An open letter to Sweet Lou

by ryno HOF 2005 on Oct 3, 2008 8:26 AM CDT

Dear Lou,

Well, the Cubs have played two games so far in the 2008 NLDS and have not fared quite like everyone hoped for. Game 1 was lost due to the home ace that couldn't find or adjust to the strike zone and a lack of offense. Game 2 showcased a defense that looked more like a little league game that a MLB playoff and a lack of offense. If the Cubs could score more runs, maybe, things would be different. There are a couple of glaring problems that must be addressed before Game 3 (yea right!) or for next season.

1) Soriano is NOT A LEADOFF MAN!!!

All of us Cubs fans are sick and tired of watching him flail away at sliders and breaking balls down and away. IMHO, Soriano is no different than Sammy Sosa before his great seasons when he began to show more patience at the plate. Hitting Soriano leadoff with a weaker batter in the two hole gives him no protection. Pitchers would much rather pitch around him or watch him swing at everything pitched to him from the same zip code. He must be dropped down in the order to get more production from him. I know he will whine like a baby when he is told this but as a manager, it is your job to get the best you can from your players. Soriano is a POWER HITTER with speed (when healthy). No other team in the majors has a 30 home run player hitting #1! He hit 29 homers this season and only drove in 75 runs. A player of his caliber should easily drive in over 100 runs every season. His talent is being wasted in the leadoff spot. He should be hitting in the three hole. Aramis would give him the protection he needs. He will start seeing better pitches to hit and his stats will soar! Ryan Theriot would be a good leadoff man. He hits around .300 and will take a walk and can steal bases.

2) D Lee no longer a #3.

Lee after the wrist injury is a shell of his former self. I like him as a player but he has declined and should not be hitting that high up in the order. Lee lead the team hitting into double plays this season and has killed many a Cub rallies. His power has escaped him and his strike outs have climbed as well. He should also be lowered in the order to the 6 or 7 spot or traded all together. That would make room for Soriano to hit here.

3) Fukudome should not start.

His second half slump has also hurt the offense. I understand he is a $12 million dollar player but if you are having trouble hitting, you should not be starting everyday in the playoffs! He looks lost at the plate anymore. His strikeouts are also up and seems to have lost the patience he shined with in the first half. He is pressing and should be a defensive replacement or pinch hitter at best.

4) Theriot and DeRosa

As mentioned before Theriot should hit in the leadoff spot. DeRosa would be a great #2 hitter. You could hit and run with this combination. DeRosa is a good contact hitter that puts the ball in play and when both Theriot and DeRosa gets on base... Soriano would benefit. No manager would want to load the bases for Aramis and Soriano would see some good pitches to drive.

The pitching should be fine and would probably settle down if the Cubs could get some runs across the board. This would be a good line up to try:

1) Theriot

2) DeRosa

3) Soriano

4) Ramirez

5) Soto

6) Lee

7) Edmonds

8) Fontenot or Reed Johnson (depends if DeRosa 2nd or right)

Here's hoping for a three game sweep of the Dodgers and a trip to the NLCS!

RYNO HOF 2005

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Dear Lou...

I pray to God you’re not still manager in 2010. I think you’re losing it. Isn’t necessarily your fault…but you still kinda suck. So yeah.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Oct 3, 2008 8:29 AM CDT reply actions

Strongly disagree about Lou...

…without his guidance since last year, there is no question im my mind they are not back to back division champs.

Regarding the makeup of the club; if they fail to make a stirring comback and make it to the World Series, you do have to look at why the team folded up at the worst time. I don’t know if Dempster will get another shot in game five, but if he does and pitches poorly, it has to cause pause in how many years and dough you offer him. Also, although Soriano had a fine year, I believe you need to find a way to get a legit leadoff man and also move Lee out of the 3 spot.

If they are beat in this series, I am sure the new owner will be in place in time to have input on how the club can be improved and it will be a very interesting offseason to say the least.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

About Lou...

Lou is definitely deserving of a lot of praise for what he did last year.

