Can the Cubs win with Pena's L-R splits hitting 4th

by tharr on Jul 17, 2011 11:27 PM CDT

Carlos has respectable numbers against RHP. .259/.368/.505 However his stats against LHP is worse than terrible. .107/.233/.280

His RISP numbers are also very bad .179/.330/.403. But most of those positive numbers came against RHP. Again today we saw the Marlins bring in a LH reliever to face him and he went out on the 1st pitch with a GB to the 1B. The question is can the team compete over a season with their cleanup hitter whose splits beg the opposition to bring in LH relievers in the late innings? Is that the best we can get for $10M?

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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Clearly they cannot

but I think Pena’s performance against LHP is only a very small part of the problem. It didn’t stop the Rays from making the playoffs 2 of the last 3 years.

by Bradsbeard on Jul 17, 2011 11:36 PM CDT reply actions

True

and the Rays had many other hitters around Pena that could pick up the slack. The Cubs on the other hand, do not. They are built for hitting home runs so they have no speed and are impatient at the plate. The problem is, the Cubs do not hit that many home runs. I would like the Cubs to sign Prince Feilder (as long as the contract is not for an astronomical amount or length). If you look at his splits, they are pretty even .288 avg vs LHP, .304 vs RHP.

by bazfan1234 on Jul 17, 2011 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

*Fielder

by bazfan1234 on Jul 17, 2011 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree...

…I tend to think Pena is no better than a 5 hole hitter on a good team.

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

by MPH73 on Jul 18, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

This team couldn't win with Ted Williams batting 4th.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 18, 2011 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

You’re overthinking this. Cubs just stink.

by Ryno G on Jul 18, 2011 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions

And need to stink for at least another 5-10 years to have a future.

On the actual topic…Pena is one of this team’s better players. That’s not doing much for the Cubs’ W-L record, but that’s because he’s not a stud player.

by SenorGato on Jul 18, 2011 1:15 AM CDT up reply actions

*because he's not a stud player and this team has none of those right now.

The closest the current Cubs come to that is Castro.

by SenorGato on Jul 18, 2011 1:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Williams couldn't hit 4th.

Soriano’s in left. Dome’s in right. Williams can pinch hit. Or, we can trade him.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 18, 2011 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Beautiful. In other words, there's no spot for Ted Williams because Soriano and Fukudome make too much money.

But maybe Quade could set up a 4-man platoon so nobody has their feelings hurt. However, Ted Williams would have to face LHP whenever Soriano plays because Fukudome can only hit righties.

by Jerry Mumphrey on Jul 18, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

So true so true...

If QIAFI had baseballs elite to use, he’d no doubt still start Soriano, Franchise, Lopez, and Dome amongst others. Pos idiot loser manager, amirite?!?!??

by SenorGato on Jul 18, 2011 5:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Unless they added Mordecai Brown and Left Grove to the starting rotation....

by ClarkFan on Jul 18, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

"Lefty" Grove

by ClarkFan on Jul 18, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

You beat me to it you S.O.B.

#10 You will be missed.

by Bricks and Ivy on Jul 18, 2011 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions

You miss the big picture

CPena batting 4th is not the problem.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 18, 2011 8:43 AM CDT reply actions

Well, the Rays did it most of the time he was there.

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 18, 2011 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

the answer is

they can’t win with 3/5 of the starting rotation being made up of washed up former major leaguers or not yet ready minor leaguers.

Doesn’t really matter how the first baseman does against lefties when they don’t have people who can pitch effectively most days of the week.

by Orval Overall on Jul 18, 2011 9:22 AM CDT reply actions

Managers don't really make lineups based on stats anyway

But I don’t see why Soriano doesn’t bat 4th against left handers. He usually crushes them (also, why does he start against right-handers, I still don’t get this).

by subtle on Jul 18, 2011 9:35 AM CDT reply actions

Can a team win with Pena's splits hitting 4th? Absolutely...

can this particular Cubs team win with those splits. Clearly not. But Pena’s splits versus LHP are not the biggest problem. The biggest problem has been very bad pitching and defense. We’re 8th in the NL in runs scored (7th in OPS) and 16th (dead last) in the NL in ERA, runs allowed, errors, and fielding % (and this with a team that’s not known for it’s great range to begin with).

I think a platoon of Pena and Baker at 1B would be fantastic offensively (Baker is very good against LHP, Pena is very good against RHP).

by SouthernCub on Jul 18, 2011 10:06 AM CDT reply actions

At this

point you can insert any Cub players name, minus Castro and ask if they can win with them.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 18, 2011 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

You could ask the same of Castro too...

It’s not like he’s been some sort of world beater this year. Ramirez has been the only regular to lead the NL in OPS at his position. Castro has been solid-but-not-spectacular at the plate, but pretty bad in the field.

Obviously, Castro has a bright future (given his age) assuming he continues to improve. But he shouldn’t be above reproach either.

by SouthernCub on Jul 18, 2011 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Barney > Castro. There, I said it.

by Jerry Mumphrey on Jul 18, 2011 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

lolwut

Blake "The Franchise" DeWitt will lead us to the promised land

by jesus christos on Jul 18, 2011 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I won't go that far...

Castro has Barney by about 60 OPS points and seems to be the better basestealer of the two, though Barney may be a better baserunner overall. Castro is definitely inferior to Barney defensively, but the difference in offensive value value seems to more than make up for that. As does the fact that Castro is 5 years younger and thus has much more room for growth as a player.

by SouthernCub on Jul 18, 2011 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

easy to say, tough to substantiate

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 19, 2011 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow... it's gone too far now.

by bdlugz on Jul 19, 2011 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

I would say no

the answer would be to platoon Pena and Baker, or Pena/LeHair for rest of season. What have we got to lose?

If you think you've seen it all...just wait!

by CubFanSince1970 on Jul 18, 2011 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

Baker would make more sense than LaHair...

LaHair bats LH, so he’s not a very suitable platoon partner with Pena.

Of course, platooning Pena with Baker doesn’t really fix the team’s bigger problem (pitching and defense).

by SouthernCub on Jul 18, 2011 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

How many times has Peña hit 4th with a LHP starter?

We'll all miss you Ron.

by alkappy on Jul 18, 2011 3:10 PM CDT reply actions

Pena is a good bat i like him he needs to be a lil more selective on pitches

He also is a good glove at first i think hes a very good first baseman that can help a good team win.But he needs to be around good hitters to be more effective hes a 4 or 5 hitter on a good team with a good glove.Problem with the cubs is coaching and pitching.

by tazz34 on Jul 19, 2011 7:41 AM CDT reply actions