Cubs with 3rd Best Starting Lineup?

[justlikethecubs]

Not sure if this has been posted so I thought I would put it out there. Feel free to move if it's already being dicussed

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070305&content_id=1827802&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp

[98navigator]

I can't really disagree with it because the lineup does have the ability to be very strong. Hopefully, the starting pitching can hold it's own.

 

No. 3 -- Chicago Cubs

The Cubs? Hard to believe, but on paper the projected starting lineup is formidable: catcher Michael Barrett, first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Mark DeRosa, shortstop Cesar Izturis, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, left fielder Matt Murton, center fielder Alfonso Soriano and right fielder Jacque Jones. Lee, Ramirez and Soriano could hit 35 or more homers and drive in 100 or more runs apiece. Soriano, Barrett, Murton and Izturis run better than average for the positions they play. During the last two years, seven of the projected Cubs regulars have hit .285 or better for a season at least once. Izturis is the exception, and he hit .288 the last time he was healthy for a full year (2004).

[radarluv1]

um, i dont quite think #3 is too accurate. they're looking at our middle infielder's career years, for one. this is a top 10 lineup, though.

[Warpticon]

I love the comment about the Yankees's defense. Hilarious.

[justlikethecubs]

I agree we can have the potential to be a strong lineup. I was kinda shocked to see us mentioned in the same breath as the yankees and ahead of the Red Sox. It would be nice if we produced runs this year like those lineups have in the past. It might take some of the stress off our pitching. :)

[BigbadB]

While the Cubs definitely feature a big bopper line up, the one weakness that remains is poor OBP. Without a decent OBP, there's going to be a lot of solo home runs. I think they definitely improved the OBP over the winter, but how much remains to be seen.

 

If Lou's focus on OBP is really legit, then the Cubs potentially could crack the top 5 in offense with the mix of added players with better OBP's than the players they replaced, and a more patient approach in general.

[98navigator]

The results are based on an unscientific sampling of baseball personnel, including scouts, on the condition they would not be quoted and not be allowed to select their own team.

 

We simply asked: Which team has the best all-around starting eight in the Major Leagues right now?

 

 

...The criteria meant no designated hitters were considered... [and] No platoon situations were considered...

[goonys evil twin]

It's completely misleading to talk about rating a starting lineup when speed and defense apparantly make up so much of the rankings.

 

This is a pretty worthless ranking.

[A New Era]

It's completely misleading to talk about rating a starting lineup when speed and defense apparantly make up so much of the rankings.

 

This is a pretty worthless ranking.

 

Yes it does, because it has the Cubs #3!!!

[BigSlick]

As flattering as that article is for a Cubs fan, I don't think I saw one statistic (other than total runs) that told me...well anything.

 

Batting average, RBIs, batting average, steals steals team speed team speed fielding percentage fielding percentage STEALS STEAL STEALS STEALS

 

What the crap? This doesn't tell me anything.

[CubColtPacer]

As flattering as that article is for a Cubs fan, I don't think I saw one statistic (other than total runs) that told me...well anything.

 

Batting average, RBIs, batting average, steals steals team speed team speed fielding percentage fielding percentage STEALS STEAL STEALS STEALS

 

What the crap? This doesn't tell me anything.

 

It wasn't an analysis-it was just an informal poll of people in baseball-that was just how they ranked them.

[BigSlick]

As flattering as that article is for a Cubs fan, I don't think I saw one statistic (other than total runs) that told me...well anything.

 

Batting average, RBIs, batting average, steals steals team speed team speed fielding percentage fielding percentage STEALS STEAL STEALS STEALS

 

What the crap? This doesn't tell me anything.

 

It wasn't an analysis-it was just an informal poll of people in baseball-that was just how they ranked them.

 

BATTING AVERAGE BATTING AVERAGE

[KaiserCesar]

As flattering as that article is for a Cubs fan, I don't think I saw one statistic (other than total runs) that told me...well anything.

 

Batting average, RBIs, batting average, steals steals team speed team speed fielding percentage fielding percentage STEALS STEAL STEALS STEALS

 

What the crap? This doesn't tell me anything.

 

It wasn't an analysis-it was just an informal poll of people in baseball-that was just how they ranked them.

 

Well, there was some analysis, not really factoring into the ranking process that used a bunch of conventionals. Pretty typical MLB.com article