How Different Could The Cubs Be in 2009?

in the lineup.  An alternative on the free agent market is Scott Podsednik, who filled the same role decent in Colorado last year with a .322 OBP.  The biggest issues with Scottie Pods are he’s history of injuries and his salary.

To save money the club could turn to Fukudome to move to center.  This would be cost efficient if he can get his swing together and adjust to MLB pitching (especially the sweeping slider).  If he could bring his average back up and be patient enough for walks, the Cubs might have found them a leadoff/number two hitter and center fielder already on the roster.

The reason the Cubs need to consider a leadoff hitter is because Alfonso Soriano’s production driving in runs needs to go up.  Just over a third of his RBI came from home runs last year. 

There were so many games where Soriano would leadoff with a home run or start an inning with a home run.  There were even multiple home run games where he only had solo shots. 

Out of Soriano, Ramirez, Lee, Soto and even Derosa, Soriano had the fewest RBI’s out of the group.  A solution to this issue could be to drop him in the lineup to give him more chances with runners on base. 

The drop of Soriano could also benefit Ramirez (who’d still bat 4^th), Lee (who’d drop to 5^th to knock in Soriano and Ramirez in with his knack for doubles and getting on base), and Soto (who’d bat 6^th

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