Hoffpauir, Freel To Replace Cubs Starting Lineup

The Cubs barely made Chris Carpenter work yesterday. A sad approach against a guy making his first start in a month.

With Carpenter’s pitch count hovering somewhere around 70-75, Chicago let the Cardinals ace off the hook with just 67 pitches in five strong innings.

A big part in defeating a dominating pitcher is working the count. But the Cubs have simply been too aggressive at the plate lately.

Chicago should have forced Carpenter out earlier—after all, the Cards' bullpen is its biggest weakness.

It’s time for Soriano to get hot again! He’s the only guy in the lineup capable of carrying the team while the vast majority of the order is struggling. And if hitting is contagious, Alfonso is the right player to spread the bug around the Cubs clubhouse.

In the meantime, Lou is in position to try something new with the batting order—mainly replacing Lee at first with Hoffpauir and finding at bats for Freel and Johnson.

The case against Fontenot being an everyday player is building. Mike’s 0-4 outing dropped his average to .200. The fielding error at third doesn’t help his cause either. I’d pencil Freel into the lineup and give Fontenot a few days off.

Even if these moves are temporary, it’s still better than anything the Cubs have going right now. What have they got to lose?

Not to mention, it won’t be long before the starting staff feels the pressure to be perfect each time out, and that’s big trouble.

St. Louis is wildly exploiting the Cubs deficiencies at the corner outfield spots. Three times during the past two games, the Cardinals have stretched long singles into doubles. Pujols has done it twice, and he’s not fast. These are little plays the Cubs simply can’t allow when they’re not scoring.

DEFENSE MATTERS!

• Cubs (21-17) are in third place.

• W: Carpenter (2-0) L: Dempster (3-3) S: Franklin (10)

• Cubs are 11-6 in May.
  

• They’re also 2-11 when committing an error.

• Fontenot is in a 2-36 slump.

• Since 2003, Chicago is 60-50 vs. St. Louis.