Possible changes in left, bullpen?

"When you're not scoring runs, you better put your best defense on the field -- that I can tell you," Piniella said after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. "You can't afford to give up runs when you're not scoring."

I'll believe it when I see it.

about 2 years ago Unique 27 comments 0 recs |

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did he say left?

adam lind maybe?

"The roar from the crowd really fired me up," Burish said. "In warmups there were a lot of signs. One said 'Burish, my grandma is pregnant.' I don't know what that means. I skated by it and said, 'it's not mine.' "

by jesus christos on Apr 11, 2010 7:30 PM CDT reply actions

This speech is not new

Lou actually acting upon it would be.

by ak123 on Apr 11, 2010 7:37 PM CDT reply actions

i think, i hope, is it possible?

Would lou actually bench Soriano in a home opener?

by mdcubsfan on Apr 11, 2010 7:38 PM CDT reply actions

For Colvin?

I doubt it.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 11, 2010 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions

me too..he's lost his instincts and only plays by the book MSO (my silly opinion)

"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

by cooliogirl47 on Apr 11, 2010 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't think...

… of many managers who would bench Soriano at this point. The team needs to do everything it can to get him out of the rut that he’s in. He’s working with a new hitting coach and the bottom line is that a productive Soriano would be a tremendous lift to this team.

This is not to say that Soriano being consistently productive is or isn’t likely. I have no idea, but at this point, Lou and the coaching staff need to figure out if they can get this guy right. If they can’t… Hendry may have to go talk to his boss about the fact that Soriano may be a sunk cost, so the least they can do is get some production out of left field.

by dmlichte on Apr 11, 2010 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions

this is a stupid question....but do they have to let him "practice" in actual games?

"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

by cooliogirl47 on Apr 11, 2010 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions

you know I respect what you say...I'm not being snarky, its a real question

’

"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

by cooliogirl47 on Apr 11, 2010 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I understand...

… fair question and definitely not stupid… I am guessing the answer is yes. I think that there’s nothing that can simulate game conditions… pitches at full speed, breaking balls in the dirt, etc. Soriano is also the type of hitter who is so streaky.

Do I think sitting him down and working with him on the side could help… maybe, but I think game conditions is where we need to see him succeed.

by dmlichte on Apr 11, 2010 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions

right, gotcha, and thanks.

"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

by cooliogirl47 on Apr 11, 2010 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions

yes very true, unfortunately

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Apr 11, 2010 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Disagree

The last couple of years, the Cubs didn’t have a more viable everyday option in LF than No. 12…even if he was flailing away. This year they have at least one in Nady, who is a much better everyday hitter than the lottery ticket swinger of No. 12. I wouldn’t suggest Colvin is a better option than Nady, but he’s a better option than what is currently getting regular AB’s in LF right now.

I agree, most managers wouldn’t bench their starting LF absent other viable options. In this case though, even if Nady has to roll the ball to the infield, he’s an option that can be and should be used in LF on an extended basis staring right now.

"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder

by krummy12 on Apr 11, 2010 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Nady is not an option yet

By all accounts he is not ready to be a “regular” player until June. I think arm strength would an issue in more than just his throwing if you trotted him out everyday at this time.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 11, 2010 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions

nope.

Soriano and Nady will play against the lefty.

by elgato on Apr 11, 2010 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Nothing will change-the only difference will be the pen blowing leads and Soriano sucking at home instead of on the road.

by TJ11 on Apr 11, 2010 8:14 PM CDT reply actions

I do like the part about

ST not telling all and once the season starts it’s the real thing. This is a warning shot.

There goes one over the fence...a Tru-Link fence.

by truelinkfence on Apr 11, 2010 8:16 PM CDT reply actions

Reality check

Were it as easy as benching Soriano, there would be alot more workable demotions in this world.

As much as I’d like the Colvin experiment to work, he’s only proven himself in spring training so far.

by AboutTheCubs on Apr 11, 2010 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

Send him to the minors

I was listening to Mr. Santo on Sunday during the game and he said that before the game he was speaking with Soriano and that Soriano stated his timing is a little off. If this is the case, why not send him to AAA for a few weeks. If he improves, bring him back up. This would also send a message to the other players, start performing or we will send you down.

by bazfan1234 on Apr 12, 2010 8:42 AM CDT reply actions

Here we go again

Every year we get the calls to “DFA, DFA” and “send him to the minors”.

Just in case you aren’t aware, it can’t happen without Soriano’s approval.

by rlpete on Apr 12, 2010 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

And even if it did...

…. what would be the point? So he could rake against inferior pitching?

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 12, 2010 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions

How much more...

I understand that in the past everyone has jumped the gun in saying DFA and send him to the minors, but how much more can this team take if he continues to hurt them not only offensively, but defensively as well. If his timing if off, do you really think he would rake against inferior pitching? He just needs to get his swing down, one way or the other, and it seems as if Lou’s patience is slim.

by bazfan1234 on Apr 12, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

He's 34 years old.

If he needs to get his timing down correctly, he should of told Piniella he needed more ABs in Spring Training. Soriano said he’s seeing the ball “very good”. That’s the scary part.

He does not need to go down, it wouldn’t make sense, and he will not go down.

2010 is OUR year.

by Unique on Apr 12, 2010 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions

If he's seeing the ball "very good..."

… maybe he needs to stop swinging that tree trunk and switch to a lighter bat.

He may indeed be seeing the ball well, but he can’t hit it. A lighter bat, even an ounce or two, might help him get better control of his swing and bat speed.

Also, I don’t know if he didn’t get a good read on that flyball yesterday or what, but he looked a little hesitant getting over there before dropping it.

"It's Spring Training. You know how many home runs Barry Bonds hit off me? One - in Spring Training." - Big Z

by Phubbies on Apr 12, 2010 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I think........

We should put him in the 8 hole until he proves he can be patient enough to either draw walks, or force pitchers to pitch to him and thereby get some hits.

by jballgame on Apr 12, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Reply fail. (D'oh!)

See below. Sorry.

"It's Spring Training. You know how many home runs Barry Bonds hit off me? One - in Spring Training." - Big Z

by Phubbies on Apr 12, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

BWAHAHAHAHA

Soriano… drawing walks… HAHAHAHAHAHA!

The problem is that there is no reason to throw good pitches to the 8th hitter. If you walk him, you face the pitcher. And, except when Big Z is pitching, there’s no reason to worry facing the pitcher. Putting Soriano in the 8 hole would lead to even MORE breaking balls low and away.

By the way, has it struck anyone else as odd that Soriano and Shawon Dunston both wore #12, had stances where they stood with their back to the pitcher and had a propensity for striking out on pitches waaaaaaaay down and out of the zone?

Difference: I still have a soft spot for Shawon. (see: my icon) I had lower expectations for Dunston than Soriano and we never paid Dunston a dumptruck full of cash.

"It's Spring Training. You know how many home runs Barry Bonds hit off me? One - in Spring Training." - Big Z

by Phubbies on Apr 12, 2010 11:31 AM CDT reply actions

Obviously.........

You didn’t read my post or understand my point. Putting him in the 8th spot would be an attempt to FORCE him to become more disciplined, b/c, to your point, he wouldn’t get many good pitches. Therefore, he would have to become more selective as a hitter or continue to fail miserably. It’s the ultimate “must have discipline” spot-not saying it would work, but what better place to bat him to try and get him to be more disciplined?

by jballgame on Apr 12, 2010 12:32 PM CDT reply actions