ALL RIGHT!!! LEMME HEAR YA!!!

[A New Era]

I've always said the leadoff hitter is overrated because other than the first inning, on average, how many times does the #1 hitter lead off an inning? You need to have four to five high OBP guys in the lineup to have a successful offense. Our offense has been no better since Pierre has learned to get on base over the past two months. Why? Because other than Lee and Barrett (who've both been hurt) no one really gets on base consistently. You look at the Cardinals (other than this year) and over the past five or six seasons, they've had five or six guys in the lineup with good OBP.

 

The #1 hitter should be a good hitter, have a high average because he comes up after the pitcher. And if alot of times the 8 hitter will be on 2nd and 2 outs.

[SouthSideRyan]

I know we hate Juan Pierre but he has been the best leadoff guy the Cubs have had this decade.

 

Except for Kenny Lofton.

And Mark Grudzelaniek.

And the 04 version of CPatt.

And Mark Bellhorn (2002).

And Eric Young (2000)

And Lenny Harris(2003) Bwhahaha. In all seriousness he is about the 5th best this decade and we are in its 6th year. A real keeper.

 

Lenny Harris only hit .111/.111/.111 out of the leadoff spot in 2003.

 

Todd Walker hit .294/.370/.535 in 228 AB out of the leadoff spot in 2004, though.

 

You're all missing the point! How many of those guys had no power and were FAST???

[dalgreen]

I've always said the leadoff hitter is overrated because other than the first inning, on average, how many times does the #1 hitter lead off an inning? You need to have four to five high OBP guys in the lineup to have a successful offense. Our offense has been no better since Pierre has learned to get on base over the past two months. Why? Because other than Lee and Barrett (who've both been hurt) no one really gets on base consistently. You look at the Cardinals (other than this year) and over the past five or six seasons, they've had five or six guys in the lineup with good OBP.

 

The leadoff hitter is important because he hypothetically sets the table for the middle of the lineup. A leadoff hitter with a higher OBP gives the 3-4-5 hitters a better chance to drive in a run. Or at least thats what the MLB textbook says.

 

I never said the leadoff hitter isn't important. I just think it's a little overrated since it's important to have the leadoff guy of any inning to have the ability to get on base. The point of my post is you need to have four or five guys in the lineup with good OBP to have a successful offense. I could live with a .330 OBP from the leadoff spot, as long as we have four or five other guys with a .360+ OBP, with one of them coming from the #2 spot. And please don't interpret that to me I'm fine with re-signing Pierre.