speed club

[soapy]

In Bruce's recap of last night's game, he mentions that Lou may be considering a "speed" lineup.

 

"The problem that we're having here is that we're not getting hits with men on base," Piniella said."That's a problem. And we don't have much speed.

 

"I've been thinking. We might just go to the speed club that we have and try it that way. But we've got to start scoring more runs. That's really the bottom line to this whole thing.

 

"I would consider changing some things and putting some more speed into the equation."

 

As Bruce goes on to mention, there really aren't many choices other than putting Pie in CF. He also mentions Murton in RF, but I don't see Lou benching Jones right now (though he's cooled off a little).

 

Aside from that, is that what this offense is missing? I sure don't think so. They simply aren't hitting and/or getting on base at a suffecient rate. On top of that, they aren't coming through when they have oppurtunities lately. There really isn't much they can do about that, unless Lou is thinking he'll start some runners in motion more often.

 

Anyway, I just thought it was interesting that Lou's harping on speed for some reason when I really just don't think that's a problem at all.

[E.J.]

The only thing that could fix this offense is having better hitters in it. Unfortunately, that's not really an option.

[Keener98]

Lous reasoning behind the "speed" team is because of the Cubs hitting into so many double plays. He feels with the speed team, they can steal, and hit and run. I dont necessarily agree with this philosophy, I mean like Bruce says there really arent that many options. It was brought up about Soriano being on the move in the 1st but Lou said he thought about it, but because of his leg he didnt put the hit and run on. Well if thats the case and Soriano cant run he needs to be moved down to either 4th or 5th in the lineup, untill hes fully healthy.

 

We face a lefty tonight, and Lou mentioned Sunday on the pre-game radio show, that he planned on giving Theriot today and tomorrow off and letting Cedeno start. If thats the case tonights lineup will be interesting.I think Id go with this

 

Kendall

Murton

Lee

Soriano

Aram

DeRosa

Monroe

Cedeno

Lilly.

 

However that lineup goes against Lous "speed" lineup, but I really dont see the speed options vs a lefty.

[CubinNY]

In whack-a-mole the only guy who wins is the guy collecting the quarters.

 

Lou cannot win consistently by playing "the hot hand" or by trying what was needed yesterday.

 

On a local scale luck rules, but on global scale talent does. The Cubs were extremely unlucky last night, but that doesn't mean it is a good tactic to play for luck. It's like gambler chasing after lost money.

 

Lou needs to get the best eight position players in the lineup and keep them there.

[CUBZ99]

Lous reasoning behind the "speed" team is because of the Cubs hitting into so many double plays. He feels with the speed team, they can steal, and hit and run. I dont necessarily agree with this philosophy, I mean like Bruce says there really arent that many options. It was brought up about Soriano being on the move in the 1st but Lou said he thought about it, but because of his leg he didnt put the hit and run on. Well if thats the case and Soriano cant run he needs to be moved down to either 4th or 5th in the lineup, untill hes fully healthy.

 

We face a lefty tonight, and Lou mentioned Sunday on the pre-game radio show, that he planned on giving Theriot today and tomorrow off and letting Cedeno start. If thats the case tonights lineup will be interesting.I think Id go with this

 

Kendall

Murton

Lee

Soriano

Aram

DeRosa

Monroe

Cedeno

Lilly.

 

However that lineup goes against Lous "speed" lineup, but I really dont see the speed options vs a lefty.

 

When Lou talks about speed, my guess is that he is referring to Pie, Fontenot, Theriot, Cedeno, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing Pie get another shot out in CF before this season is over. Defensively he is an improvement, and he is bound to break out with his bat.

 

I would also think that Soriano would move to the middle of the order until he gets his legs back.

[Keener98]

Lous reasoning behind the "speed" team is because of the Cubs hitting into so many double plays. He feels with the speed team, they can steal, and hit and run. I dont necessarily agree with this philosophy, I mean like Bruce says there really arent that many options. It was brought up about Soriano being on the move in the 1st but Lou said he thought about it, but because of his leg he didnt put the hit and run on. Well if thats the case and Soriano cant run he needs to be moved down to either 4th or 5th in the lineup, untill hes fully healthy.

 

We face a lefty tonight, and Lou mentioned Sunday on the pre-game radio show, that he planned on giving Theriot today and tomorrow off and letting Cedeno start. If thats the case tonights lineup will be interesting.I think Id go with this

 

Kendall

Murton

Lee

Soriano

Aram

DeRosa

Monroe

Cedeno

Lilly.

