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Tired of Derrek Lee

Tiny by reedjohnson on

I know this topic has been discussed before over the last few weeks, but my patience has worn out with DP Lee.   I was at the game last night, and before each Lee at bat, I would joke with my buddy, "do you want to see a groundball to short?"   It seems that almost every time up, his at bats are completely the same: pitcher pounds him low and away, Lee pounds the ball into the ground to the left side.  With men on, the best you can hope for is a walk; the man has no power whatsoever, and completely useless in the clutch.   When he came to the plate last night in the 8th, I sighed as he strode to the dish: "inning over."  Sure enough, another one pounded into the ground.   That was the momentum breaker, as it took all the wind out of the sails of the team and the Faithful in attendance.

The thing that really gets me is this: only 4 home runs this summer, 5 extra base hits since July, only 77 RBIs despite playing every day, and this man bats THIRD, every day.   It is obvious that he is purely a singles hitter at this point in his career, and yet he bats in the most important spot in the lineup, every day, and I still feel like people think he's a superstar.  I truly believe this team will win little in the post season unless he is finally dropped in the order.  Personally, I'd love to see Soto in that 3 hole, and Lee around 6th or 7th. 

Forgive my venting. Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Lee shouldn't be hitting third

but sixth or seventh is too low. How about this (at least, against righties):

Soriano
Fontenot
Ramirez
Soto
Lee
Edmonds
DeRosa
Theriot

by elgato on Sep 3, 2008 9:53 AM CDT   0 recs

I got on the computer this morning...

to write this SAME EXACT post. I, myself, have to remember he is not a superstar. He is a good glove and has become a decent singles hitter, but not even a great one of those. If he has, in fact, become a singles hitter- one could make an argument that a guy like Sean Casey is better at it than he. The man hits the ball hard, just not in the air! Some sneak through for singles, the rest are outs. I miss his doubles as much as his homers and I feel that he is one of the weaker number 3’s in the game despite being in arguably the game’s best offense. I think the solution is to move him to 2nd in the lineup and ARAM to 3rd. This will be criticized because ARAM is only hitting .280 but in reality he is a much better hitter than that.

 He had those two slumps this year when he was dealing with that family matter; one was 27 hitless ABs the other I think got to 22. Take those out and he is hitting .310!!! He hit .310 last year, .291 in 06, .302 in 05 and .318 in 04. Then we could rotate the same guys who hit 5th in the 4 hole (Dero, Soto, Jed.)

One, this puts our better hitter 3rd.
Two, this takes one more possible baserunner of the paths for DLee.
Three, the two hole is where singles hitters thrive.
Four, it shakes things up… who knows maybe it could help him snap back to normal!?!?

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 10:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lee is slugging around .360

Over the past couple months. That is heroically and hysterically bad. And for a number 3 hitter?

Chicago Cubs Jokes, Humor and Parody at The Cubs Brickyard

by AceCubbie on Sep 3, 2008 7:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I understand your frustration, but I

doubt it if Lou would move his #3 hitter and team leader at this point in the season. Yes, he is a singles hitter now, but his luck could turn and he could return to form quickly. It’s not like he is batting .150. He is still gettong hits, just not driving in runs. That could change at any time.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 9:56 AM CDT   0 recs

Remember 2004?

Dusty tried to drop Sammy from 3rd to 6th for basically the same reason — Sammy wasn’t hitting. Sammy bitched and complained and it took a couple weeks to get him to agree to do it.

Different people. If Lou asked D-Lee to drop down in the order for a few games, Lee would almost certainly do it.

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

by Al on Sep 3, 2008 10:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's not my point. I know he wouldn't bitch about it.

He has never said, “I like to hit third”. When he came here, he didn’t hit third. He was put there because he was our best hitter. The fear of moving him has to do with affecting other guys. You might have to reshuffle a lot of guys to balance the lineup, what if you screw up someone else by moving him? That is the fear I am speaking of.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 10:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Who do you think would get screwed up?

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

by Al on Sep 3, 2008 10:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was speaking of anyone in particular, I just

know that most managers are rather superstitious creatures of habit. There’s is an element of fear with changing something that has worked, excepting the past 4 games. If you move Lee, who goes to 3 Rami? He’s been pretty successful at 4. Geo? Same thing. The point is, he is batting almost .300. It’s not like the Konerko situation. A little luck could completely change his results, so moving him may not be the best answer.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 10:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

There could be PR ramifications as well.

