but you’re not seriously suggesting that Hoffpauer should play Right Field, are you?

How many home-runs would he have to hit in order to make up for the runs he’d allow defensively? It’s not like he really did all that well when he was up before.

I’d much rather bring up Pie and put Edmonds/Johnson in right.

Good grief. I’m convinced that Hoffpauier has taken over the “Matt Murton can do no wrong” role among the lunatic fringe of the Cub fan base.

….but I’ve started to cringe when I look at his line in the box score. His BB/K ratio has really slipped – it used to be that even if he wasn’t getting a hit, he’d still be getting on base, but the trend is alarming:

April: 18bb/18k
May: 16/15
June: 17/22
July: 9/25
August: 7/11

I don’t see the games on TV, so I don’t have a lot of insight into how pitchers have adapted to him, but it sure seems like they must’ve done something. I agree with MPH73, that he’ll come up with something down the stretch, and honestly, even if he doesn’t, he’s so solid in RF that he’s still a keeper.

My great hope is that if the Cubs make the playoffs, Kosuke will come up with a hit at just the right moment and make a big difference. He’s enough of a pro and a veteran that I could see that happening, even in the face of a difficult adjustment to MLB.

Lou will be able to slide the call-ups in and out of the lineup without the appearance of abandoning Dome.

I think that’s what I’m trying to say.

This guy is going to get his act back together. And, to point out what others have said — he’s great with the glove. We are not ‘stuck’ with him.

He’s still adjusting to MLB. if this is the case next year at this time, there is a problem. This is one of the smartest players I’ve seen in a Cubs uni in years. I believe the guy will make adjustments — but it won’t be easy on him.

H-paur is a 4A player. He’s trade bait. I doubt if the guy ever amounts to anything in MLB.
But perhaps some team that needs players badly (Padres?) might want him. However, they have nothing — absolutely nothing to give in return.

But some AL team could take a flier on him….

He’s going to be ok. No doubt there are adjustments for him to make, and he’s all out-of-whack with his swing now (has been for some time). But the guy is a professional, is a great glove man, great baserunner (when he gets on, anyways), and is too talented and proud to keep stumbling like this. I’d say to look for a big year from him next year. As for this year… well, I hope he figures it out sooner rather than later.

But benching him is probably not the best option. The guy is a beast in RF.

:*o(

…but yesterday I finally decided to change my Dome-centric avatar and sig line to something different. I want to make it clear that this in no way means I’ve given up on Kosuke. It was just the irrational superstitious side of me thinking that, if I changed something, maybe he will as well.

I still believe Dome’s a good player who will turn things around offensively at some point. Whether it will happen this season is hard to say. Perhaps he’s hesitant to change his hitting mechanics too much right now for fear it will cause him to completely lose control of the strike zone. As it is, he’s not hitting well, but he’s still getting some results some of the time. And, yes, his defense in right field should never, ever be underestimated. Other teams appear to be respecting his arm and that, more than likely, is preventing runs.

I must admit, the idea of doing a Dome/DeRo home/road platoon in right field is intriguing. Kosuke’s numbers at Wrigley are still remarkable – .843 OPS at home vs. a .659 OPS on the road. And DeRo’s resilience is well-documented.

In any case, Dome has become a somewhat sad subplot in what has otherwise been a very happy season. Nonetheless, I think it’s still far too early to consider giving up on him entirely. Oh, and, no, Hoffpauir in right field is most certainly not the answer.

I don’t know to much about the analysis of swings but does Dome’s swing have a lot to do with his struggles?

What I mean is, Dome is almost out of the batters box when he swings and when he’s pitched low and away, he misses it by a mile. It looks like he’s doing a drag bunt but he does a full swing. Do you think if somebody taught him how to stay in the batter’s box until after he makes contact that that could help him out a little?

Like I said, I don’t know much, just curious to what anybody else thought.