Top of Cubs’ 2016 lineup: Fowler, Heyward and a Rizzo sandwich

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Batting second for the Cubs: Jason Heyward

MESA, Ariz. – Cubs manager Joe Maddon – the man who once made out a lineup according to a Tommy Tutone song (8-6-7-5-3-0-9) – doesn’t like to commit to an everyday lineup after 10 years of big-league managing.

But on Wednesday, he said he plans to go into this season with three of his top five spots locked in, and two hitters floating between the two other top-five spots:

Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward are his 1-2 hitters whenever they’re in the lineup together, he said. And that would slide Anthony Rizzo to the cleanup spot, with right-handed hitting Kris Bryant and switch-hitting Ben Zobrist creating a “Rizzo sandwich” at 3-5, depending on the pitching matchup of the day.

“I can tell you that I really like Dexter in the one hole. I really like Heyward two,” Maddon said. “I really just want to keep Heyward in the two spot. I’ll say that. I want him in his comfort zone. I don’t want hin to have a whole lot of variables right now.

“After that, I think it’s KB vs. Zobrist. It’s going to be a Rizzo sandwich – KB in the front or Zobrist in the back, whatever.

“And then you’ve got to consider [Kyle] Schwarber and [Jorge] Soler.”

Bottom line: “The debate goes from three through nine,” Maddon said. “I think 1-2’s pretty solid.”

Maddon already has said he plans to bat the pitcher ninth most of the time this season, instead of No. 8 as he did last year.


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