Lou drops DLee in the lineup and suddenly it becomes a big story and a possible distraction to a team that’s already trying to pull itself out of a four-game skid. Obviously, a manager shouldn’t worry about the press when making strategic decisions, but it’s a reality of the game today.

"I see the playoff schedule posted in the paper, and that stuff makes me nervous because you can't take anything for granted. We have a great team. We have a really good team. We're playing well, but we haven't won yet." - Jim Edmonds, 8/31/08

by dat cubfan daver on Sep 3, 2008 10:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's probably pretty low on Lou's list

of priorities, but you may have a point. I think he may be more concerned with the overall pyche of the team. It’s not like DLee is not exerting maximum effort. He hits the ball hard and a foot either way could change a lot of the DP balls into hits. To penalize a player who is hitting close to .300 in this situation would certainly cause some consternation among the other players.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What about moving him

UP to 2nd? Not like Soriano leads off with a walk or single every day and maybe this way eliminate some of those DP’s hopefully.

Go ahead, Z me.

by tony412 on Sep 3, 2008 11:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's a possibility, but what about the rest of

the order? Who’s you new 3. Dero, I like him down in the order for the secondary rally. Soto? No speed and you would have to change a lot when Hank White plays. You could shuffle everyone up one spot and put Scrappy-do at 8, but that’s a big change and why does Scrappy have to move? He’s hitting .300 at 2 now. It sounds easy but changes like this are never easy.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:24 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know...

…I like to have someone who can run a little bit in that spot and I think Lee has lost a step in the last year or so.

I would rather see him in the five hole and maybe he will relax a bit and still offer good protection for a guy like Soto or Edmonds hitting 4th.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd argue...

that Lee is a better baserunner than Theriot, who has held the #2 spot most of the year. He doesn’t quite have the speed he did, but I still think he’d make the pitcher think about it just as much as Theriot does. I wouldn’t mind seeing A-Ram 3rd and Soto 4th, but I would mind if Edmonds (who, despite last night’s HR, has been struggling) was in the 4 spot.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Sep 3, 2008 12:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Most guys...

…are better baserunners than Theriot. But I don’t think Lee has the speed to really put fear in anybody.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 12:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

DLee

could come out and say that he and Lou have spoken about hitting lower in the order and perhaps this makes it less of a spectacle.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 3, 2008 11:42 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lee's Slg pct. post all star break is .355, according to ESPN--that's horrific for a 1st baseman...

…wow! i didn’t realize he was hitting so poorly. I would think about moving Lee to No. 2 before I’d drop him down. he does get BBs and has good speed. But he is really lost it for the no. 3 spot and for a 1B. If he were playing for the White Sox they’d be booing him without mercy—that’s baseball! Right now he stinks.

by DudeVf11 on Sep 3, 2008 10:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He needs to be dropped in the order.

Obviously, your post is a little over the top in tone, but I think you know that. It doesn’t change the fact that a change will be needed at 1B in the very near term, if D-Lee can’t right this ship immediately.

Take a look at the South Side – they are going through a similar situation with Konerko (awesome 2005, big contract, not much since then, terrible 2008.) They aren’t going to keep running him out there indefinitely.

I think that sixth in the order is just about right for D-Lee, and I think that DeRosa should move up to the 3-hole.

At this point in his career, D-Lee is just not capable of hitting like a #3 hitting MLB 1B with an 8-figure salary. He is possibly in a bad place mentally, but he is definitely failing the team. He’s the 5th-best 1B in the division, but that’s only b/c LaRoche has faded almost as fast as Lee.

Lee is easily the one regular who an opponent would most want to face in a big spot. Even more so than Fukudome. His performance with RISP and 2 outs has been just abysmal – around .200 with an OPS+ of less than 50. That doesn’t mean that he needs to be benched right now, but it does mean that he and DeRosa should swap batting order spots.

And for 2009, I think that Hendry needs to keep his eyes and ears open regarding a potential upgrade. Lee only has 2 years left on his deal, and could presumably be moved without the Cubs eating a ton of his salary.

by D98 on Sep 3, 2008 9:58 AM CDT   0 recs

I agree with most of your points except the

comparison to Konerko. Konerko wasn’t hitting at all. Lee has a decent avaerage, he just stinks in the clutch. Although a move in the order seems to make sense, managers are hesitant to make a change of that magnitude for fear of upsetting the entire apple cart.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 10:04 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Its amazing....

