Lineup According to Piniella

[killthegoat06]

"[Alfonso] Soriano's going to lead off," Piniella said. "I mean this guy here has got just a special combination of speed and power. And he's comfortable in that spot, and we're going to leave him there.

 

"Derrek Lee is just a really, really fine professional hitter, and he is going to hit in the three hole," Piniella said. "And then we got the kid, [Aramis] Ramirez, that we signed. I was astounded when I read he only struck out 60 some times last year. For a power hitter, I mean that is a great ratio. He's going to hit fourth.

 

"We've got Jacque Jones in the fifth hole," he said. "We've got [Michael] Barrett, [Mark] DeRosa, and I haven't figured out really what we are going to do in the second and eighth holes. [Cesar] Izturis will be in one of them. It depends on what we do."

Piniella said Matt Murton will get plenty of playing time, and added he liked having Ryan Theriot, Henry Blanco and Angel Pagan on the bench. As for the pitching situation, the Cubs were waiting for word from Ted Lilly's agent as to whether the free agent left-hander would choose them or the New York Yankees.

 

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061206&content_id=1752802&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Izturis in the two hole? Why would you consider this?

 

Oops. You can move this to baseball discussions if you want. I didn't think anybody would see it in there, though.

[Guest]

It's like having a second leadoff hitter, man!

[Bruno7481]

I don't think it is that outrageous. A player like Izturis is going to be in either the #2 hole, or hitting 8th. I'd personally like to see Murton there.

 

He didn't say Izturis was hitting 2nd for sure.

[Butterscup1679666578]

As the team looks now, it should be this:

 

Soriano

Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Barrett

DeRosa

Izturis

 

hopefully it'll end up being this

 

Soriano

Church

Lee

Ramirez

Murton

Barrett

DeRosa

someone better than Izturis

[cheapseats]

Well, the honeymoon is over. :twisted:

 

Izturis should never hit higher than eighth and should probably hit ninth when Z is pitching.

 

No one should be excited about having the offensively useless Angel Pagan on the bench.

[Balsa]

Well at least he's not handing it to Izturis out of the gate?

[Tracer Bullet]

When he said Soriano 1 and skipped to Lee 3 without mentioning Murton, I knew we were in for some trouble. With the current roster, Murton should be written into the 2-hole in permanent marker.

 

I know he didn't say Izturis was going to hit 2nd for sure, but the fact that he'd even consider playing him there scares me.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Well, the good thing about putting Murton in the 8 hole is Soriano has a lot of pop. With most leadoff hitters, it's a waste of good OBP in the 8 hole.

 

Izturis is in the 2 hole to advance the runner, which he is good at. It's too bad he can't get on base at a decent clip, mostly b/c of low BA.

 

All in all, I don't think Izturis in the 2 hole and Murton in the 8 costs us many runs.

 

I'd prefer Murton in the 2 hole, but that lineup looks a lot better than the crap Dusty ran out there day after day.

[Lefty]

Well, the good thing about putting Murton in the 8 hole is Soriano has a lot of pop. With most leadoff hitters, it's a waste of good OBP in the 8 hole.

 

Izturis is in the 2 hole to advance the runner, which he is good at. It's too bad he can't get on base at a decent clip, mostly b/c of low BA.

 

All in all, I don't think Izturis in the 2 hole and Murton in the 8 costs us many runs.

 

I'd prefer Murton in the 2 hole, but that lineup looks a lot better than the crap Dusty ran out there day after day.

 

Well, for all of Soriano's charms, OBP isn't one of them. So Soriano-Izturis 1-2 would rival Pierre-Perez for wasting Lee and Ramirez (minus the seven lead-off solo homers Soriano will hit).

[Guest]

Izturis can't get on base mainly because of a pathetic walk rate combined with a low BA

[Andy]

No mention of Murt makes ndistops a sad boy

[goonys evil twin]

I'm pretty certain Murton is going to be sitting on the bench a lot more frequently than Izturis (not counting injury), so maybe Lou wants stability atop the lineup. I'm surprised how much they are talking about DeRosa as a 6 hitter.

[Bruno7481]

I'm surprised how much they are talking about DeRosa as a 6 hitter.

 

Don't be surprised. They are talking about him as the # 7 hitter.

[Magnetic Curses]

I don't think it is that outrageous. A player like Izturis is going to be in either the #2 hole, or hitting 8th. I'd personally like to see Murton there.

 

He didn't say Izturis was hitting 2nd for sure.

 

if you're going to play a lot of small-ball, then it would be a good thing to have izturis in the 2 hole. that way, it doesn't affect the team much when we're giving away outs at the top of the order.

 

if you decide that giving away outs at the top of the order is an incredibly stupid idea, as i do, then izturis should probably not be in your order at all.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm surprised how much they are talking about DeRosa as a 6 hitter.

 

Don't be surprised. They are talking about him as the # 7 hitter.

 

I guess I should say I'm surprised he's not being considered for the 2 hole.

[BigbadB]

I am so looking forward to Lee coming to the plate with no one on base if Soriano and Izturis are batting 1/2.

 

To do anything different would be stupid considering how well our 1/2 combo has worked the last few years. :roll:

[BigbadB]

And Izturis should always come to the plate in a game before Lee or Ramirez do.

[moorecg]

Aside from all that, and aside from Murton' superior OBP...I also think you can't overlook how much Murton's produciton would be helped in the 2 hole. Being protected by Lee, as opposed to being inbetween DeRosa and the pitcher has to help him a TON. As is, he's simply the best #2 choice around for us.

[Backtobanks]

"[Alfonso] Soriano's going to lead off," Piniella said. "I mean this guy here has got just a special combination of speed and power. And he's comfortable in that spot, and we're going to leave him there.

 

"Derrek Lee is just a really, really fine professional hitter, and he is going to hit in the three hole," Piniella said. "And then we got the kid, [Aramis] Ramirez, that we signed. I was astounded when I read he only struck out 60 some times last year. For a power hitter, I mean that is a great ratio. He's going to hit fourth.

 

"We've got Jacque Jones in the fifth hole," he said. "We've got [Michael] Barrett, [Mark] DeRosa, and I haven't figured out really what we are going to do in the second and eighth holes. [Cesar] Izturis will be in one of them. It depends on what we do."

Piniella said Matt Murton will get plenty of playing time, and added he liked having Ryan Theriot, Henry Blanco and Angel Pagan on the bench. As for the pitching situation, the Cubs were waiting for word from Ted Lilly's agent as to whether the free agent left-hander would choose them or the New York Yankees.

 

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061206&content_id=1752802&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Izturis in the two hole? Why would you consider this?

 

Oops. You can move this to baseball discussions if you want. I didn't think anybody would see it in there, though.

 

So he can drive in Soriano with his glove?

[soapy]

To be fair, he said Izturis will be in "one of them" (the 2nd or 8th spot). I just hope he chooses the later. As the team is currently constructed, Murton should he 2nd, with the next choice being DeRosa.

[BigbadB]

To be fair, he said Izturis will be in "one of them" (the 2nd or 8th spot). I just hope he chooses the later. As the team is currently constructed, Murton should he 2nd, with the next choice being DeRosa.

 

Unfortunately, with the options of DeRosa, Murton and Izturis, I think management might prefer Izturis because of his ability to hit left handed and move the ball to the right side against RHP.

 

As sad as this commentary is, it wouldn't shock me at all. But, it will anger me to no end.

[sethuel1]

Cue the "Piniella is the white Dusty baker" commentary if this happens.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Well, the honeymoon is over. :twisted:

 

Izturis should never hit higher than eighth and should probably hit ninth when Z is pitching.

 

No one should be excited about having the offensively useless Angel Pagan on the bench.

 

It doesn't really matter who is pitching, he should never bat higher than 11th.

[cheapseats]

Cue the "Piniella is the white Dusty baker" commentary if this happens.

 

Piniella is white?

[erik316wttn]

Aside from all that, and aside from Murton' superior OBP...I also think you can't overlook how much Murton's produciton would be helped in the 2 hole. Being protected by Lee, as opposed to being inbetween DeRosa and the pitcher has to help him a TON. As is, he's simply the best #2 choice around for us.

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

Izturis should rot in the 8 hole.