We’ll examine three Chicago Cubs middle infield combinations, looking primarily at their defense but with an eye towards their offensive production as well. Fielding percentage, defensive runs saved, WAR, UZR-150, and the new Outs Above Average (OAA) metrics will be the guide when possible. But I can’t rule out a little nostalgia creeping in either.
Chicago Cubs: Tinker to Evers to Chance
Not many infield combinations have opposing team’s fans writing poems about them. However, the combination of shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers, and first baseman Frank Chance was so overwhelmingly good they inspired a forlorn New York Giants fan and columnist Franklin Pierce Adams to pen Baseball’s Sad Lexicon.