Does this club understand baseball???

[WrigleyinEngland]

From this mornings sun-times........

 

'Sources said the Cubs have identified potential free agent Alfonso Soriano -- whom they view as a center fielder and leadoff hitter -- as their primary target in rebuilding a team for Piniella.'

 

A guy who has never struck out less than 120 times has a career OBP of 325 and who's bat would look very nice as a run producer is going to be our CF and leadoff guy?? same old same old....... :shock:

[soapy]

He's not a lead-off hitter, but I'd agree to put him there if it helped the Cubs sign him. I just want to acquire the best hitters available. I'm not that overly concerned about what order they hit in.

[Mizzou]

He should be signed to play CF. To leadoff? Well, of course that's stupid. But what's the problem with him in CF? Or put him in LF or RF and sign Lofton to play CF and leadoff, with Murton filling the other corner outfield spot.

[Pinktermite]

Yeah, where Alfonso hits in the order matters less than having him on the team. Face it, we'll have to overpay (like all the other winning teams do, for talent, aka Beltran...Manny) to get the players that make an impact.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Soriano is far from the ideal lead-off hitter. That being said, I'd rather he be our leadoff hitter than someone with Pierre's skill set. He brings more to the table than players who only have speed.

[C.C.]

From this mornings sun-times........

 

'Sources said the Cubs have identified potential free agent Alfonso Soriano -- whom they view as a center fielder and leadoff hitter -- as their primary target in rebuilding a team for Piniella.'

 

A guy who has never struck out less than 120 times has a career OBP of 325 and who's bat would look very nice as a run producer is going to be our CF and leadoff guy?? same old same old....... :shock:

 

I'd rather have him then Pierre...

[goonys evil twin]

Like everything else they do, it would be an inefficient use of his best skills, but I'd rather have Soriano leading off than Pierre.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I understand that he is a much better fit than pierre.... but leadoff?? talk about putting round pegs in square holes. Realistically what will his 25+ homers mean if he cant regularly get on base in front of D-lee and A-ram?. Add to that we don't even know if he will play CF, that would be 3 position changes in 2 years.

[goonys evil twin]

I understand that he is a much better fit than pierre.... but leadoff?? talk about putting round pegs in square holes. Realistically what will his 25+ homers mean if he cant regularly get on base in front of D-lee and A-ram?. Add to that we don't even know if he will play CF, that would be 3 position changes in 2 years.

 

Well, there's no guarantee he won't get on base.

 

My bet is that if he leads off, and the team struggles, they'll move him to 5. If the team does well, they'll keep him there.

[UK1679666180]

Sometimes you have to cater to a strength of a player, Soriano has been a better hitter hitting leadoff than any other spot in the order. Even last year, when Wash. tried him 3rd and 5th, he hit better at the top.

 

Of course, this runs parallel with the Cubs needing a leadoff hitter.

 

It'll never be a cookie cutter ideal lineup but Soriano would be significant upgrade.

[BigbadB]

Soriano>>>>>>>>>>>>Pierre at lead off.

[TheDude]

Also keep in mind Soriano's career OBP at the leadoff spot is .340, higher than his career overall.

 

2006 leadoff OBP in 541 ABs - .368

 

2005 and 2004 leadoff numbers are not good (miserable actually), but it is also a just a 165 AB sample spread over 2 years, so no consistent at bats.

 

2003 leadoff OBP in 627 ABs - .342

 

What it basically shows is that when you give this guy everyday leadoff responsibility with stability, he produces a respectable OBP at the spot.

 

The Cubs have run producers in Lee, Ramirez, and Barret. They can afford to stick a .340+ OBP at leadoff, especially if they stick Murton in the 2-hole.

 

I have no issues with Soriano at leadoff. It isn't a perfect fit, but it certainly isn't a bad idea.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Go get Durham, Jim. He's just like Curtis Granderson, only more veterany and stuff.

[Vinestal]

Also keep in mind Soriano's career OBP at the leadoff spot is .340, higher than his career overall.

 

2006 leadoff OBP in 541 ABs - .368

 

2005 and 2004 leadoff numbers are not good (miserable actually), but it is also a just a 165 AB sample spread over 2 years, so no consistent at bats.

 

2003 leadoff OBP in 627 ABs - .342

 

What it basically shows is that when you give this guy everyday leadoff responsibility with stability, he produces a respectable OBP at the spot.

 

The Cubs have run producers in Lee, Ramirez, and Barret. They can afford to stick a .340+ OBP at leadoff, especially if they stick Murton in the 2-hole.

 

I have no issues with Soriano at leadoff. It isn't a perfect fit, but it certainly isn't a bad idea.

 

It seems like a waste of his power to bat him leadoff though, who's he going to drive in? I dont see the Cubs having alot of guys that can get on near the bottom of the order. Its not so much the OBP that bothers me its the waste of his power. I think he's a better 2 or 3 hitter. Who batted behind him in Washington? How many of his HR were at home? I dont think I'd bat him leadoff.

[goonys evil twin]

It seems like a waste of his power to bat him leadoff though, who's he going to drive in? I dont see the Cubs having alot of guys that can get on near the bottom of the order. Its not so much the OBP that bothers me its the waste of his power. I think he's a better 2 or 3 hitter. Who batted behind him in Washington? How many of his HR were at home? I dont think I'd bat him leadoff.

