Pinella riding it out with the veterans

but he’s a better player than Sam Fuld. Period. I love everything about Fuld — his competitive nature, fielding prowess, background story, intelligence, and playing style. That said, he has 0 chance of being as good as Soriano can be.

This team needs to “right” Soriano. He’s due so much money over the next 4 years I believe his ability to regain his form from last year is the single most important thing for the near future of this franchise. Suggesting he should be benched is not only the wrong move for this season, it’s the wrong move for the future.

That said, if Soriano has been bothered all year by his bum knee (I suspect he has) then I’d put him on the DL. At this point, it’s time to start planning for the future. And no, Sam Fuld should not be a starter in that future.

As far as Bradley goes, anyone that is still suggesting he should be benched simply hasn’t been paying attention. he had a bad series against the Dodgers but has been one of the Cubs’ best players since the All Star break.

1. Sori: Since the purge of last year’s leadership (DeRo, Woody, and Hank White), Lou has more or less anointed Sori as a team leader — even if Sori is not ideally suited to the task. When a manager benches a leader who is accustomed to playing every day, he risks having that leader turn the entire clubhouse against him. Lou may have made some questionable moves this past season and off-season, but he isn’t a total idiot. Besides, Sori is undoubtedly going to be back next year, and any positives that can come out of the last 40 games will help him for 2010.

2. Dome: He has a NTC and he has been better this year than in 2008, though I think he has firmly established that he is not a #5 hitter — just an expensive platoon table-setter. It is possible that Dome would waive his NTC to go to a team with a strong Asian fan base (e.g., Seattle) if the Cubs asked, so it is important to maximize his potential value by not benching him against RHP.

3. Gameboard: I don’t think he has a NTC, and any chance of trading him hinges on how he finishes the season. Some pine time will probably help him avoid nagging injuries, but he needs to be in there most of the time.

4. DLee: He is your other leader, so you can’t risk benching him either. Besides, he has been the Cubs’ best hitter for most of the season. Benching him at all while the Cubs’ WC hopes are alive would alienate the fanbase.

5. Ramy: He needs to be in there for obvious reasons as long as WC hopes are alive. I would favor shutting him down early if the Cubs fall out of the race, especially if he needs surgery.

6. Geo: I think he has to play. It’s the only way the Cubs can determine if he will go down as a “one year wonder”, or if he has the mental and physical toughness to bounce back next year. Since we basically know that Koyie Hill isn’t an everyday catcher, the Cubs need to find out about Geo before the off-season shopping period begins.

7. Riot: He probably needs more down-time since he tends to wear down. It’s also in the Cubs’ best interest to not let him pile up the stats before arb season. The issue is that the Cubs don’t have a young prospect SS to put there, so they will be wasting their time with Miles or Blanco (though Blanco might have a future as a 25th man UI).

8. LBR: Lou figured out in 2007 that LBR had a swiss cheese swing and was only effective against certain types of RHPs — that is why he was used so selectively in 2008. He has basically demonstrated that he is not an everyday player or even a solid platoon player, and he has limited usefulness as a UI since he can’t play SS or OF. At best, he might make a good PH (a la Daryle Ward). If he is a super-two, he’s a non-tender candidate. There is no real reason to play him other than as a PH, and there would be some value in optioning him to Iowa to cut his service time if the Cubs want him back next year.

9. Miles: The ultimate in sunk costs, it makes no sense to give him any ABs unless everyone else is hurt. And he will be back next year…. … ouch!

10. Baker: The knock on him in Colorado was that he had a 3B glove and a 2B bat. The Cubs need to give him extended PT at 2B to determine if his glove will be OK there on an everyday basis — especially since he will be arb-eligible.

11. K. Hill: He is what he is — a very useful backup C. He will be arb-eligible, so the Cubs risk having to pay him more than he is worth.

12: Fuld: He is what he is — a very useful 4th OF. He will never have the stick to be an everyday player, so he doesn’t need a ton of ABs the rest of the season. Just use him as a 4th OF.

13. Hoffpauir: He is what he is — a 4A 1B who can be effective in the ML in short spurts. He might have a future as a PH, but the Cubs don’t need both him and LBR in that role.

14. Fox: The Cubs really need to determine his best position during fall instructional league or winter ball. His real value is his bat, and very few guys can maintain any consistency with the stick while being shuffled around the diamond. (If it were that easy, DeRo wouldn’t be nearly as valuable as he is.) I would like to see him get the 3B ABs if Ramy is shut down early.

15. Andres Blanco: he is what he is — a good field, no hit SS. He would certainly be a candidate to be a UI next season (particularly if the Cubs eat Miles’ contract), but he doesn’t really need ABs the rest of the season.

16. RJ: he is a FA, and I think that $3M is way too pricey for a guy whose best use is as a RHB platoon OF. Unless the Cubs want to re-sign him, there isn’t much reason to give him any ABs except to protect Dome against LHP.

Among the SPs, I think there is a very real chance that the Cubs won’t be able to afford Rich Harden next season, so they need to figure out whether either Sean Marshall or Gorzo will be able to handle the #5 spot. Marshall will be arb-eligible, and Gorzo might be a super-two. They also need to find a shrink and a personal trainer for Z.

Among the RPs, I think it is safe to assume that Gregg won’t be back. The burning question that the Cubs have to answer is: is either Guzman or Mármol a legitimate closer? FA closers tend to be very expensive and the Cubs don’t have that many trade chips, so they need to give those guys a trial by fire.

Looking at it this way, Lou really doesn’t have much choice except to play his veterans.

Sorry for being so long-winded…