FINALLY, Lee is dropped in the order and Theriot leading off...

by SammySosa on Apr 24, 2009 4:11 PM CDT

Just when I was buying into the idea of Soriano leading off because he gets more at bats, etc....Lou STUNS me.

Gordon Wittenmeyer reporting that Theriot leading off, Fukudome #2, Soriano #4, Aram #4 and DLEE #5. WOW. Super excited....I don't know about you guys, but I hope this work tonight. This team needs some offense and waiting for Bradley to get healthy isn't the number 1 option.

Anybody have news on Jake Fox, I know he is tearing up triple A, but is he playing in the outfield of did they switch him to 3rd base? Just curious because he would be a great backup option at 3rd to give rammy some rest.

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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That lineup can't do any worse than the lineups Lou tried the last 2 games...

watch them score 19 tonight and never look back the rest of the year.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 24, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

so, what kind of payoff did Lou have to give Bud to let Soriano and Aramis bat at the same time?
Which one gets to be in front?

Maybe this isn’t moving Lee, it’s moving Soriano, and Lee had to move to let Sori move…

Jake Fox suffers from Micah Hoffpauiritis. He plays a competent 1B, but that’s it.

So much for my poor, lonely fanshot…

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 4:16 PM CDT reply actions

I suspect this is just a one-time deal.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

ahh...Debbie Downer! :-)

by cubsnlinux on Apr 24, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree, this sounds a little like a shake em up....

…to see if we can get some offsense going lineup to me.

Who knows, maybe it will stick….

New sig currently under construction

by JB 23 on Apr 24, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

There's already a Fanshot about this.

Check the minor league wrap for news on Jake Fox.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Apr 24, 2009 4:17 PM CDT reply actions

Brilliant post.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Apr 24, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions

it even has

the obligatory “why isn’t this minor-leaguer in the show” section.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Almost reminds me of

Kessinger (SS)
Beckert
Williams (LF)
Santo (3B)
Banks (1B)

by Chodes on Apr 24, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

Soriano #4, Aram #4

so Lou figured the best way to get Lee out of the 3 spot, it not to have a 3 spot

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Apr 24, 2009 4:41 PM CDT reply actions

Fox is not playing third base

at Iowa. I doubt that he could. He can barely play first base (although he can hit the ball very, very hard).

by Josh Timmers on Apr 24, 2009 4:47 PM CDT reply actions

If the NL had the DH rule...

… platooning Fox and Hoffpauir would be great. But we don’t have it.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I expect Fox to be called up sometime this year

and win a game for us as a pinch-hitter.

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on Apr 24, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't.

Because we already have one guy (Hoffpauir) who can only pinch-hit.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 25, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Except

that he can’t pinch hit. Career #s pinch hitting .278/.316/.333 (oh and before I get pulled over by the small sample size police, yes, it’s only in Micah’s 19 PAs as a PH)

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on Apr 25, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly my point.

Hoffpauir’s not really suited to that role. Fox can’t play a defensive position. Why would you need/want either one of them?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 25, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Because Fox might be suited to a pinch-hitter role?

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on Apr 25, 2009 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

But... but....

… he hits righthanded!

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 25, 2009 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions

and is less proven at MLB

than Hoff

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Apr 25, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I was curious Al...

since you also mentioned the DH yesterday in a post: Are you a supporter of bringing the DH to the NL? (Don’t mean this as a pointed question; I’m actually asking :))

by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 24, 2009 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't believe he is.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions

ah.

Ok. Thanks Drew.

by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 24, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions

He's right.

I like the game the way it is in the NL. The only thing I was saying is that the Cubs have a guy well-suited to be a DH.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 25, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

So

what if they lose tonight? How long do we allow lineup-change posts to carry on being posted while the team founders?

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 4:50 PM CDT reply actions

hallelujah

and i’m not that religious.

This team should not have to work as hard as it does to score runs… and batting the best hitter on the team leadoff has always kept this team’s ability to do that CONSISTENTLY down. When this lineup is putting up 6 and 7 runs on a consistent basis, the pitching staff and bullpen will feel a lot less pressure and won’t start worrying just because they give up a couple runs early. This will also keep the innings where they have to use 3 pitchers to get out of it to a minimum, saving Marmol’s arm and Gregg’s knee. Suddenly a Cotts-esque inning where a reliever gives up a run doesn’t seem so bad with Blue murderer’s row coming up in the 8 and 9th innings. When everyone is available and producing on this team, you could really pick it out of a hat and it would score runs… but this lineup will definitely score runs.