Lee needs to hit in a different spot – Fukudome well he sucks.

What next? I understand we are Cubs fans but seriously??? Did anyone notice the Cubs won 85 games so far?

This is exactly why we sit in front of a computer all day. If coaches mad moves like this they would be fired. Justifying changing the line-up and moving our leader out of the 3 hole is maddening – especially after we have won 85 games, with the prospect of winning 100.

I am sorry but DLee is fine – yea he has been struggling lately but who has been on fire? We are just missing those clutch hits. And yes losing streaks are new to us, but if we win the next 4 or 5, are you still going to be calling for a DLee move?

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 10:05 AM CDT   0 recs

YES!!!!

We are, I have been thinking it since the fourth of July. And now I think it is time to put it into action. I am not on the ledge here like many posters but it bothers me how this board is not allowed to offer any criticism just because the team is GOOD, real good, historically good. There are some holes, and as fan who watch every day we see them. I’m not overly worried about Dlee but I think it is time for change and certainly not a problem that somebody mentioned it.

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 10:09 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ok fine -

Why didnt this come out a month ago? Two months ago? Why wait until the 4 game losing streak?

I think alot of people forget that baseball is a game of failure and until you understand that, you are not going to understand the game fully. Great baseball hitters are labeled that if they bat over .300 for a career, guess what that is failing 70% of the time. Perfection is not baseball.

I ask again, why change something that has worked 85 out of 139 games? Because DLee is batting .292, Soto is batting .292, Theriot .313, because Dero is batting .292. Oh and one more thing DLEE LEADS THE CUBS IN TOTAL BASES!!!!!!!!

By the way i am not bashing the poster of this thread, i think it is good but wrong timing.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 10:23 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

By that logic

The timing doesn’t matter. We cannot criticize on this board because if things are going good “we just have to find something to whine about” and when things are going bad “we are all overreacting.” I am not a pessimist by any stretch of the imagination but there are some inconvenient truths that can certainly be addressed in a message board as knowledgeable as this one.

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 11:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You are talking about...

moving our best hitter out of the 3 spot and putting him into a new spot, how is this not complaining/whining.

Let me ask you this if we won the last 4 games, which i believe would put us 6.5 to 7.5 games up and DLee went 5 for 17 (which he as done in the past 4 games) would this thread have been posted? I dont think so. I think we are looking for someone/something to blame for our losing streak.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You think they are talking about moving Vlad out in LA?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i have no idea...

i am not sure if that was sarcasm or a real question.

My guess is no to answer it though.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:32 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know they aren't. The point is that people are frustrated, but Lou is not going

to move DLee because he has hit into 25 DP’s. A lot of it has to do with luck. He’s hitting the ball hard, just right at the fielders. Blum made a fantastic play and could have just as easily waved at that ball.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:39 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ok cool.

That is where i thought you were going.

This is why Lou manages and we dont.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't do it yet...

…but it may be worth a shot to move him to the five hole.

Also, I wouldn’t call Lee the best hitter on the club. That would and has been Ramirez for at least the last couple of years.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 11:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Depends on what you view as best i guess.

Consistency, i go with Lee – Clutch i go with Ramirez.

Instead of moving him i would get him thinking opposite field first. see if that would help him. he seems to be standing up at impact and swinging with alot of hands. the lower part of his body doesnt seem to be working with his swing. Getting him to go opposite field might get that going.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Going? He leads the team in hits.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Huh?

I know he does – dude i like DLee in the 3 spot and i wouldnt move him!

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree he needs...

…to at least think about going the other way and that can help to keep him on the ball a little longer.

Outside of 05, Ramirez (IMO) has been the best pure hitter on the club. I say that because he has the ability to adjust his hands in midflight and put the meaty part of the bat on the ball to all fields. Lee has a bigger hole in his swing, but don’t get me wrong, he is a good hitter.

This is something I have said on here for a long time, and have not advocated putting Ramirez in the 3 hole because of his past problems running. Now, he appears to be running just about as well as Lee and I would rather give Ramirez one more AB in a game vs Lee.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 11:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ok.

