It's the 9th inning...
by MPH73 on Apr 3, 2008 8:23 AM CDT
35 comments
...and its the last day of the season. The Cubs are trailing by one run, and they have the bases loaded with one out. It just so happens, the Cubs need to win this game to make the post-season and they are facing a tough pitcher on the mound. My question is simple, who would you most prefer to see hitting in this situation and why? Also, throw in your 2nd and 3rd choices as well.
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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Good question
1) Ramirez 2) Lee 3) Fukodome
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 8:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Keep in mind
I did not do any investigation on life time clutch hitting stats. Purely my own preference. For some reason I recall earlier last year Theriot coming through in real clutch situations. It did tail as the year progressed.
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent question.
1) Fukudome
2) Ramirez
3) Lee
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 3, 2008 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It's early with Fukudome...
...but I have to agree Al, my choices would mirror yours exactly.
The best scenerio here is having someone that can give you a basehit or better to win the game, or at least a fly ball to tie the game. Obviously, the last thing you want here is a double play to end the season.
1.Fukudome - can get you the hit, flyball or could even coax a walk and would be difficult to double up.
2. Ramirez - Double play candidate, but is too good a hitter to not want in this situation
3. Lee - See Ramirez
4. DeRosa
5. Ward
6. Soriano
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Apr 3, 2008 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of topic
Just planting the seed for another fanpost. Next up, bottom of the ninth, tyring run on third, winning run on second. Cubs are away. Which pitcher you would like to see on the mound?
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 8:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Good one...
...and I was going to present a couple other situtations as well. To answer your question, I would want Marmol because of his ability to get the K.
Let's look at another one:
Bottom of the ninth, and Cubs are trailing by one run. Again, you need to win the game to make the post-season. If you could choose the order of the first five Cub hitters to hit in the inning, what would they be?
Mine are:
Fukudome
Lee
Ramirez
Soriano
DeRosa
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Apr 3, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay
Fukodome higher OBP to start things off.
Lee, again a higher OPB to either move Fukodome along or better yet get on base.
Ramirez-HR game over...... at least the possibility of one as well as a decent chance of getting on base
Soriano-Again long ball
DeRosa? I think if we do something like this a couple months from now, for some reason I would not be suprised to see Soto replace DeRosa in this list.
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I should add
I like the mental make up of players listed. Especially Ramirez
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe you know
I searched the Cubs site under stats. I also searched Baseball Reference and can not find players "clutch hitting" averages. Am I just overlooking it, or where than can you find it?
I wanted to check the players we all agree on what their clutch averages are lifetime. I would have expanded that to check others as well on the roster.
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
by wild bill on Apr 3, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
baseball-reference.com...
...has that stuff.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Apr 3, 2008 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
man
good topic. ive thought about this a time or 2 this offseason. my answer would be fuku,ramirez,derosa. man hendry should be charged with grand larceny for stealing fukudome for 4 yrs,48 million. i havent beem happier about a new player in awhile. some of the things he's doing wont get into the stats but are huge. he made the pitcher throw about 20 pitches yesterday in 4 ab's. i love it. i wish we had 7 more just like him.
WAKE ME UP WHEN THE SEASON STARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by cubsluver22 on Apr 3, 2008 8:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
great question
Given the current Cubs roster, I'd have to echo Al's choices - Dome, Ramirez, DLee.
Of course, this scenario could never happen since the Cubs are at Milwaukee the last game of the season and thus couldn't be trailing in the 9th inning when on the road.
But let's just say it was at Wrigley Field. This scenario (facing a tough pitcher) STILL couldn't happen. Why? Gagne would be on the mound! ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Apr 3, 2008 8:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
fuku(just because he could draw a walk)
RAM
DLEE
by Kchance on Apr 3, 2008 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Pie
just kidding
Fuko
Lee
Ramirez
Ward
Zambrano
by BigFuko on Apr 3, 2008 8:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I like this one
Definitely Fukudome...now if it is something more dire, such as 2 outs and a man on second in a tie game...I'd go with Rami...as long as it isn't Ronnie Cedeno pinch hitting in the pitcher spot I'm happy!
by jbertram on Apr 3, 2008 8:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ramirez, hands down...
