Lou not happy with the baserunning

[Brian]

cubs.com

 

The inability to get Matt Murton home from third base with nobody out, and then not advance both Michael Barrett and Murton from second and third with one out in the eighth inning on Wednesday night was the final straw for Piniella as far as the team's baserunning.

 

The Cubs' skipper announced that he is bringing in the club's outfield/base running coordinator, Bob Dernier, to run a clinic.

 

Dernier stole 218 bases in his career, while only getting caught 63 times, a 77.6 percent success rate, and in 1984 set a then-franchise single-season record for steals by a center fielder with 45.

 

"We're going to work on some things with our leads and so forth, try to improve our baserunning," said Piniella. "I haven't been totally pleased with that aspect of our game. We're going to bring him in and really go over some things, including stealing bases."

 

One thing he'll probably go over with the Cubs players is when, and more important, when NOT to steal. Second baseman Ryan Theriot provided a perfect example of the latter in the first inning Thursday night.

 

After singling and stealing second, Theriot was thrown out attempting to steal third on a 2-0 pitch with Derrek Lee at the plate and Aramis Ramirez on deck.

[erik316wttn]

It'll take him until July to pound all the Dusty out of this team.

[bhogg]

it is quite refreshing to have a manager who identifies a problem and immediately begins remedies to eliminate the problem.

[Brian]

It'll take him until July to pound all the Dusty out of this team.

 

I'd be impressed if he he could do it that fast.

[Laura]

Very glad to read about this. Baserunning is one of the little things that the Cubs just don't do well. Nice to see an attempt to improve on that instead of tired resignation that it is what it is.

[Andy]

it is quite refreshing to have a manager who identifies a problem and immediately begins remedies to eliminate the problem.

Seriously. He sees something wrong - BANG! - within a week he's on the case. I'm loving it.

[adamb0719]

it is quite refreshing to have a manager who identifies a problem and immediately begins remedies to eliminate the problem.

Seriously. He sees something wrong - BANG! - within a week he's on the case. I'm loving it.

 

Me too. This is a very welcome change.

[Cubbie_Gal]

Mid-season clinic. OMG! What a concept! Can't believe this is the first guy to realize that learning "on the job" (during the game that is), just ain't going to cut it.

 

I can't even remember Dusty calling in the big guns or showing some tough love by drillin' folks until they get it right.

 

Get angry all you want Lou baby, I'm lovin' it!

[tkenm356]

This is rad. Lou rules, thank God Dusty isn't here anymore.

 

And yes, I used the word "rad" to describe Lou because hey, he deserves it

[Banedon]

It'll take him until July to pound all the Dusty out of this team.

 

Boy isn't this the truth. He's gotta get the Dusty out of the baserunning, the Dusty out of Murton, the Dusty out of Zambrano (walks..ugh), and the Dusty out of the fan's mindset. That's a lot of work to do....

 

Now who's gonna get the Hendry out of this team?

[VanceJergins]

Lou, start giving Murton more regular PT and I think we'll get along fine.

[VanceJergins]

It'll take him until July to pound all the Dusty out of this team.

 

Boy isn't this the truth. He's gotta get the Dusty out of the baserunning, the Dusty out of Murton, the Dusty out of Zambrano (walks..ugh), and the Dusty out of the fan's mindset. That's a lot of work to do....

 

Now who's gonna get the Hendry out of this team?

 

Mark Cuban

[Omar]

He got the Dusty out of Cedeno in ST.. but it came roaring back when the season started.

[inari]

He got the Dusty out of Cedeno in ST.. but it came roaring back when the season started.

 

I think if Ronny's gonna get good Lou needs to get the Cedeno out of Cedeno. Dusty has nothing to do with that one.

[mul21]

He got the Dusty out of Cedeno in ST.. but it came roaring back when the season started.

 

I think if Ronny's gonna get good Lou needs to get the Cedeno out of Cedeno. Dusty has nothing to do with that one.

 

I think to get the Cedeno out of Cedeno, he needs to go to Iowa for 2 months and play every day instead of sporadically off the bench.

[cheapseats]

He got the Dusty out of Cedeno in ST.. but it came roaring back when the season started.

 

He's not doing Cedeno any favors by giving him starts vs LHP.

 

Cedeno hits RHP better than he hits LHP, and Izturis hits lefties and righties equally poorly.

 

According to ESPN's stats, Izturis has gotten 1 at-bat against a left-handed pitcher this year. That's crazy.

[BigbadB]

Yay. Recognizing and fixing problems as they happen. What a concept.

 

You go Lou!

[Soriano12]

Wow..this is amazing, a pro-active manager. I swear that nitwit before seriously stole money from the Cubs for 4 years.

 

 

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

[BigbadB]

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

 

Oh man. I forgot about that quote. Hahaha.

[VanceJergins]

Wow..this is amazing, a pro-active manager. I swear that nitwit before seriously stole money from the Cubs for 4 years.

 

 

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

 

Well there's really nothing you can do about that. I mean seriously, can you think of any possible solution to that problem? I sure can't.

[BigbadB]

Wow..this is amazing, a pro-active manager. I swear that nitwit before seriously stole money from the Cubs for 4 years.

 

 

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

 

Well there's really nothing you can do about that. I mean seriously, can you think of any possible solution to that problem? I sure can't.

 

Which problem? Not having a lefty batting practice arm or not being able to hit lefties?

 

Not being able to hit lefties is not a good thing. Blaming it on not having a lefty batting practice arm is about as lame as it gets.

[tulsacubfan]

Wow..this is amazing, a pro-active manager. I swear that nitwit before seriously stole money from the Cubs for 4 years.

 

 

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

 

Well there's really nothing you can do about that. I mean seriously, can you think of any possible solution to that problem? I sure can't.

 

That is a tough one. Maybe, perhaps, oh I don't know, maybe uh get a left handed BP pitcher?!?!?!?!

[Balsa]

Well I agree, and maybe for Soriano too, can't keep getting picked off like that at the start of the order....

[Soriano12]

Wow..this is amazing, a pro-active manager. I swear that nitwit before seriously stole money from the Cubs for 4 years.

 

 

Man its tough...we can't hit lefites cause we ain't go no left handed BP pitcher...

 

Well there's really nothing you can do about that. I mean seriously, can you think of any possible solution to that problem? I sure can't.

 

A fishing trip?

[Elrhino]

Thank God its finally getting addressed. Its really been one of the team's more underrated flaws for a long time, as its almost impossible to quantify. Its been horrendously bad forever. Dusty, Baylor, Riggleman. I swear you'll see more bad baserunning from the Cubs in a month than you will an entire season under the Braves.