I see your point and i agree with you when you put it that way.

.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:58 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have nothing against Lee...

…and really like the guy, but if he doesn’t start slugging a little more, I really think they are leaving runs on the table if they don’t adjust things a bit.

Ramirez would fit well into the 3 hole and your 4th hitter should be a top notch slugger. Look at Edmonds numbers with the Cubs – .569 slugging and 16 dings in just a little over 200 AB’s. That sounds like 4 hole production to me. Against lefties, give Soto a shot in the 4 hole – .517 slugging and 21 dings. Lee is not killing you in the 3 hole, but there appears to be other combinations that could yield a little more run production.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 12:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That we can agree on. He needs to slug more to be a #3 hitter.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 12:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it is a double edged sword...

I mean it really is – you are basing the above numbers off of Lee batting 3 right? (for Soto and Edmonds) It sounds crazy but if you move Lee out of 3 do those numbers definitely get better or might they get worse? For Lee and the other names mentioned. You just dont know. I am a believer if it aint broke dont fix it (and i am talking about the team), i fear that a change may make it worse and then we are at a loss…..

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 12:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree. If we were chasing the Brewers, I might be more

inclined to make changes. The team has done pretty good so far. If you make a change now, it damned well better be for the better.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 12:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You don't know...

…until you try, but a couple things seem to be genuine – Lee has not performed like a typical 3 hitter (on a good club) for sometime and you have other power guys who have produced and may allow you to put them in a better spot to complete the lineup.

Going back to last year, Lee has become more of a 5 hole hitter and I see that trend continuing.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 12:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The point is that managers don't normally make

this type of move if the are ahead. The potential to mess things up outweighs the potential of producing more offense. If you are chasing, you might make this type of move.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 12:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree...

…and I wouldn’t anticipate Lou making it unless Lee continues to not hit for more pop and you have other lineup options that look better around mid-sept.

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

by MPH73 on Sep 3, 2008 12:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you read any of the posts?

a few above this post i said Aram was. Wow.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 12:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is your quote...

" You are talking about…

moving our best hitter out of the 3 spot and putting him into a new spot, how is this not complaining/whining."

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 4:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I can do that too....

After MPH73 made the case for Aramis i said:

“Ok. I see your point and i agree with you when you put it that way.”

This is just silly. Read all the posts if you are going to critique me.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 4, 2008 8:30 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In their defense HIGGY

many have been saying that Lee’s lack of production and clutch hitting is a concern. Most feel that he has earned a chance to prove himself by I too, am starting to think what’s good for the team is not to have him in that spot. Not a big deal IMO, just a simple switch.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 3, 2008 11:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A simple switch? To move you #3 hitter who is hitting .292 with 77 RBI? That's

a big deal.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Still a simple switch.

Moving a man down in the order where he may not cost as many runs can help. Isn’t the order all about settingup so guys get on and guys knock em in? He isn’t doing this well for a while now. I love the guy but don’t think this can hurt. Soto is hitting way better than him now.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 3, 2008 11:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes, but you are implying that amove would provide more

opportunities for other players to drive in runs. I’m not as convinced of that like you are. We are second in baseball in runs scored. Do you think that moving DLee is going to change that? I’m not.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Perhaps not but to try things is okay by me.

Again, I have to clarify, I am not reacting to this situation, simply this post. I don’t hink it can hurt to have Geo in that hole to drive Theriot, Soriano, etc.

You are correct in that those RISP last night could very well have been on for the 8 hole and if DLee were there, he may have left them on too.

I just think trying these things isn’t a huge deal and I am fairly certain that Lee would do whatever it takes to win.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 3, 2008 12:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know that Lee would accept it, he's that type of player. I'm just not

covinced that moving him at this point in the season would produce the results that you want. We’ve won 85 games with him in that spot. That’s pretty good. I would perfer that he hit into fewer DP’s, but I don’t feel that moving him would produce more wins over the length of the season and there are potential problems if you do move him.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 12:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You could be right.

