. Realmuto as the top two backstops in the game.
One final close call that easily could have gone to Jimenez or Happ. How about the reigning AL batting champ who's on a tear to open 2020, hitting .379 entering play this weekend? Anderson is 10th in MLB in WAR despite playing just 16 games this season. That's...really good.
There’s plenty of good choices between Kyle Hendricks, Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Jon Lester. Darvish has been on a tear since the start of the second half last season, however: 18 starts, 2.50 ERA and 152 strikeouts to 18 walks. He can shut down a lineup a myriad of ways with his deep arsenal of pitches. As manager David Ross said this week, “he’s a stud.”
Bummer was nasty last season and that has carried over to 2020. His left-handedness makes him valuable, and he's still been pretty damn good against righties the last season-plus. Considering the volatility of relievers, the White Sox locking him up with a multi-year deal in February speaks volumes.
