Cubs vs Sox - WS 2016 - Best lineup? Who wins?

[BeantownIdaho]

CUBS VS REDSOX WORLD SERIES - Who has best lineup? Who wins?
* probable lineups

C - Montero Swihart
1B - Rizzo Ramirez (Papi)
2B - Zobrist Pedroia
SS - Russell XB
3B - Bryant Panda
LF - Schwarber Castillo
CF - Heyard JBJ
RF - Soler Betts

SP1 Arrieta Price
SP 2 Lester Buchholz
SP 3 Lackey Porcello
SP 4 Hendricksl Rodriguez
SP 5 Hammel Kelly
CL Rondon Kimbrel
SU Wood Uehara
Strop, Grim Smith Tazawa

Bench Coghlan Young
LaStella Holt

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I think after reading this thread, we all lose.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Can't really make a case on a position by position analysis with offense, but it's really pointless to declare a "winner" right now. There's too many variables at play that have absurdly high ranges of possibilities right now.

Examples:
Hanley could OPS ~.700 again, or he could OPS ~.900.
Sandoval could continue to fall apart, or he could revert to a ~.800 OPS, plus defender at 3B.
Castillo could be all-star level material, or not adjust to MLB pitching.
JBJ could be a plus hitter, a passable hitter, or a total disaster at the plate.
Swihart could... who knows. Hit .250 with 10 HRs? OPS .800 with 20 home runs? Reveal he's not MLB ready after all?

Really, any one of the starting 9 offensive players is potentially capable of posting an all-star level season, but it's unlikely they all will.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

...but it's really pointless to declare a "winner" right now...

Especially since there's two months until pitchers and catchers report. There's no reason to think that either roster is complete and will remain as-is through the winter, let alone through the season and into October.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

I recommend we option this thread down and recall it at the trade deadline if necessary.

 

[canderson]

Does SOSH have any Thread Opt-Outs remaining?

 

[absintheofmalaise]

DFA