Ben Zobrist Archives - Baseball Essential

Who Should Hit Leadoff for the Cubs?

Feb 8, 2017

The Chicago Cubs' biggest loss this offseason was Dexter Fowler. They have depth and can replace him and they’ll still be good, but the biggest question for them now is who is going to be their leadoff hitter? ...

Zobrist Has a New Coat of Many Colors

Michael Dittelman

Apr 13, 2016

Chicago Cubs

As the story goes, technicolor dreamcoats come in red and yellow and green and brown and scarlet and black and ochre and peach … and blue. For ballplayers, the uniform they wear is also somewhat of a dreamcoat,...

Ben Zobrist’s Versatility Softens the Blow of Kyle Schwarber’s Injury

Gabriel Bogart

Apr 11, 2016

Chicago Cubs, Features, Headlines, Opinions & Predictions

Even if you're a St. Louis Cardinals or Pittsburgh Pirates fan, you cringed at Kyle Schwarber's injury. Nobody wants to see players go down with what could potentially be a career-threatening injury. At least, ...

Chicago Cubs: An Offseason Report Card

David N. Wilson

Feb 14, 2016

Chicago Cubs, Features, Opinions & Predictions

David Banks - Getty Images North America Sitting down to write the offseason report card for the Chicago Cubs feels like a student doing an evaluation at the end of a tough college course, where the profess...

Chicago Cubs: What Needs to Go Right to Make the Playoffs in 2016?

David N. Wilson

Jan 23, 2016

Chicago Cubs, Features, Headlines, Major League Baseball, National League, National League Central, Opinions & Predictions

Credit: Elsa / Getty Images North America This might seem like a very simple question to answer, considering the Cubs won 97 games last year, brought home Rookie of the Year for Kris Bryant, the Cy Young Aw...

How should the Cubs use Javier Baez in 2016?

Joshua Sadlock

Dec 29, 2015

Chicago Cubs, Features, Headlines, National League, National League Central, Opinions & Predictions

Thanks to Ben Zobrist, it is unclear where (and how often) Javier Baez will take the field for the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Baez, who struggled mightily after his first callup in 2014, striking out 95 times in 52 ...

Where is the love for Howie Kendrick?

Joshua Sadlock

Dec 22, 2015

Features, Headlines, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Opinions & Predictions, Washington Nationals

For a second baseman who has not failed to reach base in less than a third of his plate appearances each of the past three years, Howie Kendrick sure is having a hard time finding a team to play for in 2016. Pr...

Joe Maddon & Theo Epstein & The Quest for the Holy Grail

David N. Wilson

Dec 21, 2015

Chicago Cubs, Features, Major League Baseball, National League, National League Central, Offseason, Opinions & Predictions, Transactions

The Hot Stove season had a month or so of every announcer and sportswriter in baseball harping on Jason Heyward, how the Cardinals "had" to get him back, and how well he fit with so many teams. As usual, this h...

What to do with Wilmer Flores?

Paul Mammino

Dec 19, 2015

Features, Major League Baseball, National League, National League East, New York Mets, Opinions & Predictions

This offseason has been a relatively quiet one for the New York Mets. While many other teams are making big splashes, the Mets have made minor moves re-signing Jerry Blevins and Bartolo Colon, signing Asdrubal ...

Ben Zobrist: Is the versatility card overplayed?

Joshua Sadlock

Dec 14, 2015

Chicago Cubs, Features, Major League Baseball, National League, National League Central, Offseason, Opinions & Predictions

Ben Zobrist, ah yes, you've probably heard of him by now. Fresh off a World Series title with the Kansas City Royals, Zobrist last week signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs for four years and $56 million. For ye...

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