The cynic in me

by fischisgod on Apr 29, 2008 11:09 PM CDT

I know what I am about to post is extremely controversial but it has to be said.... In the case that Dome does not hit that opening day home run.. does everyone like him as much??? I know he has an over .900 OPS but I feel it is inflated. He can draw a walk i guarantee that but there is something to be said the fact he has had 6 RBis in 23 games...I am worried. I know most will write this off as me being a bad news bear but I think i might be correct. IMO our lineup come Thursday needs to be Soriano, Pie, Lee, Ramirez, Dome, Soto, DeRosa, Cedeno...

Cedeno needs to be in. Reed needs to be out.. I love Reed but Pie needs to play and not hit 8th...

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I Def agree with the Dome point

Im not sold on Dome yet in any sorts.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on Apr 29, 2008 11:11 PM CDT reply actions

I'm also starting to think that way...

he’s starting to look like a pretty mediocre hitter-certainly not somebody who should be hitting in the five hole. Hopefully he’ll be able to make adjustments.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2008 11:18 PM CDT reply actions

What's "mediocre" about him?

Be specific.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 3:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Rising strikeout numbers...

too many shallow flyballs or groundouts with runners in scoring position. As was mentioned above, take away his three run hr in the opener and he’d only have six rbi-unacceptable production for a five hole hitter. Lately he’s started to look uncertain at the plate and he seems to be starting to press.
Hopefully this is just a temporary funk while he adjusts to the ML but he better make these adjustments soon because this team is starting to look like it was playing way over it’s head a week ago and, unfortunately, the Cardinals haven’t seem to have heard that they’re supposed to be a bottom of the division team this year.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 30, 2008 6:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Every player can go through these times...

... as you note. I have confidence that he can adjust. He did strike out a fair amount in Japan, too, as well as drawing walks.

I’d much rather see him in the two-slot. You’re right about the low RBI total.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

a two hole hitter??

but not a five hole

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Apr 29, 2008 11:29 PM CDT reply actions

If Dome is what you think he is why isnt the lineup something like this:

Soriano
Dome
Lee
Ramirez
Soto
Derosa
Pie
Theriot/Cedeno

The problem, as we all know, is Soriano hitting leadoff. If he wasnt hitting leadoff, and hit sixth, doesnt this look so much better:

Johnson/Theriot
Dome
Lee
Ramirez
Soto
Soriano
Derosa
Cedeno/Theriot

by louslovechild on Apr 29, 2008 11:31 PM CDT reply actions

I guess it's...

...for the same reason that Soriano will hit leadoff instead of down in the order.

IMO, if you could look up “2-hole hitter” in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Fukudome planted right next to it.

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

by MPH73 on Apr 30, 2008 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions

the latter lineup looks fine to me

n/t

I have no response to that.

by stelmodad on Apr 30, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

With your proposed lineup (Soriano, Pie, Lee, ARam, Dome, Soto, DeRosa, Cedeno...)

you’d have a most interesting competition between Soriano and Lee to see who could hit the most solo homers.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Apr 30, 2008 12:55 AM CDT reply actions

I highly recommend reading this article then

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3363255

Just a clip:

“But like night baseball and post-season play, all baseball fads eventually work their way to Wrigley Field. Now, the Cubs are third in walks, first in OBP, first in the standings, and a game short of the best record in baseball.

How much can be attributed to the arrival of Kosuke Fukodome? Probably a lot. Fukodome leads the team in walks with 16 and leads the league in pitches per plate appearance. He is a human souvenir machine. His style rubs off. Aramis Ramirez, whose career high in walks is all of 50 is on pace for 104. Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Geovany Soto is on the same pace, and hopes to someday walk in a t-ball game.”

by IllinoisCubs on Apr 30, 2008 7:33 AM CDT reply actions

Fukudome

should be hitting 2nd – he’d be on for Lee a lot more than the alternative – and Soriano needs to drop down. Enough with massaging his ego!

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2008 7:45 AM CDT reply actions

Theriot should be on the bench

period. A guy who cannot possible hit it over the outfielders head should not be playing. Pitch him away all day and he is going to either hit the occasionaly liner or most likely grounder to the right side or soft fly to the right side. ENOUGH

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 30, 2008 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

Huh?

How can his “over .900 OPS” be “inflated”? (It’s .902, by the way.) That’s his OPS—no one added a few percentage points in there as a “welcome to MLB” present. Do we really want to start complaining about a Cubs player who draws walks and extends innings? Dome currently as 20 runs scored, that’s fourth on the team behind Soto (27), DLee (23) and Aramis (21).

And he has 9 RBI through 25 games, not 6 through 23. Granted, that’s not much to write home about at the moment, but RBI are very much a situational/team-related stat.

I’m not sure I understand your lineup either. So you’re not sold on Dome as an RBI guy yet you leave him right where he is in the lineup. And then you bat Pie second—sorry, he’s still not ready for that. I do agree that he shouldn’t bat eighth, though. Lou should move him up to the seven-hole. (No! I’m discussing the lineup constructon again! I promised myself I wouldn’t do that!)

For the most part, I do agree with you about playing 1Dec and Pie more, though I’d still like to see Johnson start against LHP.

Just some random thoughts. All apologies if I seem reactionary when it comes to Dome. I just kinda like the guy.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 30, 2008 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

The problem isn't with Fukudome

it’s with people’s expectations of him. If anybody thought he was going to come over here and be an All-Star, 30-30 type player, they were mistaken. I would say 15 homeruns might push it. BUT, this guy is a solid on base machine who any team would love to have. Is he an MVP, no. Is he a critical piece of this team, absolutely. I would argue it’s no coincidence we are being more patient at the plate as a team this year. People just need to temper their expectations. Think Placido Polanco type hitter.

by jbgindy on Apr 30, 2008 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

I knew coming over he wouldn’t be a 30-30 type and so far I believe he is as good as advertised. He gets on base, comes up with big hits, and has a great gun and defense in right. Other than Sosa, we haven’t really had a reliable right fielder in recent years

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 30, 2008 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions