sully's article on thurs (Not our Sully the other one)

[back2backjax]

You can't exactly plan for timely hitting.

 

If Pierre hits only .280, with his walk rate, he'll get on base about 33% of the time. While that's an improvement over what the Cubs got from the leadoff spot last year, it's still not what I would consider acceptable from the leadoff spot. Pierre's walk rate isn't high. He'd have to hit about .300 or higher to get his OBP over .350.

 

of course you can't plan for it, but reality is that's what you need to win. you don't need a home-run hitting OF...we had that with alou and sosa in 2004 and look how that season ended.

 

despite what many think, last year's team wasn't that far away from contending. an improved bullpen and a good leadoff hitter will go along way toward making the team more competitive in 2006. if murton gives some production from LF (which we had none of last year) and the starters stay healthy (i.e., no line drives off prior, wood's surgery is succesful), this team could, nay SHOULD, contend.

[Magnetic Curses]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

[Magnetic Curses]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

[CubfaninCA]

Murton & Pierre could actually have quite productive seasons.

[back2backjax]

You can't exactly plan for timely hitting.

 

If Pierre hits only .280, with his walk rate, he'll get on base about 33% of the time. While that's an improvement over what the Cubs got from the leadoff spot last year, it's still not what I would consider acceptable from the leadoff spot. Pierre's walk rate isn't high. He'd have to hit about .300 or higher to get his OBP over .350.

 

of course you can't plan for it, but reality is that's what you need to win. you don't need a home-run hitting OF...we had that with alou and sosa in 2004 and look how that season ended.

 

despite what many think, last year's team wasn't that far away from contending. an improved bullpen and a good leadoff hitter will go along way toward making the team more competitive in 2006. if murton gives some production from LF (which we had none of last year) and the starters stay healthy (i.e., no line drives off prior, wood's surgery is succesful), this team could, nay SHOULD, contend.

[anemic offense]

What do you guys think the lineup is with Patterson in right?

 

Pierre

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Patterson

Murton

Cedeno

 

?

 

I'd put Ronnie in the #2 hole (though you're pry right, cause Baker won't do it) and Corey eighth. Until Corey shows some semblance that he knows and CARES what's going on out there (in all phases of the game), that's where he's the least liablity on this team. When Zambrano is pitching I'd bat him 9th.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

 

Jacob Bell

[JeffH]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

 

• Jacobs Field.
  Sally Field.
  "Spider" Salley.
  Spiderman.
  Peter Parker.
  Parker Stevenson.
  McLean Stevenson.
  Don McLean.
  Donnie Moore.
  Clayton Moore.
  Royce Clayton.
  Royce Ring.
  Ringo Starr.
  Star Jones.
  Jacque Jones.
  Preston Wilson.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

 

• Jacobs Field.
  Sally Field.
  "Spider" Salley.
  Spiderman.
  Peter Parker.
  Parker Stevenson.
  McLean Stevenson.
  Don McLean.
  Donnie Moore.
  Clayton Moore.
  Royce Clayton.
  Royce Ring.
  Ringo Starr.
  Star Jones.
  Jacque Jones.
  Preston Wilson.

 

[Rene Zellweger voice]You had me until Jacque Jones. You had me until Jacque Jones.[/Rene Zellweger voice]

[Magnetic Curses]

huff is a huge liability defensively whereas corey would run down a ton of gappers. we don't necessarily need power from the OF slots, we need timely hitting.

 

w/risp in 2005

 

rowand: .290/.366/.443/.809

 

dye: .260/.327/.427/.754

 

pods: .237/.315/.276/.592

 

not exactly timely hitting.

[Magnetic Curses]

despite what many think, last year's team wasn't that far away from contending. an improved bullpen and a good leadoff hitter will go along way toward making the team more competitive in 2006.

 

this team wasn't a batting order spot away from contention, it was a philosophy away from contention. not enough men on base total, not enough runs.

 

we can acquire all the speed in the world, all the bunters in the league, all the "gritty, timely hitters" in existence, but if you can't get on base with consistency, you can't score runs.

 

OBP is the most important stat there is, but people seem to be ignoring it.

[Andy]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

 

• Jacobs Field.
  Sally Field.
  "Spider" Salley.
  Spiderman.
  Peter Parker.
  Parker Stevenson.
  McLean Stevenson.
  Don McLean.
  Donnie Moore.
  Clayton Moore.
  Royce Clayton.
  Royce Ring.
  Ringo Starr.
  Star Jones.
  Jacque Jones.
  Preston Wilson.

Wilson the Volleyball

[NorthsideAvenger]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers

 

oh yeah,

 

joan jett.

 

James Jett (that took me a while)

 

James Andrews.

 

Thea Andrews

 

Thea Hackett.

 

she's a character in one of my short stories.

Buddy Hackett

 

Buddy Love.

 

bob love

 

Bob Marley

 

jacob marley

 

Jacob Bell

 

Jakob Dylan

[back2backjax]

despite what many think, last year's team wasn't that far away from contending. an improved bullpen and a good leadoff hitter will go along way toward making the team more competitive in 2006.

 

this team wasn't a batting order spot away from contention, it was a philosophy away from contention. not enough men on base total, not enough runs.

 

we can acquire all the speed in the world, all the bunters in the league, all the "gritty, timely hitters" in existence, but if you can't get on base with consistency, you can't score runs.

 

OBP is the most important stat there is, but people seem to be ignoring it.

 

i didn't say that the leadoff spot was alone the reason the team didn't contend. if you're going to quote me, please be accurate. i said that two huge problems for the team in 2005 have been addressed. sure there is more that could be done, but right away the team should be better.

[Magnetic Curses]

despite what many think, last year's team wasn't that far away from contending. an improved bullpen and a good leadoff hitter will go along way toward making the team more competitive in 2006.

 

this team wasn't a batting order spot away from contention, it was a philosophy away from contention. not enough men on base total, not enough runs.

 

we can acquire all the speed in the world, all the bunters in the league, all the "gritty, timely hitters" in existence, but if you can't get on base with consistency, you can't score runs.

 

OBP is the most important stat there is, but people seem to be ignoring it.

 

i didn't say that the leadoff spot was alone the reason the team didn't contend. if you're going to quote me, please be accurate. i said that two huge problems for the team in 2005 have been addressed. sure there is more that could be done, but right away the team should be better.

 

where did i quote you? and where did you say "two huge problems for the team in 2005 have been addressed"? if i were quoting you, i'd be better at it than you are at quoting yourself.

 

we are not a strong bullpen and a leadoff hitter away from contending. we were a considerable improvement in team OBP away from contending last year. that is the bottom line. the team will be worse than it was last year if this is the team we're putting on the field.

 

repeat after me: "OBP is the most important statistic for this team."

 

putting someone fast in the leadoff spot and overpaying for marginal improvements in the bullpen does not cure anything.

[goonys evil twin]

putting someone fast in the leadoff spot and overpaying for marginal improvements in the bullpen does not cure anything.

 

It cures the GM from needlessly wasting more time looking for those players, and cures Dusty's current excuse-o-meter. Although he'll just find a new one by May.