This year is different. More on this post-post-season.

I just don’t get why people, when frustrated at Soriano’s swinging at bad pitches, want to move him down to an RBI spot in the order. Why move him from a lead-off hitter where his hot-cold streaks do the least damage during the cold to a rally-killer spot?

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Oct 3, 2008 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Love the sig line!

As for Soriano, what purpose does it have to hit a power hitter in the #1 spot in a lineup? All I can guess is he can get more ABs so he can do more “damage”. He only leads off once a game. Other than that, he is hitting after the pitcher (easier out). IF Soriano doesn’t do anything but strikeout or whatever, the inning is lost. He would be better suited to hit with the rest of the thumpers so he can get the protection he needs.

"Man, this is fun!" - Len Kasper

by ryno HOF 2005 on Oct 3, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Hell, get rid of D-Lee's ass

as much as I hate to say it because of how likable he is as a person, he sucks as a professional baseball player and must get off my team now.

and don’t even get me started about Fukudome…

"I wish I had a dollar for every time I spent a dollar, because then I'd have all my money back."
-Jack Handey

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Oct 3, 2008 8:31 AM CDT reply actions

D-Lee has played too much of the past two seasons like he is 45 year old man...

It’s like watching bad rewind of the Fred McGriff years in Chicago.

There are no more excuses, rationalizations, analysis on paper, extrapolation of regular season performance, examination of the statute of limitations on certain curses, whatever...

by MDBNIU on Oct 3, 2008 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I think "sucks" is

not close to the truth. He has had an off-year in some areas of his game. DP’s. Errors. Power shortage – but he is still a good player. Just not “superstar” caliber. Not “The Man” (we do not have any player like that), and not a “threat” for pitchers to fear. Imo, he is just on the other side of his peak now, and will be in decline for the rest of his career.

by The E-Man on Oct 3, 2008 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree...

…Lee is a solid player, but he does appear to have aged quickly in the last couple of years. He appears a step slower in the field and is definately slower with the bat.

He is still a good player and should be for a couple more years, but he needs to hit either 5th or 6th in a good lineup.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Lee looked terrific at the beginning of the season.

But then something happened midseason and he never readjusted. It is imperative that Jim Hendry find out why it happened. If readjustments can’t be made by Lee and the 2009 coaching staff, it will be time to trade him.

The thing about Dome and Dlee both is that they showed a lot of ability in the beginning of the season. I believe that ability is still there but adjustments will have to be made to harness it.

by DGU on Oct 3, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Soriano, D-Lee, and Dome

I am tired of the Cubs accommodating Sori. I know the other leadoff hitters for the Cubs this season have fared no better than Soriano. I’m not convinced that Theriot couldn’t develop into a good leadoff hitter, if given the chance. Sori needs to hit in the 3, 4, or 5 holes.

I’m not as down on D-Lee as others, but he needs to move down to the 5 hole. I still think he’s a good hitter, but it’s not 2005 anymore.

I thought Dome was coming out of his funk at the end of the regular season. He’s gone back to his “bail and wail” ways. I’m surprised he hasn’t turned things around.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 3, 2008 8:50 AM CDT reply actions

If you are talking about Game 3

Fontenot has to be #1 or 2. Theriot’s not lighting anything up either.

Fontenot, DeRosa, Soto, Soriano, Edmonds, Ramirez, Lee, Theriot, Harden.

Soriano is the only hitter that anyone fears when he’s on. Maybe providing him some protection might do something. He is not a leadoff hitter though. That has to end and I don’t care how Soriano feels about it.

Formerly NO100

by jerry morales rules on Oct 3, 2008 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

You had me until

you put Soriano in the 3. Sorry, he should be hitting 6th. Or 7th.

I’d put Soto in the three.

Demp and Rich: proof that people that live in igloos and say "eh" can contibute!

