Tyler Colvin = Alfonso Soriano

That’s OK – I do, too. I know you mentioned it, but I think we need to REALLY emphasize sample size here. We’re talking about a rookie with 268 career PAs to a big league veteran with 6,204. Colvin is still developing, so we really don’t know what kind of player he is. Maybe he’ll still end up being comparable to Soriano, maybe not.

A simple answer to your question is this (and this is how I’m looking at it): Batting Tyler Colvin lead-off (and Castro second, for that matter), ensures him the maximum number of at-bats per game – which is good for his development. He needs major league ABs to develop and he’s getting them. Period.

By the way, I screwed up my poll vote. I voted for “He runs fast,” but meant to vote for “Lou’s the manager.” I think, in this case, Lou is doing the team a parting favor by giving Colvin and Castro this opportunity to get a lot of plate appearances. At this point in the season, the lineup order really isn’t all that important any more, and Lou knows this. Of course, the fact that Tyler does have good speed doesn’t hurt.

Leave the kid alone! Him and Castro are doing fine!

then we have a gem on our hands. Especially since he’s actually better defensively

once as strikeout rate, once as walk rate

Also, if Covin can do in his rookie year what Soriano is doing in his 10th, I think that’s really good.

but nice stuff is happening when he does lead off

I’ve been wondering why it isn’t Castro/Colvin instead.

If you want to know why fans aren’t upset with Colvin’s leading off and were with Soriano’s leading off, it’s that Soriano makes a lot more money than Colvin. Because Soriano made in the leadoff spot and is still making a lot more money than Colvin, fans expected more out of Soriano. Soriano came to the Cubs as a leadoff hitter. That added to the expectations. Colvin’s just a rookie that few envisioned to be a leadoff hitter.

You have to bat him leadoff for many years….duh.

This begs the question why in gods name is Colvin leading off? People got fed up with Soriano leading off so why aren’t people mad now?

I think people were fed up with Soriano because:
1. He was not hitting well enough to hit at the top of the order. In 07 and 08, it was the lack of SBs compared to 06. In 09, it was everything.
2. He was reluctant to move down in the order.

Colvin, of course, has shown none of that.

Best thing for Soriano in 2010 – He has been practically locked in at 6th in the order. 83% of his ABs there.

Why mess with that. The better question would be why is Tyler Colvin leading off. And to that I say, well there hasn’t been a better alternative…at least of those put in there so far this year. I’m sure you can come up with stats to support a lot of guys at leadoff, but I don’t think you could say Riot or Dome who have been in there this year worked out well.

Finally the lefty bat to split Lee and Ramirez and instead he’s batting first. For the rest of this season I think Byrd, although he is not the prototypical lead-off hitter either, should be batting first. Byrd-Castro-Lee-Colvin-Ramirez-Soriano-Soto-Fontenot.

 I don not think Colvin is the ideal lead off hitter, but Soriano has not been playing the game the right way for awhile. He doesn’t hustle down the line on ground balls, watches his big shots that sometimes don’t leave the park, fails to take extra bases when the situation arises, won’t even try to steal, and looks like he has the same fire that Colvin does. Just my opinion (and quite few others that I talk to) and I if we could get trade him, I would be all for it.
 Now I am pretty sure the numbers do not show any of this so I guess you have to leave up to people who notice the little things like Lou.