Cubs—Brewers: Piniella's Mistake Costs Cubs In Friday's 4-3 Loss

If you've ever played outfield before, you understand that the most difficult ball to judge is a ball hit right at you. Coaches will tell you that your first step must be out.  On Friday, Alfonso Soriano's first step was in and the mediocre-hitting Rickie Weeks doubled over his head. 

The biggest question is why Alfonso Soriano was even in the game.  This is not the first, second, third, or even fourth time that Soriano has misplayed a ball in the ninth inning. 

If you've read any of my articles in the past, you know this is not a second guess.  This is a first guess.  There is no advantage in having Soriano in a one run game in the ninth inning.  

Piniella argues he doesn't want to take Soriano's bat out of the game. The problem with that is Soriano made the second out in the top of the 9th and the smart move would've been to move Joey Gathright to left and keep Kosuke Fukudome in center. 

Instead the 2008 manager of the year takes Fukudome out and moves Gathright to center. This makes little to no sense. 

Some will argue that Weeks's double wasn't a catchable ball.  That may be the case, but at least we know Gathright wasn't going to misplay the ball. 

On a side note, Soriano was playing far too shallow.  Guarding a one run lead, outfielders are instructed to play no doubles. At least that's what I always thought.  It's the responsibility of the Cubs bench coach Allen Trammell to make sure his outfielders and infielders are in proper position. 

It's only one loss, but this was a very poorly managed game by Lou Piniella and his coaching staff.  Piniella used the majority of his pen and wasn't going to win in extra innings.

So I ask the question, why didn't the Cubs have their best defensive players on the field in the 9th inning? 

Your guess is as good as mine.