Justin, your stats on Soriano are interesting. You really wonder how this guy got the contract he did (but as said on yesterdays posts, that's all behind us now).

In all likelihood he only has one opportunity per game to lead off. So you'd think he'd adjust mentally with guys on base. I know, I know, it's only Game 2 behind us. I sure hope we see a change in energy, competitiveness (and results) today though.

Nick - Actually, believe it or not, the detroit beat writers are getting worried if they weren't already. I forget the name but one of the main ones has been on chicago sports radio and has voiced his uneasy feeling about the rotation, bullpen, age, and lack of bench play. I hate to quote somebody without having a link to back it up.

I have finally realized why Soriano doesn't hit in the middle of the order. Over the past three years, he has a batting average of .255 with runners on base, .237 with men in scoring position, and .211 with men in scoring position with two outs. With bases empty, he bats .296. It's clear that he does not understand how to hit in those situations, and probably tries to overswing or do too much. While people may not like it, he is most suitable to hit in the leadoff spot, where there are fewer opportunities to hit with men on base. In comparison, Aramis hits .305 with runners in scoring position, and Derrek Lee hit .341.

sorry about the echo

I not sold on that idea. Who hits 7th then?? Where will their protection be? Soto (who's a better hitter than Pie, but still is struggling with patience and strike zone judgement) is going to have no protection now...either that or Theriot will be hitting 7th who for some reason is hacking like a madman up there...I guess if they keep stinking it up a month from now, I'll be open for anything, but I'd like to think the Cubs are a better team than that and don't need to resort to tricky line-ups. If we do that, may as well have Carlos, when he's pitching, bat 7th with Theriot and Pie after him. He's actually a solid hitter and won't be too much of a detriment to the offense...

Trevor - Great thinking outside of the box on Pie batting 9th... i hadn't thought about that but that could be a really great idea with Soriano in the leadoff position providing some protection. Especially when he gets hot and nobody in baseball wants to pitch to him. In that scenario the opposition will have to give Pie some better pitches. Could you imagine if Pie can get on base in front of Soriano... that will get Soriano better pitches because nobody wants to face FUK, Lee, Aram with 2 runners on (with above average speed). GREAT thinking.

I still don't think this team is as bad as many of us are afraid of. Lou just needs to concentrate on manufacturing runs (especially until it warms up).

*Can somebody please get Trevor's idea to Louie-P asap (Neil)!

I honestly don't think we can judge anything about this team after only TWO games, hell probably not even after a week. If that were the case, look out AL Central here come the Royals.

I wonder if anyone in Detroit is hitting the panic button yet?

Aaron, the one thing I disagree with you on is Theriot swinging for the fences, Fontenot yes, I agree with you there, I would like to see him switched with Hoffpaur, but I am pretty sure Theriot knows he is not a power threat.

Pie is still raw. His zone vision needs work and it will only get better if he actually sees good pitches. I don't thinks he's good enough to get better in the 8th spot, seeing a lot of crap. But then again, I guess he should spend more time in AAA if that's the case, I don't know. I agree he should be trying to get on base via the walk then try to take some bags. But you can't steal first base so his speed is useless unless he can get on base. I don't see him being a guy that will draw many walks though. People work ahead on him by busting him in then throw garbage away to make him chase then come back in. His swing has a lot of holes in it, inside especially. If he can learn to be more patient and take until he's fed a strike for awhile, I'm sure he'll get more pitches to hit. Easier said than done. I don't like the idea of a pitcher hitting 8th. Why would you want more ABs to a guy who is going to hit less than .160 and is usually going sac bunt? I think it's kind of a gimmick thing right now with started by a bad offensive team (cardinals from last year) and for some reason a good offensive team like the Brewers are trying it??? If Kendall hits like he did yesterday, which he won't ever again...ever, I don't see them doing that for very much longer. Really a dumb idea in my opinion.

I thought the showing in the first two games this season is so Cub-like it's not even funny----it's embarrassing. Outside of Z and Fukodome in the first game, we had NADA....In the second, we had NOTHING. Finally Lee shows some power, and Soto too...But Soto still only had that one hit. Yes, one game does not a season make, two, you can say the same, but if this is the effort we get the whole season, then we're in BIG trouble.

Here's why...

