Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon went to his bench during the seventh inning of the NL Wild Card Game on Tuesday night, utilizing two pinch hitters. But the big question that stood out to many was why he chose to pinch hit Jason Heyward instead of Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded and two outs in a 1-0 game.
Neither Schwarber nor Heyward was successful this season as a pinch hitter. Heyward was 1-for-5 with a walk and a strikeout, while Schwarber was 0-for-9 with four walks and two strikeouts.
Maddon went with Heyward against Colorado Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino with the bases loaded, and Heyward struck out to end the inning.
Going with Heyward, who was .270/.335/.395 in the regular season over Schwarber, who was .238/.356/.467 and is by all accounts the better overall hitter, led to many reactions on Twitter.
When Joe Maddon chooses Jason Heyward over Kyle Schwarber pic.twitter.com/dOyfaZSQQJ
— Ryan Walling (@6wall1ng6) October 3, 2018
Far be it from me to question Joe Madden, but Bases Loaded two outs and you go with Heyward over Schwarber? That’s a tough look for my guy.
— Jameson Ondrof (@jondrof) October 3, 2018
Heyward and not Schwarber here???
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 3, 2018
Really don’t understand why Schwarber didn’t pinch hit there. He’s a much better hitter than Heyward.
— Michael Kelminson (@mjk2341) October 3, 2018
Seriously Heyward instead of Schwarber Joe??? Really!!!!
— Miguel Flores (@Mflo23) October 3, 2018
And Maddon out thinks himself again. Heyward??? With Schwarber available? Are you kidding me? He's been so bad since he arrived in free agency, so why give him a chance to kill the @Cubs season? #stupid #NLWildCard
— Michael Lisle (@Michael_Lisle) October 3, 2018
Jason Heyward over Kyle Schwarber off the bench… ARE YOU KIDDING ME? #MLBPostseason
— Anthony Izzio (@Coach_Izz30) October 3, 2018
Maddon may have felt that Heyward made more sense in that spot because he would still be needed to play defense, which he does much better than Schwarber, and that he could still give Schwarber a pinch hit at-bat later in the game.
Still, in a spot that big in a 1-0 game, I think you have to go with your best bat, and that is Schwarber.
