You go--we go; they're gone!

By Vince Alexander

Good pitching. Good defense. Good power. All those things are needed to be a World Series baseball champion.

In my opinion, a good lead-off man should be added to that category--especially if you are a Chicago Cubs fan.

I'm a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.

Nobody was happier when the Chicago Cubs broke their 100-year World Series championship drought by winning the 2016 World Series. The Cubs did it thanks to their good lead-off man Dexter Fowler.

Fowler is now with the rival St. Louis Cardinals, who have a four-game lead over the Cubs in the National League's North Division. As for the Cubs, they are dangling like a baby tooth for the final Wild Card Playoff spot with a 79-68 record.

Not bad, but without a legitimate lead-off man you have a better chance of winning a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Since Fowler left the Cubs, they have played a lot of losing numbers: Albert Almora, Jr., Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Ian Happ, and Ben Zobrist all trying to replace Fowler in the lead-off spot. Great players but not lead-off men.

The Cubs are one of the most powerful teams in the Major Leagues. Six players have more than 20 home runs heading into October. Kyle Schwarber (35), Javier Baez (29), Kris Bryant (28), Rizzo (26),  Willson Contreras (23), and Heyward (21) make for a potent lineup.

The problem is the Cubs are slow, turtle slow. Baez (11) is the only Cubs player with more than 10 stolen bases.

Speed is important for the lead-off man. First you have to get on base. Next, you have to be a threat to steal second base. Last, you have to be able to score on a single from second base, or tag up and score on a fly ball from third base. A lead-off man has to be fast.

In 2016, Fowler did these things. He was on base 39 percent of the time. In only 125 games, he scored 84 runs. Translation: he scored a run in about 75 percent of the games he played.

That's a problem for the Cubs. When the Cubs go into a power-hitting slump, they struggle to score runs. They don't have the ability to manufacture runs with sacrifice-fly balls, taking walks, and advancing to the next base without a long ball.

When Fowler played for the Cubs, Manager Joe Madden told Fowler, "You go--we go!" This meant, if Fowler got on base, the Cubs had a good chance of scoring runs and winning the game.

But with Fowler playing for the "Red Turds" (Cardinals), it means "You go--they go--and we watch them win the division championship."
And that's not cool!

DePauw Invitational T&F 2017 Field Events

Hanover College opens 2017 outdoor track season

Savannah Hubbard demonstrates her form as as she clears a hurdle. She placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:09.05 out of 26 competitors.

Hanover's Enrico Franchini, lane 3 and Samuel Pyle, lane 2, compete in their heat of the 200-meter dash.  Pyle placed 22nd (22.87) and Franchini 27th (23.03) out of 70 runners.

Hanover's Gavin Alexander navigates the curve in the 200. He finished with a time of 22.98.

Hanover's Teal Burnett (left) and Simone Henderson (center) competes in the 200.

Henderson races toward the finish line in the 200.

Hanover's Joe Rector looks to make a move in a crowded pack.

Hanover's Joe Sheryak clears the bar in the high jump.

Hanover's Dontre Woodruff takes flight in the triple jump. Woodruff placed fourth with a leap of 41 feet, 8 3/4 inches.

Hanover's Samuel Pyle, left, and Gavin Alexander battle down the stretch of the 400 dash. Pyle placed first (50.81) and Alexander fifth (51.67) out of 29 runners.

Pyle cruises to the finish line to win the 400.

Hanover's Teal Burnett comes out of the blocks in the 400 dash. 

Burnett goes on to place eighth in the 400 with a time of  1:02.51.

Hanover's Erika Jervis fights to the finish line of the 400 dash. She placed 11th (1:03.67) out of 33 runners.

Hanover Enrico Franchini powers through at the start of the 100-meter dash. Franchini ran a time of 11.2 seconsds.

Hanover's Simone Henderson (center) competes in the 100, placing 8th (12.64).