1)If 2-5 in our rotation can't show up, then we ONLY have Big Z

2)I'll repeat...Theriot, Fontenot, and Cedeno have no business starting on our team...Theriot is the only one that might even make another team's roster

3)I'll say it again, Howry and Eyre scare me, and I anticipate even more struggles from them this season

4)Soriano, Theriot, DeRosa, Pie, Lee, and Soto almost always swing at first pitches AND miss, which puts them in an immediate hole, coming from behind in the count. ARAM and Fukodome are probably our most patient hitters in that regard, though Lee sometimes comes back to coax a walk. So exactly what did we change in our lineup? We had Fukodome....Big deal. If we have 6 other free-swingers, we'll never make it. Patience at the plate wins championships, NOT the long ball. For crying out loud, Theriot and Fontenot almost always swing for the fences, and pop almost everything up. I'd much rather have Patterson on my team than them.

5)Again, did I mention our rotation really scares me? And not in a good way. If I were Iowa's manager, I'd put their whole rotation on notice for call-ups.

On Pie, if he's not seeing "great pitches", how about taking a walk, steal a base or two, and set the table for others. He has to be seeing strikes. His problem is he doesn't attack the hittable ones, and then he gets behind the count and starts expanding his strike zone. I'd really like to see this team do more overall manufacturing of runs via steals, bunts, and hit and runs. That would help gain more concentration at the plate.

On the topic of Pie for a moment. I agree he isn't seeing good pitches because he has no protection. What about doing what a few other teams have tried and move our pitcher into the 8th spot and put Pie in the 9th position? Then Pie has a little protection with Sori leading off next. Just a thought as it gives Pie better pitches to hit and yet doesn't put the pressure of the leadoff spot on his back either.

On the idea of Lee stealing bases...I think he doesn't do it as much now not because he isn't fast or he's getting older, but because he has Aram hitting behind him. Never want to get thrown out trying to steal with a HR hitter at the plate. With Dero up, he can feel more comfortable trying to take a base and also the pitcher may worry a little more about Lee running and make some mistakes to Dero...never know...

I would like to see Aram ahead of Lee in that lineup,or any lineup for that matter, for the simple fact that Aram hits less ground balls than Lee. Also you would have to assume Aram will see better pitches to mash with Lee behind him. Lee has a better grasp of the strike zone as well. Sometimes Aram has some wasted ABs and I think it's because a guy like Derosa is behind him, giving him absolutely no protection (breaking balls away). Lee would take the pitches that Aram swings at, and Lee can actually swipe a bag too, allowing him to maybe stay out of DP possibilities because we know Dero loves to ground into them. I'm not ready to change everything, trust me, 2 games into the season and guys aren't hitting, big deal, I'm just throwing out my thought process on how this lineup may work a little better. Soriano, no doubt "feels" better as a leadoff guy and his numbers do translate into that, but he has limited ABs in other spots in the order. Maybe a full season of him batting fifth or between Aram and Lee would translate into some success. I think I would rather see Pie, Fuku, Aram, Sori, Lee, Dero, Soto, Riot, pitcher...than what we have now...why not?? Pie is fast, and with someone who can actually hit behind him, maybe he'll see better pitches to hit. Its no doubt he CAN hit, but with a pitcher behind him...no reason to throw him anything good...just a thought...If I were Lou, it would have been something to maybe try during ST. But I'm not Lou, just a washed up former college pitcher and now slow pitch softball player haha...

I'm already in Des Moines Cory, but I'm not sure what there is to discuss.

Hopefully Dempster can prove he belong in the rotation today and get the Cubs a "W". I personally would have given Lieber the nod over Dempster at this point but you never know.

Jim,

All of Cubs Nation agrees with that lineup.

Jim, I like your idea and Lows maybe, just maybe one day.

wouldn't this be a dream lineup??

Roberts

Fukudome

Ramirez (fly ball hitter, less Double Plays)

Soriano (will see a ton of strikes)

Lee (protecting Sori, if he ever learned the K zone)

Soto

Pie (will see more strikes if pitcher not behind him)

Theriot

Aderka derka derka muhamid jihad....Hey Trevor come to Des Moines and we can discuss this....friend!

Jim: couldnt have said it better myself.

Soriano

Fukudome

Lee

Aram

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

Theriot

Someone fax this to Lou