Cubs Should Keep Alfonso Soriano at Top of Order, Move Derek Lee to Five-Hole

Alfonso Soriano is certainly not a prototypical leadoff man.  He doesn't do a very good job of working the count and he lacks plate discipline.  That said, the Cubs could win a championship with Soriano as their leadoff man. 

Lou Piniella admitted to the media that he may tinker with the leadoff spot.  He named Aaron Miles, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, and Kosuke Fukudome as possibilities. Lou did reiterate that Soriano is his leadoff man.

Soriano has a .293 career average as leadoff man, with a career OBP of .342 in the No. 1 spot.  Despite battling through injuries the past two years, Soriano has had 19 stolen bases in each.  Despite missing a total of 80 games the past two years, only Ryan Theriot has more stolen bases. 

Many will argue that Theriot should be the team's leadoff man, but he's had so much success in both the No. 2 and No. 8 spot. 

Other than Soriano, Miles has the most experience as a leadoff man.  Miles doesn't draw walks, he lacks speed, and has a career OBP of .329.  In all likelihood he will lose out to Fontenot, who will bat second and play second. 

The one thing Lou needs to do is move Derek Lee out of the three-hole.  The Cubs' first baseman hit .291 with 20 home runs, with 91 RBI, and an OBP of .361. Lee's numbers were slightly above average, but he led the league in double plays. 

The addition of Milton Bradley allows Piniella to split up his right-handed batters.  It would behoove Piniella and the Cubs to move the very clutch Aramis Ramirez to the three-hole.  Bradley will likely move to the four-hole, and Lee should move to the five-hole.

There's no doubt Lou will experiment with numerous lineups this spring. Assuming there are no other additions or injuries, this is what the Opening Day lineup should look like:

1) Soriano

2) Fontenot

3) Ramirez

4) Bradley

5) Lee

6) Fukudome

7) Soto

8) Theriot

9) Pitcher

I'd also be okay with Theriot and Fontenot flip-flopping, but I think it's essential that Lee is taken out of the three-hole.