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Oct 3, 2008 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

Soriano needs protection in this lineup

Hitting him so low in the order won’t help

"Man, this is fun!" - Len Kasper

by ryno HOF 2005 on Oct 3, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

This team

does not have a leadoff hitter………or a 3 hitter for that matter……not to mention……a frikkin HEART!

by plenz on Oct 3, 2008 9:01 AM CDT reply actions

I completely agree with everything in this post

I’ve been a Sori defender but the last two games haves changed that forever. He’s simply NOT a lead-off man and the holes in his swing absolutely KILL US in big games against good pitchers. I’m also thoroughly sick of hearing about his delicate psyche and what it will do to him to be moved down in the order. pay me 136 million to play baseball and I’ll do whatever you want me to do whenever you want me to do it. What does he think? That he’s going to be worse hitting lower? Not possible.
Also, I’ve been one of those fans who, as much as I also like D Lee as a person and blah blah blah, has been SCREAMING for Lou to move him out of the 3 hole since July. It absoloutely blows my mind that people can look at his incredibly mediocre statistics (SEVEN homers since the end of May, leading the league in double plays, etc.) and still defend him. Moving him down in the order is the ONLY option at this point. Anybody (Lou and Hendry included) who can’t see that is wearing the proverbial “rose colored glasses”.
What really hurts about the playoff debacle is that I saw this coming-my friends and I have been pointing out these potential problems for the last couple of months and predicting potential disaster in post season. I was absolutely hoping we were going to be wrong and that Lou, etc., knew what they were doing.
I just don’t get the stubborness Pinella has shown in A) refusing to recognize these problem areas or B) having some sort of misplaced “Dutyesque” loyalty and refusing to do anything about it. And so here we sit, embarrassed for the second year in a row. As my brother said to me last night; if the Cubs can win 97 games and then completely fold in the first round of the playoffs, how are we supposed to be able to get excited during the regular season again?

by bluekoolaide on Oct 3, 2008 9:08 AM CDT reply actions

I fully agree with your last line.

It will be hard to cheer for them next season. Then again, I have been a die-hard fan since the ’70s when Herman Franks was managing and the team consisted of players like Barry Foote, Steve Swisher & Steve Ontiveros. I guess if I can root for those guys, I can cheer for the 2009 installment.

"Man, this is fun!" - Len Kasper

by ryno HOF 2005 on Oct 3, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

+1000

I was there too-suddenly 2009 is starting to seem exciting again!

by bluekoolaide on Oct 3, 2008 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Lou Piniella getting torched on ESPN radio right now with this:

Basically, even those with the most obtuse knowledge of the Cubs season are asking the question: HOW CAN YOU BENCH YOUR HOTTEST HITTER (Fontenot) JUST BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS?! They’re expounding to suggest that Lou’s tight, he’s abandoned his regular-season rationale, and it’s manifested itself into anxiety amongst the guys on the roster. Looks like Torre actually learned something from watching his overpriced vets flail all season and thus properly filled out his lineup card come playoff time.

by Jerry Mumphrey on Oct 3, 2008 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

Hit the worst hitter on this team leadoff?

I think you might be on to something.

...

by Chitown Mojo on Oct 3, 2008 9:24 AM CDT reply actions

Theriot is a singles machine

With his speed and DeRosa hitting behind him, it would work. Theriot has speed and can steal bases and thus open some holes in the defense so DeRosa can hit and run from time to time.

"Man, this is fun!" - Len Kasper

by ryno HOF 2005 on Oct 3, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions

His speed?

Theriot is not fast.
As for his stealing bases, whenever a player gets caught stealing at +40% clip he is hurting his team much more than he is helping it. He is awful at stealing bases and he should stop like last year.

What Theriot really is, is the King of Deception.

...

by Chitown Mojo on Oct 3, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

You should close the letter...

…and write one to the players.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 2:25 PM CDT reply actions

Pineilla's post season record

23-26

15-24 since the Reds World Series

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 3, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions

Piniella makes mistakes...

…just like all managers make mistakes, but his post-season record is misleading, just as the post-season record is misleading for other good managers like Bobby Cox.

