FanPost

The Great Pie Debate

This topic is as stale as TTTSNBN.  We have people that will turn a blind eye to the fact that he is batting .182/ .217 /.182 in 22 AB's and discount this because he "needs" a chance to develop at the MLB level.  Then we have people that say he sucks even though he tore up the minors at every level and is still young enough to make changes and turn into a very good baseball player.  Captain obvious says he will land somewhere in between.  I am neither a Pie supporter or basher.  I root for him because if he succeeds he makes the Cubs better.  That is what is important, the Cubs being better.  If he were to "never make it" as an every MLB player, that would be unfortunate for him because there is obvious talent but I wouldn’t shed any tears. 

Right now he is absolutely lost at the plate.  That happens.  It's ok.  But am I willing to sacrifice the next 2 months of the season to his growing pains?  Something that may or may not lead to an answer.  No, I am not.  Can we win without any offensive production from his 8th spot in the line up?  Sure.  Do we really want to try it?  I say no.  I don’t think we can give up any outs in any game if at all possible.  I still think he should start 1-2 games a week for now.  Put him in high leverage/low risk situations.  Get him to bunt for hits.  Get him to practice going to left field.  Get him in pinch hitting roles and late inning defensive replacement roles.  But by no means should he get 200 uninterrupted AB's until he can prove he can hit on a consistent level. 

I like how Lou started him the night after his game winning hit.  Lou put him in a position to succeed and build on confidence earned the night before.  Unfortunately Pie wasn’t able to capitalize.  But until Reed's numbers, .389/ .500/ .444 in 18 AB's, go down (and they will) why not ride his hot bat?  I mean he has a freaking OBP of .500 right now, how can anyone say he shouldn’t be playing?!  When Reed cools off, I am fine with going to a platoon or even getting Pie in there for a majority of the games.  But until that happens or Pie is able to string together a few good plate appearances (doesn’t have to be hits, but show he is learning and trying to fix his approach), we have to play Reed.

This team is built to compete now.  This team is built to win NOW.  The window to win in the playoffs is very small.  Look at the 2003 team.  How many people thought we would make it back to the playoffs in 2004?  I know I did.  Who knows if we will be able to compete next year, or later this year for that matter.  Our division looks to be getting tougher every year and I don’t want to throw away AB's this year for the sake of developing someone for an uncertain future, this year or next.

Maybe it is time we put this argument to rest.  We let Lou do what is best for the team.  We get Pie in whenever we can and root for him to succeed.  Yes, I realize hitting against live pitching is extremely difficult and is easier with consistent AB's, but now is not the time to develop.  Now is the time to win.

(All stats courtesy of BCB stat page)

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