Hat Trick
I know it seems like everyone has their own idea of what the Cubs lineup should look like this season, but Lou seems to think some people (mostly the media) are a little too obsessive.
"I think you all do too much with this lineup," Piniella said. "I think it's overdone a little bit. I think we could pick games out of a hat, and if the guy is swinging the bat well, he can hit out of any spot in the lineup, and you win baseball games."
I’ve have own opinion about the lineup (I’m sure most of you do too), but in the name of science and humanity, I’ve decided to see if pulling names out of a hat could really produce a productive lineup for the Cubs. Here are my highly scientific results*.
Lineup #1
DeRosa
Theriot
Fukudome
Ramirez
Soriano
Soto
Lee
Pie
There’s been talk about D-Ro batting leadoff because of his high OBP and tendency to hit doubles, so this lineup is intriguing from the start. I think a lot of Cubs fans wouldn’t mind seeing Fukudome batting third based on his recent success, but Derrick Lee hitting seventh is just silly. Other than that, this lineup is actually possible.
Lineup #2
Theriot
Soriano
Pie
Lee
Soto
DeRosa
Ramirez
Fukudome
Lots of speed at the top of this lineup in front of Lee, but Pie batting third makes my head hurt and question my faith in a higher being. Of course Ramirez batting seventh seems silly to most of us, but his recent play kinda merits this position. Fukudome, arguably the Cubs best player right now, in the eighth spot is just stupid.
Lineup #3
Soto
Ramirez
DeRosa
Pie
Fukudome
Lee
Soriano
Theriot
This is the kind of lineup I expected the “hat method” to produce. The Cubs two slowest players are at the top and two of the fastest are at the bottom. Question: Would this lineup ever happen? Answer: I will let every Cubs fan kick me square in the groin until my testicles explode if this lineup ever happens (please dear God let this lineup never ever ever ever happen).
Overall, lineup #2 and #3 seem highly unlikely, but I am intrigued by lineup #1. DeRosa at the top of the order is a possibility and gives the Cubs a chance to use his OBP to put some runners on base (even if he doesn’t have the best speed that Lou seems to covet so much).
Of course, if all these guys are hitting the ball, then it doesn’t matter where they bat. The truth, though, is some players will only be able to bat in certain places because you can’t expect them to play at the top of their abilities all of the time. Most of these guys have spots that are just non-negotiable, so the current lineup is pretty concrete.
Lou just needs to find the right place for Soriano and Fukudome. If he can’t decide, then maybe he can just flip a coin.
*I realize there is no way I can actually show you that I did this randomly out of a hat but I made little cards with everyone’s name on it ad it was really official. So cut me some slack.
Want to jump start this offense?
http://www.lolligaggers.blogspot.com
Hit the Asian on base machine Fukudome, leadoff.
You can't have a 2 hitter Theriot, that had 1, 2, 3 and 4 pitch AB's in his four times up yesterday. You telling me that Pie couldn't exercise more patience than that? Pie also would be a natural at advancing a leadoff runner hitting left handed. You also might help the kid out by having the big bangers hitting behind him instead of the pitcher.
Ramirez, Soriano and Lee are all going to eventually hit and that is the exact order I'd hit them.
Ramirez historically averages half the K's that Soriano and Lee do per season and because he puts the ball in play, would be more likely to pick up a cheap RBI based on a defensive miscue as a result. Ramirez has also put up almost the exact same OBP, SLG and BA numbers as Lee without any protection behind him.
Soriano would get bettter pitches to hit with the protection of Lee immediately following him in the order as well.
DeRosa, Soto and Theriot then would be a no brainer.
Short term idea
What about for the short term, that Lou sit Soriano until the weather warms up a bit and play that new guy Reed Johnson in left field, and bat him second behind Theriot. Johnson appears to be a gamer.
Soriano's not going to
Soriano's not going to magically get out of his early-season druthers by waiting for warm weather. He's going to have to hit his way out. Benching him, even temporarily, would probably be a very bad idea.