Comparisons to Edmonds catch up with Cubs outfielder Almora

ST. LOUIS - The word that comes to mind first when I watch Albert Almora Jr. play center field is "authoritative."

Just a few days shy of his 23rd birthday, Almora already exhibits a take-charge approach in the outfield for the Chicago Cubs. Since we're in St. Louis, it's fitting to note he also draws comparisons to a longtime Cardinal and onetime Cub: Jim Edmonds.

"I saw Jimmy before the game, and I said, 'Almora reminds me you,'" Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after Tuesday night's 2-1 victory, a game in which Almora leapt at the center field wall to rob Matt Adams of a home run in the seventh inning. "He (Edmonds) was at the game, so I hope he stuck around to see that play. He's really good. Jimmy wasn't the fastest guy. Albert's not the fastest guy. They both ran great routes, and they had a great nose, instinct, for the ball, when to get to the wall, how to get to the wall.

"He (Almora) got to the wall perfectly right there, meaning he didn't have his butt up against the wall. He was sideways, where he could actually jump. If you get your butt against the wall, you cannot jump.

"So he did everything well, and of course that's a pretty pertinent play."

I caught up with Almora in the Cubs clubhouse Wednesday morning as the afternoon's scheduled game against the Cardinals was being postponed because of rain. The makeup will be Thursday at 12:45 p.m.

Almora was more than fine with being compared to Edmonds.

"That's an honor for me," he said. "I actually grew up watching him and Andruw Jones, both guys I really model my game after - not the fastest guys out there but the routes are precise and perfect. I saw Jim (Tuesday), and I kind of wanted to go say hello, but I was hitting. I didn't want to bother anybody. Yeah, Joe talked to me and told me that as well yesterday, and I thought it was a great comparison.

"It's an honor because he's one of the best center fielders to ever play this game. So it's pretty cool."'

While Almora does not possess the greatest speed, Maddon and Cubs coaches marvel at the jumps he gets when the ball comes off the bat.

"I've got to make it up somehow, so I take pride in where I'm positioned and the routes that I take," he said. "That helps me out."

Almora seems to possess an innate "baseball IQ" that is well above-average. That and his athleticism help him make leaping plays like he made Tuesday night.

"Both," he said. "You watch the game and you watch how guys do it. When you jump up, it's better to go sideways so you can use your feet to get up more. These walls aren't low at all. They're pretty high. The other part is just go out there and do it on your own. Just feel what's right and jump."

<h3 class="leadin">Beyond their years:</h3>

Smart play among the Cubs' young players extends well past Almora. Maddon has cited the work of catcher Willson Contreras, third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Addison Russell, second baseman Javier Baez and left fielder-catcher Kyle Schwarber.

"I've talked about everybody else," Maddon said. "Schwarber's played like 70-some major-league games so far. Addison's just really getting his feet on the ground. Baez has not played really a full year yet. All these guys, we did well last year, but they lack experience, if you can imagine that. So you can talk about Willson, you can talk about Schwarber, you can talk about Addy, you can talk about Baez, you can talk about KB, you can talk about all these guys in the same breath. And that's why I'm encouraged.

"As we keep doing this, they're going to keep getting better. They just are, because their work is good, they care, and with good health they're going to keep getting better.

"The big thing this year is to play defense. I think these other areas of their game are naturally going to progress. Defense is the one static part of this game that if we continue to do that well, we'll have another good season."

<h3 class="leadin">Plans remain intact:</h3>

The Cubs will stick with their planned pitching rotation after Wednesday's rainout. John Lackey will start Thursday's makeup game. Brett Anderson will start Friday's series opener at Milwaukee, followed by Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester.

Wednesday's lineup had Jon Jay scheduled to make his first Cubs start in center field. Jason Heyward started Opening Night in center, and Almora was the starter Tuesday.

Follow Bruce's Cubs reports on Twitter@BruceMiles2112.