1. Theriot ss
2. Fukudome rf
3. Soriano lf
4. Ramirez 3b
5. Lee 1b
6. Fontenot 2b
7. Soto c
8. Johnson cf

That is a thing of beauty (although I’m just speculating about the bottom half of it.

I really hope this isn’t a one-shot deal. When Bradley is back you slide him at 3 or 4 when he’s completely healthy and this team will go back to being the front runner for this division.

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Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Apr 24, 2009 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

Will it also cure the common cold and do something about my fallen arches?

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Apr 24, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions

once those aches have fallen, your toast my friend....

New sig currently under construction

by JB 23 on Apr 24, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

That is a thing of beauty (although I’m just speculating about the bottom half of it.

Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve said THAT…

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

wow

that’s actually the first funny thing i’ve ever seen out of you.

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Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Apr 24, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Apr 24, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions

FTW!

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Apr 24, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Two innings

Six of seven retired. No runs.

I proclaim this lineup a FAIL!

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Apr 24, 2009 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions

they did score three

given to us by two cardinal errors. Ryan Theriot came up in at least two critical situations, and couldn’t get the job done.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Lou with the shake up

He saw how bad the offense was the last 2 days and is shaking things up, I hope it works out. I’d be shocked if its a permanent move. Lineup construction is such a small part of the equation in scoring runs IMO

by jeff_pico on Apr 24, 2009 6:45 PM CDT reply actions

Doesn't matter where you hit...

The lineup looks good when people hit w/ runners on base….

The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano

by kcjones on Apr 25, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I sure hope...

that screwing with Soriano’s placement won’t impact his performance. The guy has great so far…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 24, 2009 7:09 PM CDT reply actions

Well that didnt work

Ball 4!

by californiachicagoan on Apr 24, 2009 9:53 PM CDT reply actions

NEEDED SORIANO IN LEADOFF TONIGHT

if soriano would have gotten to lead off he would have had another at bat with a man on in the ninth. theriot is a great hitter but even the average cubs fan would have wanted soriano to be at bat in that situation. only ramirez may be more clutch. soriano could have won the game on one swing or tied it with a double.

by cooltrev on Apr 24, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions

Zambrano

Just needs to punch somebody and the season will be back on track.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Apr 25, 2009 12:22 AM CDT reply actions

LOL

I nominate Neal Cotts.

"I'll never forget how I felt last October." ~Kosuke Fukudome

by Goodie1969 on Apr 25, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

I was thinking

Milton Bradley, because A) he needs to have somebody knock some sense into him and B) he looks like he could take a punch like a champ.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Apr 25, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

This lineup doesn't seem as threatening as last years....

I think because you have a Miles/Fontenot in there instead of DeRosa……wondering if the Cubs are missing the 15 RBI’s he has w/ Cleveland (on only 15 hits…CLUTCH)…

2009 6.4 SO/game 4.33 BB/game 105/67=1.57 K/BB
2008 7.37 SO/game 3.95BB/game 1186/636 = 1.86 K/BB

To answer my question from earlier….Cubs are actually striking out less and walking more than last year…

BUT…..are scoring 4.67 runs per game this year vs. 5.31 per game last year

The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano

by kcjones on Apr 25, 2009 7:00 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah but..

Remember you are comparing 16 games at 4.67 versus and entire season of 5.31 – there may have been times last year when the Cubs went 16 games and only scored > 5 runs per game.

You would probably not get very far in your statistics class comparing a sample size of 172 (2009 total at bats) versus 1822 (2008 total) as a legitimate sampling.

I miss DeRosa too, but this lineup when completely healthy is capable of scoring a LOT of runs.

by bdoubleu on Apr 25, 2009 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Strikeouts and walks are a very small part of a teams offensive success

Homers, timeliness of hits, and luck are much bigger factors. I would bet that if you looked at those (HR’s, BARISP, BABIP) than you would see a big difference.

St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008

by vivaelpujols on Apr 26, 2009 2:28 AM CDT up reply actions