Cub's Leadoff Hitter

by cubs on Jun 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT Comment 20 comments

With Soriano out for an extended period of time what will the cubs do to replace his bat in the leadoff hole. The obvious answer would be Ryan Theriot, but could they look to someone else on the roster such as Reed Johnson, Cedeno, or even Fukudome, or bring up a player from the farm system? I think sliding DeRosa or Fukudome up to the 2 spot and putting Theriot as leadoff would work the best. Is it possible that they could persue a leadoff hitter from another ballclub?

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DeRosa is doing so well at the bottom of th order.....

why not just leave him there?

by smitster2008 on Jun 12, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Theriot, Fukudome, and DeRosa make the most sense...

They have .400 OBP and can serve as good tablesetters for the middle of the order. I’d guess Theriot would hit leadoff and DeRosa second. That would keep the 3-4-5 intact. But you never know.

by SouthernCub on Jun 12, 2008 9:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

One word

Zambrano

"What a great call! Your doing a fantastic job, but people expect me to come out here and be upset. So I'm gonna kick some dirt, you understand?" - Lou Pinella

by Lou In Blue on Jun 12, 2008 9:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnson or Theriot

I think when Johnson plays you have him bat leadoff b/c he has proven himself earlier this year at that position. On days the Edmonds plays you put theriot up there and move DeRosa or Fukudome in the 2 hole. The way I see it we have a few different options to play with here. That isn’t a horrible thing to have, better to have to many options than not enough.

"Go Cubs Go"

by mkcubs21 on Jun 12, 2008 9:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's what i would do

i would put hoffpauir in left until soriano comes back and still use the platoon with johnson and edmonds in center.

by lexmarklover on Jun 12, 2008 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont agree with Hoff in left

but I do agree you dont mess with that platoon in CF, neither guy is an everyday guy IMO. As to the poster above you….Johnson battting leadoff, no offense, BUT UGGGGGGG

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

by Hammer on Jun 12, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed..

Its not that i like him there but its better than Fontenot being there. Plus it would only be on the days he plays.. there have been some people saying him playing LF and Edmonds in CF most games and that makes me cringe. I’m only suggesting that as an idea to help pass 6 weeks until Soriano comes back. Not a upgrade by any means but he has shown at times against leftys he can hit.

"Go Cubs Go"

by mkcubs21 on Jun 12, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

or we could...

...use someone who can actually play the position. I say we use Fukudome and his .404 OBP in the leadoff spot against righties, Johnson leading off against lefties (still platooning CF with Edmonds). Thunder Matt Murton in LF against everyone batting 7th or 8th.

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on Jun 12, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea!

It’s Orange Guy riding his unicorn, Des Moines.

I vote for him to play left most often; it’s not a good time to plug a rookie in, with tough road trips looming and a tight race.

And Theriot-Fukudome for 1-2 in the order.

"You get one extra flare a week -- just one -- a gork, a ground ball with eyes, a dying quail -- just one more dying quail a week and you're in Yankee Stadium!"
-- Crash Davis

by mlf on Jun 12, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Theriot to leadoff. DeRosa 2nd. Theriot over to 2nd base with the superior fielding SS Cedeno moved to SS.

What could be interesting is what Lou does if Theriot leadsoff and continues to hit 320 with a 400 OBA

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jun 12, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Theriot isnt moving to second base

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

by Hammer on Jun 12, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Big Fork in the Road, opportunity and potential pitfalls

Let me start; Murton is not in any of the answers, above or below those who have a love affair with a below average LF’er who is slugging below .400 in AAA after having spent 2 full years in MLB is not a good evaluator. We could see Kroeger before the carrot top appears. Matt is trade bait and without anymore HR’s he might be chum for sharks. BTW, he had his chance(s).

Opportunity: Cubs can develop three possibly four bench players during the 4-5-6 weeks. (Look for the week of 7/05 for the Cubs to know the extent of the injury and the implications to this season, broken pinky on the left hand is not a potential killer and flexibility and pain will be the primary issue, for this is not on his throwing hand, nor his power hand in batting.)

Bench players who can be developed: E-Patterson, Micah Hoffpauir and Fontenot. Piniella will more than likely be on the big game situational uses where he will insert DeRosa, Johnson in left field in late innings, while often starting Micah or Patterson. Look for Cedeno to get used more in double switches along with Fontenot. (Too bad Fontenot has learned how to play the OF occasionally, this might be a big deal for the Cubs to explore this fall and winter for the Mighty Fonty.)

I think we will see Piniella experiment with Patterson at the top of the order or have him bat 8th, while if/when Hoffpauir plays then we might see Fukudome move down the order in the #2 hole while Theriot leads off and if/when Edmonds gets hot move him to the #5 hole and Hoffpauir in a DH role in the 8th hole.

The opportunity is that when Soriano emerges the Cubs will have trade value (if these players produce), where they could entice a team to give up a valuable arm.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jun 12, 2008 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Murton, and...........

..........so do the Cubs. EPat and Hoff have been called up.

I’d like to see EPat get a quality shot. Fontenot is useless, in my opinion. He’s a butcher in the field and has shown very little at the plate this year. If Eric doesn’t turn into Corey, there may be a chance for him to stick with the team after Soriano’s return.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jun 12, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for saying what I've been thinking

I absolutely do not get the all the Matt Murton love out there-clearly the Cubs management has no faith in him either.

by bluekoolaide on Jun 12, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was brought up somewhere else

Fukudome first then leave 2-7 the same and slot whoever’s called up in the eight hole.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jun 12, 2008 10:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Leadoff hitter should be Kosuke

Rich Harden !! 8 starts, 3-0, 47 IP, 58 Ks, 2.85 ERA

by MDBNIU on Jun 12, 2008 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lineup

1. Kosuke – RF
2. Theriot – SS
3. Lee – 1st
4. Ramirez – 3rd
5. Soto – Cat
6. DeRosa – LF / 2nd
7. Edmonds / Johnson – CF
8. Cedeno – 2nd / Johnson – LF

Rich Harden !! 8 starts, 3-0, 47 IP, 58 Ks, 2.85 ERA

by MDBNIU on Jun 12, 2008 10:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

While Theriot is going well...

...I think Lou will just put him in the leadoff spot for now and see how things go. Fukudome may indeed finally get to where he belongs (number 2), especially with Edmonds looking like he can still produce in the middle of the order. Lou is going to tinker a bit, but I can see something like this against RH pitching:

Theriot
Fukudome
Lee
Ramirez
Edmonds
Soto
DeRosa
Johnson

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

by MPH73 on Jun 12, 2008 10:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs