Izturis to remain in 2 hole

[frostwyrm]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

We had Izturis' clone in the 2 hole all through the 2005 season and the results were terrible. It cost DLee a shot at the MVP. It sure will be fun having Izzy in the 2 hole for all of 2007. May as well eliminate DLee from MVP consideration right now.

[Derwood]

....and no one is surprised.

[ConstableRabbit]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

We had Izturis' clone in the 2 hole all through the 2005 season and the results were terrible. It cost DLee a shot at the MVP. It sure will be fun having Izzy in the 2 hole for all of 2007. May as well eliminate DLee from MVP consideration right now.

 

When I went to the Dodgers game, he was rightfully batting 8th. Why can't Dusty just think for a minute?

 

 

On a lighter note, my cousins here* were really upset to hear that Izzy was traded!

 

My 9 year old cousin: He's the best shortstop in the National League!

 

Jim Hendry? Is that you? :lol:

 

*I'm still in LA for the summer

[TruffleShuffle]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

We had Izturis' clone in the 2 hole all through the 2005 season and the results were terrible. It cost DLee a shot at the MVP. It sure will be fun having Izzy in the 2 hole for all of 2007. May as well eliminate DLee from MVP consideration right now.

 

When I went to the Dodgers game, he was rightfully batting 8th. Why can't Dusty just think for a minute?

 

Well, Cedeno is certainly bad enough to be hitting 8th. Problem is, you have two #8 hitters in the lineup. And, I'm being generous by not including Juan Pierre as the third #8 hitter in the lineup.

Edited August 2, 2006 by TruffleShuffle

[Banedon]

Allow me to add further fun to this thread:

 

''I'd like to leave [izturis batting second] the rest of the way if I could,'' Baker said. ''It gives you a second leadoff man, a guy who can hit-and-run, who knows how to play. He'll be a very welcome addition to the club.''

[frostwyrm]

....and no one is surprised.

Believe me, I'm not surprised either. I've seen AGonz in the 2 hole, right in front of Sammy Sosa, Neifi in front of DLee, and numerous low-OBP benchbums in both the 1 and 2 holes, so I fully expect Izzy to be camped out in the 2 hole for all of 2007.

 

Yes, I do expect Dusty to be extended.

[TruffleShuffle]

Allow me to add further fun to this thread:

 

''I'd like to leave [izturis batting second] the rest of the way if I could,'' Baker said. ''It gives you a second leadoff man, a guy who can hit-and-run, who knows how to play. He'll be a very welcome addition to the club.''

 

 

Oh God, the old nebulous "knows how to play" tag. Neifi knows how to play, I bet. To bad "knows how to play" isn't the same thing as "knows how to hit" or "knows how to not swing at every ball coming toward the plate."

[RyCubsFan]

Baker needs to write on a blackboard 1,000 times:

 

"I will not bat people with low OBPs at or near the top of the lineup."

 

Hendry needs to writ eon a blackboard 1,000 times:

 

"I will try to acquire players with OBPs above .350."

[Flames24Rulz]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

We had Izturis' clone in the 2 hole all through the 2005 season and the results were terrible. It cost DLee a shot at the MVP. It sure will be fun having Izzy in the 2 hole for all of 2007. May as well eliminate DLee from MVP consideration right now.

 

When I went to the Dodgers game, he was rightfully batting 8th. Why can't Dusty just think for a minute?

 

 

On a lighter note, my cousins here* were really upset to hear that Izzy was traded!

 

My 9 year old cousin: He's the best shortstop in the National League!

 

Jim Hendry? Is that you? :lol:

 

*I'm still in LA for the summer

 

Jim Hendry shares thoughts with a 9 year old...appropriate.

[bcruise]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

 

....We had playoff chances? News to me.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

 

....We had playoff chances? News to me.

 

I was just going to qoute that as well...shocking...

[ConstableRabbit]

Manager Dusty Baker said he plans to keep batting Izturis and his career .295 OBP in the second spot in the order. That gives Izturis additional value in NL-only leagues, but it's sure not going to help the Cubs' playoff chances.

We had Izturis' clone in the 2 hole all through the 2005 season and the results were terrible. It cost DLee a shot at the MVP. It sure will be fun having Izzy in the 2 hole for all of 2007. May as well eliminate DLee from MVP consideration right now.

 

When I went to the Dodgers game, he was rightfully batting 8th. Why can't Dusty just think for a minute?

 

 

On a lighter note, my cousins here* were really upset to hear that Izzy was traded!

 

My 9 year old cousin: He's the best shortstop in the National League!

 

Jim Hendry? Is that you? :lol:

 

*I'm still in LA for the summer

 

Jim Hendry shares thoughts with a 9 year old...appropriate.

 

Yes, however, after I explained the concept of OBP and how little even a great defensive shortstop such as Cesar (yeah, I still can't spell his last name) will save you run-wise, he changed his mind.

 

That is what separates the 9 year old from the Cubs' GM.

[WindyCity]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

[goonys evil twin]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

 

Because just being a ballplayer is more important.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

duuuuuuhhh..Dusty said he wants him to be a "ballplayer"..you know, that magical wonderful quality that allows one to somehow transcend all known realities of baseball to become a god amongst mere mortals...

 

 

 

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

 

 

duuuuh...Dusty wants him to become a "ballplayer", you know, that wonderful magical quality that makes one into a god amongst mere mortals...

Edited August 2, 2006 by minnesotacubsfan

[TruffleShuffle]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

 

 

Honestly, he doesn't believe that OBP is very, very important. Nothing in the way he's managed the Cubs, or what he's said in the past about walks or aggressiveness at the plate, suggest that he values OBP. He's saying that because there are some knowledgeable fans and media who have started to get on his ass about the Cubs' lack of OBP ability and its correlation to the lack of offense on the team under his management. He's trying to say the right thing to appease those people.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

 

 

Honestly, he doesn't believe that OBP is very, very important. Nothing in the way he's managed the Cubs, or what he's said in the past about walks or aggressiveness at the plate, suggest that he values OBP. He's saying that because there are some knowledgeable fans and media who have started to get on his ass about the Cubs' lack of OBP ability and its correlation to the lack of offense on the team under his management. He's trying to say the right thing to appease those people.

 

too bad he doesnt DO the right thng to appease those people

[Derwood]

2005: 1. Corey Patterson / 2. Neifi Perez

 

vs.

 

2007: 1. Juan Pierre / 2. Cesar Izturis

 

 

Discuss

[frostwyrm]

Baker confuses me..... link

 

Baker is not worried about Izturis' on-base percentage.

 

"I don't think of numbers the same way you guys (media) think of numbers," Baker said. "We're looking for him to just get better.

 

"This guy is young. On-base percentage is very, very important, but we want him to play ball — to be a ballplayer. We want him to get on, score, steal, advance runners — do what ballplayers do."

 

"I'll try to do the best I can to improve — that's the bottom line," Izturis said. "I'll work hard and do whatever it takes to win games."

 

Izturis, 26, batted second in the order behind Juan Pierre.

 

"I would like to leave him there," Baker said. "It gives us a double leadoff man."

 

 

If OBP is "very, very important", then why bat someone 2nd who doesn't get on base?

I like the way Dusty says "On-base percentage is very, very important", then there's a "but", followed by some words that completely contradict what he just said. Kinda like when people ask him about the Cubs' crummy W-L record and he says "I don't make excuses, but . . . "

[TruffleShuffle]

2005: 1. Corey Patterson / 2. Neifi Perez

 

vs.

 

2007: 1. Juan Pierre / 2. Cesar Izturis

 

 

Discuss

 

2005: Cubs sucked

 

2007: Cubs still suck

 

 

Big surprise.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I want to be a ballplayer.

[frostwyrm]

2005: 1. Corey Patterson / 2. Neifi Perez

 

vs.

 

2007: 1. Juan Pierre / 2. Cesar Izturis

 

 

Discuss

2005: No RBI title for DLee.

 

 

2007: see 2005.

[halplm]

Of course we have playoff chances! We just need to go on a run... 18-20 game win streak! With these guys, that's possible!

 

And when Dusty says OBP is important, he means for each player's individual game, not for scoring runs. Each player will obviously be better with a higher OBP! That means, once those guys get hot, their OBP will go up, and that's good! It doesn't have any impact on run scoring though.

 

Wait... I seem to have misplaced my brain... and I swore I wouldn't post without it anymore...

[minnesotacubsfan]

2005: 1. Corey Patterson / 2. Neifi Perez

 

vs.

 

2007: 1. Juan Pierre / 2. Cesar Izturis

 

 

Discuss

 

lol..I hate you...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Allow me to add further fun to this thread:

 

''I'd like to leave [izturis batting second] the rest of the way if I could,'' Baker said. ''It gives you a second leadoff man, a guy who can hit-and-run, who knows how to play. He'll be a very welcome addition to the club.''

 

I know how to play. Doesn't mean I'm good enough to bat 2nd.