 

It's ineffiicient use of his power, but not a waste. His power is not just HR, but lots of doubles too. And solo HRs aren't bad, they just aren't as good as a 3R HR. Sure you'll leave a couple runs on the table, but if you have to hit him leadoff to get him, and the other option is Pierre, then you suck it up and do it.

[TheDude]

It seems like a waste of his power to bat him leadoff though, who's he going to drive in? I dont see the Cubs having alot of guys that can get on near the bottom of the order. Its not so much the OBP that bothers me its the waste of his power. I think he's a better 2 or 3 hitter. Who batted behind him in Washington? How many of his HR were at home? I dont think I'd bat him leadoff.

 

You only leadoff a game once guarenteed. And if you plug an OBP guy like Murton behind Soriano, a leadoff HR means you essentially now have you're best OBP guy leading off the inning right in front of Lee and Ramirez anyway, just with an early 1-0 lead.

 

It's not 100% ideal, and perhaps some power potential is wasted, but if Soriano holds the cards (he does), and leadoff is what he wants (he does), and the team can afford to overlook him at 3-4-5 (Lee, Ramirez, Barret is just fine), then why not if it puts your team as a higher candidate in the player's eyes?

 

I'd still rather spend the money on pitching first, but as fan, I don't think anyone should be unhappy at the prospect of Soriano in a Cubs uniform.

[Magnetic Curses]

It seems like a waste of his power to bat him leadoff though, who's he going to drive in? I dont see the Cubs having alot of guys that can get on near the bottom of the order. Its not so much the OBP that bothers me its the waste of his power. I think he's a better 2 or 3 hitter. Who batted behind him in Washington? How many of his HR were at home? I dont think I'd bat him leadoff.

 

You only leadoff a game once guarenteed.

 

leadoff hitters get more PA's than the other players.

 

i don't mind the idea of hitting a very good hitter in a spot where he's guaranteed to get a lot of plate appearances.

[Vinestal]

It seems like a waste of his power to bat him leadoff though, who's he going to drive in? I dont see the Cubs having alot of guys that can get on near the bottom of the order. Its not so much the OBP that bothers me its the waste of his power. I think he's a better 2 or 3 hitter. Who batted behind him in Washington? How many of his HR were at home? I dont think I'd bat him leadoff.

 

You only leadoff a game once guarenteed.

 

leadoff hitters get more PA's than the other players.

 

i don't mind the idea of hitting a very good hitter in a spot where he's guaranteed to get a lot of plate appearances.

 

I hadn't thought about the PA's your right about that. Im certainly not oppossed to getting Soriano but Im just not sure Id bat him leadoff.

[BigbadB]

If the Cubs did things the right way this offseason, they could potentially have a guy like Barrett hitting 8th. Couple that in with a few PH at bats from a decent bench in place of the pitcher, and Soriano could still have plenty of RBI opportunities.

 

I've never been a huge fan of Soriano, but he's a much better option than the Cubs have had in recent years.

[goonys evil twin]

 

I hadn't thought about the PA's your right about that. Im certainly not oppossed to getting Soriano but Im just not sure Id bat him leadoff.

 

I'm not sure either, but I think the point is that he supposedly is most comfortable there, and would most likely insist on hitting there if he were to sign.

 

If Lou really is a guy that demands team play who can handle these guys, eventually you might see him drop to 5th, where he belongs.

[TheDude]

 

I hadn't thought about the PA's your right about that. Im certainly not oppossed to getting Soriano but Im just not sure Id bat him leadoff.

 

I'm not sure either, but I think the point is that he supposedly is most comfortable there, and would most likely insist on hitting there if he were to sign.

 

If Lou really is a guy that demands team play who can handle these guys, eventually you might see him drop to 5th, where he belongs.

 

It's also where he has historically produced the best numbers. His Texas years were down years for him, and those were the years he didn't leadoff primarily.

 

There is something to be said for comfort level with hitters. In the Cubs case, putting Soriano at the top of lineup doesn't create a hole elsewhere, so it's amove they can live with and hopefully maximize Soriano's output.

[A New Era]

While it might sound stupid at first. Soriano HAS lead-off most of this year, and I beleive he HAS said in the paper somewhere that he enjoys leading off and feels better at lead-off. Perhaps he will have slightly better #'s next year if he leads off instead of batting 5th?

 

Anyway, Soriano >>>>>>>>>>>. . . . . . pierre. And I don't care if he leads off or not. He hits lots of homers, has great slugging, and I just want the better players. I am over my "lead-off" guy infactuation. .

[A New Era]

Soriano>>>>>>>>>>>>Pierre at lead off.

 

HAhahahahahaaaaa. . I just noticed we did the same thing BBB! I swear I didn't even look. Ha haaaa. .

[TheDude]

Perhaps he will have slightly better #'s next year if he leads off instead of batting 5th?

 

His career numbers certainly suggest that is the case:

 

Leadoff - 2052 ABs, OBP .340, OPS .884

3rd spot - 602 ABs, OBP .313, OPS .773

5th spot - 575 ABs, OBP .316, OPS .836

 

He doesn't have more than 300 ABs anywhere else.