1. Ramirez - has consistently proven to be our best hitter over the past several years
2. Lee - has proven to be our second best hitter over the past several years
3. Fukudome - he's patient
I'm not sold on Fukudome yet. Much in the same manner that the season isn't lost after two games, two games don't make a hitter a proven commodity. His inclusion is more a statement about how I feel about the rest of the hitters than it is about how confident I am in him. If he continues to prove himself a top-tier hitter, I may move him up. But I want a bigger sample size than 10 AB.
by SouthernCub on Apr 3, 2008 9:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I would agree with you picks here..
...I need to see a little more from Dome..but he certainly makes the list.
Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.
by JB 23 on Apr 3, 2008 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A-Ram
I have no stats to prove it, but I feel he's our best clutch run producer.
After Ramirez, I go Lee, Fukudome, DeRosa, Soto, and Ward.
Soriano's not even on my list... he strikes out too much for me to "want" him up in that situation.
Cubs 2008
Home (0-2) | Road (0-0) | 1-Run Games (0-1) | Extra Innings (0-1)
Updated on April 2, 2008
by SackMan on Apr 3, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's easy. This guy:
Nanika Ga Okoru!
by dat cubfan daver on Apr 3, 2008 9:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ha!
Perfect!
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
by gary varsho on Apr 3, 2008 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My answer...
1) Aramis: He has been the most clutch hitter we've had the past couple of years. He seems to thrive on these moments, definitely a no-brainer.
2) Lee: Although I can't recall Lee coming through for us much in these kind of situations, he is one of our best hitters. He's got power, above average patience, and he's not afraid to hit to the opposite field.
3) Soriano: I know I will get flamed for this but Sori is a big-time player. I still have that Colorado game fresh in my mind. I chose him for a few reasons: Speed to stay out of the double play, HR and doubles power, and he still strikes fear in pitchers regardless of what people say.
Why I wouldn't chose:
DeRo: Anyone remember game 3 last year? Nuff said. He hits into too many double plays for my liking in this kind of spot.
Fukudome: I like what I've seen so far, but it's still too early for me to trust him in this kind of spot late in the season.
Ward: Great hitter, but anything hit on the ground is a guaranteed DP.
"The one that invent the light tried 2,000 times and finally he did it, we have light...I don't want to spend 2,000 times to win Opening Day" Carlos Zambrano
by CubsBullsBears on Apr 3, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
no doubt about #1
1. ramirez
2. fukudome
3. lee
Bill James Felix Pie 2008 Projection: .283/.333/.456 16 HR 21 SB
by kylejo on Apr 3, 2008 10:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The better question would be
what if it was a pinch hit situation? Thats one of my worries. the Cubbies only have one power threat off the bench assuming DeRo isn't one of the options. Ward is the only guy.
Poor Matty Murton....
by Keystone80435 on Apr 3, 2008 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I know your situation calls for the bases loaded so power isnt the best option but a sac fly would tie it up with the option of a game winning blast
Poor Matty Murton....
by Keystone80435 on Apr 3, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My Choice
1. Lee
2. Ramirez
3. Fukudome
I wouldn't want anybody up there that is looking for the grand slam so scratch Soriano and DeRosa.
by McRipper on Apr 3, 2008 12:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This guy, right?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 3, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So how is your Pato Banton collection?
Who has my 'Club Paradise' dvd?
by Keystone80435 on Apr 3, 2008 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not as big into Pato...
more of a Culture (with the late Joseph Hill), Steele Pulse, the late Lucky Dube, Abyssinians, Congos, always enjoy Bob, Gregory Isaacs (saw him at Wild Hare a few weeks ago), as I type, enjoying a track by Junior Gobg Marley, plenty more...sorry you asked. I am usually good for a rec if needed.
Calm down.
by Kinky Reggae on Apr 4, 2008 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops, Junior Gong, not Gobg.
Calm down.
by Kinky Reggae on Apr 4, 2008 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also gotta add for some good ska(ish) music
Slightly Stoopid. Oh Toots and the Maytals is great ragga too.
Calm down.
by Kinky Reggae on Apr 4, 2008 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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