I suppose I don’t know really. I do know that it feels like a waste when he leaves 5 men on over two ABs.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 3, 2008 12:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I feel your pain. The question is would another player on this

team have been successful in that spot? You better be sure of that before you change things.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 12:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I would agree...

his clutch hitting is a concern, but this is more about DLee not being the man in the 3 hole. Clutching hitting is a timing thing, you cannot predict that every time we need a clutch hit that DLee or whomever is in the 3 hole will be the guy. It is all a timing thing.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Who is the man?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Willy -

i was talking about this threat being about DLee not being the man. i think DLee is the guy. Sorry for the confusion.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I see.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 3, 2008 11:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

derrek should hit #2

its not a drastic change, and the lineup does not have an established #2 hitter. soriano is boom or bust for the most part, he’ll hit a home run/a double/or strikeout, if he does hit a single he’s fast enough to break up the dp at second. let aramis hit #3, he’s clearly our best all around hitter. derrek lee, as he has performed this year, makes a perfect two hitter. slugging .355 since the all star break isnt going to cut it for a #3 hitter. and i completely agree with the suggestion that soto aboslutely needs to be moved up in the lineup if we are going to maximize on run scoring.

bring up felix.

by kylejo on Sep 3, 2008 10:22 AM CDT   0 recs

I have been saying this from the beginning of the season.

I am sure somewhere in my posting i can find it. DLee is a number 2 hitter, has been and always will be.

But we have won 85 games with him batting 3rd, so i guess it is too late.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 10:24 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes i agree

its too late because in reality, its not going to happen. if dlee continues to not slug, and if the lineup is not producing during the playoffs then maybe i could see lou tinkering a little.

one thing it is not too late for though, is moving soto up. he should be the #5 hitter every game he plays, imo.

bring up felix.

by kylejo on Sep 3, 2008 10:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 10:32 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

85 games?

Sure we have won 85 but why couldn’t we have won more? We have won 85 games with Bob Howry on the team. He must be pretty good. We have won 85 games with Fuko batting everyday, he must swing a pretty good stick. Just because this is an elite team, and make no mistake about it, it IS ELITE… doesn’t mean that problems should not be tackled the same way as is we had 75 wins and were fighting for the wild card.

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That said,

I don’t think Fuko should be taken out of the lineup. We have alot of money in him and I think there is plenty of reason to think he has a chance of coming around… not to mention the glove. I say stick him somewhere 6-8 everyday and take his lumps when he struggles.

by fanofthegame on Sep 3, 2008 11:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball is not a perfect game...

We do not have perfect players – nor will we ever. Yea we could have won more. We could have won the diamond back series last year right? Where are you going with this?

How many super teams have there been? a TEAM is like a puzzle, you need the right pieces, not necessarily the best pieces but the right ones. Would we all love an outfield of all the best, and an infield of all the best, of course, but is that realistic – no. EVERY TEAM HAS A HOLE IN IT. It is how you use the opposing teams hole to gain an advantage, right now the other teams are capitalizing on our mistakes, and we are not taking advantage of their holes.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Sep 3, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

D. Lee

will be god when he burns the postseason up.

from the mouth of Uecker:

"Am I the only one who’s glad it’s only a 4-game series? If was a 9-game series, I think the Cubs would win them all."

by cubsluver22 on Sep 3, 2008 10:32 AM CDT   0 recs

I've often read that the batting order makes little order in the grand scheme of things.

If you wanted to upgrade the lineup you’d be looking at replacing Lee with Hoffpauir or Ward. Of course the Cubs aren’t so fickle, and they’re going to play the guys making the money. It would take a low-revenue club like the Marlins or DRays to actually go with the hot hand on a whim and mix up the roster throughout the year. I really think those small-market teams have an advantage in this regard and history does bear that out to some degree.

by Jerry Mumphrey on Sep 3, 2008 10:46 AM CDT   0 recs

Are you saying Micah Hoffpauir is the "hot hand"?

He hasn’t faced a major league pitcher since July 22.

"I see the playoff schedule posted in the paper, and that stuff makes me nervous because you can't take anything for granted. We have a great team. We have a really good team. We're playing well, but we haven't won yet." - Jim Edmonds, 8/31/08

by dat cubfan daver on Sep 3, 2008 10:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

what is Lee's VORP

versus Hoffpauir or Ward?

I’ve read the same thing about batting order (recommended reading: Baseball Between the Numbers), but mixing it up now, at the expense of Lee, seems extremely risky.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Sep 3, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You'd want something rate based

not an overall counting stat like VORP because of Lee’s much greater playing time. Even then,