 

However that lineup goes against Lous "speed" lineup, but I really dont see the speed options vs a lefty.

 

When Lou talks about speed, my guess is that he is referring to Pie, Fontenot, Theriot, Cedeno, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing Pie get another shot out in CF before this season is over. Defensively he is an improvement, and he is bound to break out with his bat.

 

I would also think that Soriano would move to the middle of the order until he gets his legs back.

 

Yea Im sure he talking about Pie, but against a lefty Id really be surprised to see him in there, and same goes for Fontenot. Like I said against a righty it would be alot easier for Lou to go to a "speed" lineup, but against a lefty I dont see how he could do it, and do it without putting players in a spot they shouldnt be in.

[CUBZ99]

In whack-a-mole the only guy who wins is the guy collecting the quarters.

 

Lou cannot win consistently by playing "the hot hand" or by trying what was needed yesterday.

 

On a local scale luck rules, but on global scale talent does. The Cubs were extremely unlucky last night, but that doesn't mean it is a good tactic to play for luck. It's like gambler chasing after lost money.

 

Lou needs to get the best eight position players in the lineup and keep them there.

 

Don't buy into that at all. Lou has remained fluid through out the entire season, and may be one of the reasons the Cubs are even in the race in the first place. Just to name a few, the decision to start Theriot over Izturis, riding out Fontenot's hot bat, replacing Wade Miller in the rotation before June, benching Eyre, benching Ohman, giving Jones a rest until he heated up, riding out some of the young relievers arms when they were effective i.e. Petrick.

 

I know your not suggesting that you just stick with the same thing ala Dusty until the team is out of contention, but Lou has seemed to have a good idea of the teams strengths and weakness and tried to take advantage of them. If Dusty were still managing my guess is that Izturis would still be starting, Jones, and Floyd would be mainstays in the lineup even vs. lefties and Miller would have been in the rotation alot longer.

[CubinNY]

In whack-a-mole the only guy who wins is the guy collecting the quarters.

 

Lou cannot win consistently by playing "the hot hand" or by trying what was needed yesterday.

 

On a local scale luck rules, but on global scale talent does. The Cubs were extremely unlucky last night, but that doesn't mean it is a good tactic to play for luck. It's like gambler chasing after lost money.

 

Lou needs to get the best eight position players in the lineup and keep them there.

 

Don't buy into that at all. Lou has remained fluid through out the entire season, and may be one of the reasons the Cubs are even in the race in the first place.

It could also be the reason why the Cubs aren't 5 or 6 games in first place instead of .5 too.

 

We'll never know, but I'd compare Lou's tactis to Bobby Cox's and they don't look so good.

[abuck1220]

if lou wants speed so damn bad he should have pinch run for ward in the sixth last night.

[Fred Hornkohl]

It's a misperception that the CUBS aren't getting on base recently........

 

CUBS' hitters during the last 7 games......

 

08/29 - 09/04      AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP

last 7 games      229   22   60    8    0    7   89   21   22   37  0.262  0.335  0.389  0.723  0.286
season totals    4769  621 1280  282   23  111 1941  588  416  884  0.268  0.329  0.407  0.736  0.310

 

They are getting on base..... it's their power numbers that are in the toilet.

[soapy]

Interesting numbers, Fred. Regardless, speed (or lack there of) is not their problem, IMO.

 

I'd probably just do something similar to this for the rest of the season:

 

v. RHP

 

Theriot

Kendall

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Jones (RF)

DeRosa

Pie (CF)

 

v. LHP

 

Theriot

Kendall

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Murton (RF)

DeRosa

Monroe (CF)

[Tracer Bullet]

In whack-a-mole the only guy who wins is the guy collecting the quarters.

 

Lou cannot win consistently by playing "the hot hand" or by trying what was needed yesterday.

 

On a local scale luck rules, but on global scale talent does. The Cubs were extremely unlucky last night, but that doesn't mean it is a good tactic to play for luck. It's like gambler chasing after lost money.

 

Lou needs to get the best eight position players in the lineup and keep them there.