Piniella started in game one, the pitcher that was clearly the best performer for the team the entire season and that pitcher threw up all over himself. Was that Piniella’s fault? I don’t think so. People have been focusing on why Fukudome got to start, and he is the last reason this team has played so poorly the first two games. Could Piniella have anticipated Lee and DeRosa would boot balls that led to a bunch of runs and not play them? I don’t think so. What about Soriano, Lee, Ramirez and most of the offense going cold? Not his fault.

The players that performed well in the regular season, have not performed nearly as well in the first two games – plain and simple. Right now, you either have players that have enouph intestinal fortitude to step up and perform, or you don’t, and tommorrow and possible Sunday will tell you a bit about that.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Pineilla has not managed in the post season like he did in the regular season

how many times did we see Pineilla lose patience with pitchers walking batters left and right? Rich Hill was removed in the first inning of a game. Dempster got more rope in game 1 than ANY OTHER starter all season long. Why now? With a fully rested bullpen in the BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR

Pineilla has ridden the hot hand for 2 years now, why is Fontenot not playing and Fukudome whom he’d only play in 50% of the games in the 2nd half starting both nights?

Just as much as the players have not performed to the level we expect of them, the manager has also let us down

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 3, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Regarding pitching...

…most managers manage a little differently in the playoffs and have a tendancy to stick with “who got me there” vs having a quick hook, especially when you don’t want to torch the pen starting in game one. Guillen did the same thing yesterday with Vasquez, they had the lead and he kept him in there because it was early and he was hoping he could finish the inning. Also, Dempster got out of the same jam a couple innings earlier and he actually had good stuff, he just couldn’t get it over the plate. When he had Loney 0-2 and its only the 5th inning, I’m not sure a lot of managers would have yanked their best regular season pitcher in that spot.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

he should've been yanked

when Ethier was up, but he couldn’t because we didn’t have ANYONE EVEN WARMING UP

i’m sorry but on one hand you’re sitting here saying we’re not getting the things we expect out of the players but the openly suggesting the manager changing the way he manages is fine. It makes no sense.

Marshall retired Ethier and Loney easily the next time through the lineup.

As a manager if you saw this team struggle with the pressure of the playoffs last season and you have any sort of pulse on this team you’d know how incredibly important protecting that lead in Game 1 was. Why wouldn’t you give yourself the best chance at success by bringing in the lefty vs. lefty matchup?

Dempster had thrown 50% of his pitches out of the strike zone, why would you choose him?

Loney vs. LH .249/.303/.361
Ethier vs. LH .243/.325/.368

that was the biggest moment of this series so far and pineilla BOTCHED it

you get through that inning and suddenly you’re 12 outs away from a 1-0 lead. You can use Marshall for another inning to get through the bottom of the lineup before using Marmol for 2 and Wood for 1.

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 3, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions

As I stated in the other thread...

…whether he should have had Marshall ready is a legit question. We’ll never know what Marshall would have done with the bases loaded, but coming in from the pen with the bases juiced is not an easy proposition.

Anyway, my point in putting this on the players is this, Dempster put both the club and Piniella is a bad spot because of his performance. If he pitched like he was capable, this becomes a non-issue. The real question here is this – why did Dempster have his worst performance of the year in his most important game?

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 3, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

i don't ignore the players role in this by any means

All i’m saying is the managers job is to put the best players in the best positions to succeed and in that spot (as well as the starting lineups with Fukudome), Pineilla has clearly FAILED

and for this he deserves blame, especially if he’s getting credit for all the success during the season

As to your question on why Dempster had his worst performance in the most important start of the year? Who knows, but if there IS a reasonable explanation, my guess is the one person outside of Dempster who would be responsible for knowing it, would be Pineilla right?

He would be responsible for having the “pulse” of his team

Now, i don’t necessarily believe in this, as I place the blame partially on Dempster and partially on our own expectations for Dempster (since he clearly pitched WAY above his head all season long)

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 3, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions