It's certainly not Lou Piniella's fault that Jim Hendry didn't land Brian Roberts, effectively leaving the Cubs manager without a viable leadoff option. But he still has a responsibility to make the best with what he has. And thus far, his decision-making is suspect, to say the least.
I mean, Ryan Theriot batting leadoff? Sure, he has speed and has had success when stealing bases. But as the old adage goes, "You can't steal first base," and Theriot had a .266 average with a .326 OBP last year.
Not the kind of numbers you want for your leadoff hitter.
And just as soon as you try to rationalize that by thinking that at least they moved Soriano out of the leadoff spot, you quickly realize just where Lou moved him to.
He's batting second? What?
Your second hitter should be someone with patience, giving the leadoff hitter time to steal (assuming he's on first, which assumes you have a real leadoff hitter, so back to original point).
He should also be someone who is willing to sacrifice, bunting the runner over, with an ability to handle the bat and hit to the right side. Soriano hasn't demonstrated any of those skills.
Lou thinks that Soriano will thrive in the second spot because he'll see more fastballs.
First of all, that's assuming Theriot gets on base, because, if he doesn't, and brief history suggests he will get on just 32 percent of the time, there's no reason for the pitcher to throw more fastballs at Soriano.
Second, he's apparently either not aware or doesn't care about the research by Baseball America that has indicated hitting with a man at first bothers the hitter more than the pitcher.
And a free-swinger like Soriano who strikes out so much doesn't need distraction at the plate.
Here's another thing: why is Lou batting Pie eighth in the order?
The eighth-place hitter either needs to be a guy with good pitch recognition, or, at least, a veteran who isn't fooled easily.
That's because, with the pitcher hitting behind him, there is little or no reason for a pitcher to ever throw a strike to the eighth-place hitter. And, to a young free-swinger like Pie, that's not a good thing.
Look, I can't go out and get Roberts for him, that's Hendry's failure. But Lou should bat Fukudome either first or second. Or use Fukudome to break up the middle of the right-handed lineup, neither of which Lou is intending to do.
Early last year, Piniella looked like a deer in headlights, as he juggled the order every day.
But that was blamed on him not knowing his personnel.
Alright, we gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Then, he pulled a stunner of a stupid decision in the playoffs, removing Zambrano early from a game in order to save him for game four of the playoff series.
A game, might I remind you, that never happened.
Something strange seems to happen to otherwise good baseball men when they become Cubs.
Come to think of it, maybe that's it: they become Cubs.
comments (7) write a comment »
write a new comment
6 months ago
Great article, Bob. I get the feeling Piniella will be constantly changing this lineup throughout the first couple of months to find the consistency he should have found with it in spring training.
I've seen what having that inconsistency can do to a good lineup--take the 2007 White Sox, who kept having their order shuffled around the big boppers, who consequently struggled. While I'm not saying that's why the '07 Sox had a poor offensive year, it's one of the reasons why they did.
6 months ago
Wow you did alot of research but what a terrible article. You should know more about the Cubs before writing a article like this. They will juggle the line-up at the beginning of the year because they have to. Nothing is set in stone. Lou knows what he is doing and it will payoff. And about Pie. Pie went down looking many times last year. This way he will be able to be patient yet aggressive to get things going at the bottom of the order. This will be a break out year for the young man.
6 months ago
Chirs, I didn't do any research at all because I am a Cubs fan who's followed the team all my life. I wrote this article in about 20 minutes. So, I do know a lot about the Cubs, probably more than most. Don't get me wrong, Lou did some good things last year, like playing the younger guys and demanding accountability. But I would ask you: why can't anything be set in stone? Isn't that why you play so many games in the spring? You don't have to keep juggling lineups. It's not something you must do.
I hope you're right about Pie but I don't know. Nothing I have seen from him thus far shows me he's matured as a hitter. But he's young so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Thanks for your comments.
JJ, thanks for the kind words. An improved bullpen this year should help the White Sox. And I like Swisher, though I'm afraid he really isn't suited for centerfield and leadoff. Still, the main difference between the Cubs and Sox, if we're honest, is that the Cubs play in a weak division and the Sox play in a division with two very strong teams.
from 6 months ago
Your comments about the difference in divisions is true, but I'm not going to use it as an excuse. Does it drive me crazy that the Sox won 90 games in 2006 and missed the playoffs while the Cubs won 85 games last year and made the playoffs? You bet it does, but the Cubs did enough to win their division last year, while the '06 White Sox didn't do enough to win their division, plain and simple.
So, while the Sox might be able to compete in the NL Central this year, it really doesn't matter to me because it doesn't mean they'll compete in the AL Central.
I'm looking forward to reading your articles about the Cubs as the year goes on. Should be a fun year for you guys despite Lou's senility.
6 months ago
great article! I didn't know articulate and knowledgeable cub fans existed :P Looking forward to your future contributions. But just for the record, I think the Cubs will win the division, despite themselves. Too much talent, and too many other mediocre teams in the Central. Virtual Slap to self: Did I just predict the Cubs would win the Central?!?!?!
from 6 months ago
Thanks Steve. I agree they're the best teamon paper (in the division), but the reason I can't pick them to win again this year is because it goes so far against the odds. The Cubs havent' had two consecutive seasons where they have gone to the playoffs in maybe 80 years! I might be wrong, haven't checked the facts on this one, but it's been a loooong time. I'm just thinking something bad or unusual will happen. Dusty Baker's teams usually do well in his first season. Rememebr 2003, Bartman year? Cubs almost made it to the WS in his first year, he actually did better than Lou yet Cubs fans love Lou.
6 months ago
My uncle, a life long dyed in the wool Cubs fan, would agree with you. I remember when in game 1 last year against the Diamond Backs how it was all he could do to keep from kicking the tv when the so called Cub fan had that Neon sign behind the backstop, and how it prompted a halt by the umpire as it was disrupting the DBacks pitcher. I just remember after his tirade he said Bartman is off the hook, because the curse is bigger than anyone fan, how the wheels were once again in motion for the Cubs to lose. Later Sweet Lou pulled Zambrano and it convinced my uncle the series was from that point over. He ended up being right.
write a new comment