WAY TO GO, LOU
“We want to keep Soriano nice and healthy and strong all year. It seems to me, out of the leadoff spot, he’ll want to do too much, run too soon. We’ll see. Just take a look at it.”- Lou Piniella.
Rejoice. We have some serious sense coming out of Unca Lou. I love the move. Soriano in the 2-hole is interesting. I would have thought 4th or 5th, but I trust Lou on this one.
Where would you bat Soriano? What would be your opening day Cubs lineup? Or if you have a different favorite team, give us a look at what you think their starting lineup will be.
Of course, that pesky Brian Roberts rumor could throw everything off. But in a good way.
Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl
Assuming Roberts gets done:
1. Roberts
2. Fukudome
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. Soriano
6. Theriot
7. Soto
8. Pie
I like Fukudome in the 2 spot better than Soriano because he has better plate discipline and he is more adept at moving the runner over than Soriano. Soriano can be more agressive in the 5, especially with Theriot behind him. Theriot is not a typical 6 spot, and power and average wise so far, Soto seems to be the logical fit. But I like Theriot behind Soriano because without protection Soriano will have to be more selective. His OBP would in theory rise, and with him and Theriot on base Soto gets more RBI chances. I like the idea of having Soto come to the plate with more speed in front of him. I also think it accounts for a more balanced line-up from start to finish. Pie has enough power that he is able to do some damage in the 8 spot without rushing him. He can learn better in that spot to become more familiar with pitch selection at the big league level.
“Assuming Roberts gets done”…that’s funny.
Interesting to see this move with Soriano since he’s said publicly for a while now that he prefers leading off. Plus his career numbers bear that out. He hits FAR better when he leads off compared to hitting elsewhere in the lineup. Having said that, I agree that he isn’t a prototypical leadoff guy, but when your best hitter wants to hit first, I think you let him.
I dont think Soriano is the Cubs’ best hitter. I would go….
Theriot Roberts
Fukudome Fukodome
Lee Lee
Soriano OR Soriano
Ramirez Ramirez
DeRosa Soto
Soto Theriot
Pie Pie
Tell Soriano to bat fourth, whale for the fences, whiff 160 times and blast 45 HR’s with about 120 rbi. We don’t need 30 steals from him.
ooops. That post got messed up. My bad. Left side was without Roberts and the right side with him. Had it nice and spaced, don’t know what happened.
I don’t think Soriano is the best hitter either. Has to be DLee or Ramirez, and maybe Fukodome. All out power would be Soriano though.
But I could see some nice hit and run opps with Soriano and Lee.
Just my opinion, but I think with/without Roberts, the Cubs will greatly benefit with Fukodome’s plate discipline, especially with DLee/Ramirez on deck. Fukodome should be able to help get the pitch count up and see just about every pitch the pitcher has in his arsenal. True, Lee and Ramirez will have previously faced 90% of the pitchers before, but if Fukodome can work the count and get the pitch count during his at bat to 4-5+ pitches it should help the 3-5 spots in the lineup, especially if Fukodome gets on base. I’d like to see Soriano in the 4 or 5 spot, but I agree that he might not want to make a move out of the leadoff spot. The only way i can see that happening is if they land Roberts. If they land Roberts, a 1-5 with Roberts, Fukodome, Lee, Soriano, and Ramirez would be pretty scary.
So, you think Fukodome may be the best hitter on the entire team already? LOL
How many times have you even seen him hit?
Some days this is the best Cubs Kool-Aid site on the internets. And that’s saying something…