 

Don't buy into that at all. Lou has remained fluid through out the entire season, and may be one of the reasons the Cubs are even in the race in the first place. Just to name a few, the decision to start Theriot over Izturis, riding out Fontenot's hot bat, replacing Wade Miller in the rotation before June, benching Eyre, benching Ohman, giving Jones a rest until he heated up, riding out some of the young relievers arms when they were effective i.e. Petrick.

 

I know your not suggesting that you just stick with the same thing ala Dusty until the team is out of contention, but Lou has seemed to have a good idea of the teams strengths and weakness and tried to take advantage of them. If Dusty were still managing my guess is that Izturis would still be starting, Jones, and Floyd would be mainstays in the lineup even vs. lefties and Miller would have been in the rotation alot longer.

 

That's crazy talk. Lou replaced Izturis with Theriot and for that I give him credit, although Izturis was terrible and it's possible that Lou (unlike JH) knew that coming in.

 

But you're giving him credit for "riding out Fontenot's hot bat"? He rode it to the tune of 71 ABs in July (.481 OPS) and 53 ABs in August (.653 OPS). That's called chasing the hot hand (b/c Fontenot's first 80 ABs this year he was hot) and getting burned b/c you ended up getting 120 crappy ABs after that.

 

Wade Miller got yanked b/c he was terrible. He was throwing BP-speed. I don't think Lou's touting that as his toughest managerial decision on the season.

 

And what the hell does "giving Jones a rest until he heated up" mean? He got 215 ABs before the ASB and had a .629 OPS for his efforts. He wasn't starting every day, but that's a lot of wasted ABs. Yes, he had 100 great ABs in August, but do you think he walked up to Lou after a few days off and said "thanks for the rest, Coach, but I'm ready to OPS .900 for a month now."

 

BTW - Floyd is a mainstay in the lineup. He's played in just over half the team's games and basically had 45 or so ABs every month, even when he cooled off to a sub-.700 OPS in July and August.

 

Lou's been chasing the hot hand all year long. Sometime you get lucky (Jones in August), sometimes you get burned badly (Fontenot in July/August).

[Tracer Bullet]

It's a misperception that the CUBS aren't getting on base recently........

 

CUBS' hitters during the last 7 games......

 

08/29 - 09/04      AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP

last 7 games      229   22   60    8    0    7   89   21   22   37  0.262  0.335  0.389  0.723  0.286
season totals    4769  621 1280  282   23  111 1941  588  416  884  0.268  0.329  0.407  0.736  0.310

 

They are getting on base..... it's their power numbers that are in the toilet.

 

.335 isn't exactly good. It's average (both for NL and ML as a whole). Their SLG is bad, but it's not like they've fallen from one of the top SLG teams. The .407 SLG for the year is pathetic.

[PrimeTime]

Heres an idea Cubs. Stop hitting into so many damn double plays.How many did we hit into last night?

[C.C.]

Heres an idea Cubs. Stop hitting into so many damn double plays.How many did we hit into last night?

 

5!

[jersey cubs fan]

Heres an idea Cubs. Stop hitting into so many damn double plays.How many did we hit into last night?

 

5!

 

gotta put the ball in play man!

[Mephistopheles]

speed lineup = one that doesnt get on base?

 

well if we cant hit with guys on...then why do we want less guys on?

[Yeti]

5 freaking double plays in one game ugh :evil:

[Have a seat, Neifi]

We're struggling because we can't hit for power whatsoever. Over the past 30 days, the Cubs are 15th in the NL in SLG% - .398. That's just abonimable. We're behind such offensive juggernauts as the Astros, Giants, and Nationals.

 

We're also T-14th in OBP over the past month at .325. The team in 15th (the D'backs) are at .324, so we're scraping the bottom of that barrel as well.

 

'Tweaking' our lineup to get more speed is just going to compound the fundamental problem that this lineup continues to struggle generating runs via XB hits, and on the rare occassions that it does, no one's on base. I keep harking back to the scuttlebutt we heard back in May when ESPN.com, the Tribune and maybe a few others reported that Lou was telling friends that the 'pieces just don't fit' with this team, despite it being a fairly deep and talented one. I don't think our hot June and July has really changed that.

[hardcorecubfan]

What Monroe showed us is not that we need speed but smart base runners

[Skyballer]

What Monroe showed us is not that we need speed but smart base runners

Is that why Cedeno isn't a good baseball player :D

[Skyballer]

5 freaking double plays in one game ugh :evil:

You exhist outside of rants :wink: