ESPN's projected Cubs field roster - Soriano at 2B

[TheDude]

I saw this briefly on ESPN (might have been ESPN's news network), one analyst's take on how the Fukudome signing alters the field:

 

Projected Cubs positional set-up:

 

C - Soto

1B - Lee

2B - Soriano

SS - Theriot

3B - Ramirez

RF - Fukudome

CF - Pie

LF - Murton

 

Anybody else catch this? It caught me by surprise because I haven't seen anything else to this effect anywhere.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I saw this briefly on ESPN (might have been ESPN's news network), one analyst's take on how the Fukudome signing alters the field:

 

Projected Cubs positional set-up:

 

C - Soto

1B - Lee

2B - Soriano

SS - Theriot

3B - Ramirez

RF - Fukudome

CF - Pie

LF - Murton

 

Anybody else catch this? It caught me by surprise because I haven't seen anything else to this effect anywhere.

 

Its been talked about in another thread..dont remember which one

[BigbadB]

It was in the Fukudome press conference thread in Transactions. Someone else said that the very same ESPN projected line up had Blanco behind the dish rather than Soto.

 

In other words, I wouldn't put much stock into it.

[hardcorecubfan]

Whoever said that must have been talking out his/her's butt. why would anybody move soriano out of a position where he has now proven even the critics that he has a deadly arm. When he was at second he played a mediocre second at best.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Replace Theriot with DeRosa and me likey

[Mugged By Fluffy]

And why would you bat Derrick Lee second. Granted his power and slugging numbers were down last season, but he's a bonafide run producer.

[Pushfrog98]

And why would you bat Derrick Lee second. Granted his power and slugging numbers were down last season, but he's a bonafide run producer.

that's not the batting lineup... it's the fielding lineup.

[Anomalied]

Replace Theriot with DeRosa and me likey

Me, too. I'd like to see this lineup...

1. Mark DeRosa (SS)

2. Kosuke Fukudome (RF)

3. Derrek Lee (1B)

4. Aramis Ramirez (3B)

5. Alfonso Soriano (2B)

6. Matt Murton (LF)

7. Geovany Soto ©

8. Felix Pie (CF)

 

People have this perception that Soriano is an elite outfielder. I know that he has a cannon for an arm, but he's an awful fielder. Granted, Murton isn't much better... but I wouldn't mind shifting Soriano back to second base. After last year, I think that teams will stop running on him anyway.

[David]

I'm not sure who considers Soriano an "elite" outfielder, but as average as he might be fielding LF, he's far worse fielding 2B.

 

That said, I wouldn't be at all opposed to putting Soriano at 2B and Murton in LF. His bat would be much more valuable at 2B.

[fromthestretch]

 

People have this perception that Soriano is an elite outfielder. I know that he has a cannon for an arm, but he's an awful fielder. Granted, Murton isn't much better... but I wouldn't mind shifting Soriano back to second base. After last year, I think that teams will stop running on him anyway.

 

They didn't stop running on him in 2007 after he notched 22 outfield assists in 2006.

[frostwyrm]

Lou won't move Soriano to RF, but he will move him to 2B? It ain't gonna happen.

[BigbadB]

I'm not sure who considers Soriano an "elite" outfielder, but as average as he might be fielding LF, he's far worse fielding 2B.

 

That said, I wouldn't be at all opposed to putting Soriano at 2B and Murton in LF. His bat would be much more valuable at 2B.

 

Ugh. I just had a mental picture of Soriano doing his bunny hops before every catch while playing 2b, including grounders and double play flips.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

I'm not sure who considers Soriano an "elite" outfielder,.

 

I do.