What's the batting order look like now?

[Backtobanks]

I'm still assuming we get Roberts.

 

Roberts

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

If Roberts is playing 2B, then DeRosa won't be in the lineup.

[SouthSideRyan]

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Soto

DeRosa

Pie

Cedeno

[rawaction]

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Soto

DeRosa

Pie

Cedeno

 

That would be interesting. Cubs seemingly have 2 guys who would be good for the #2 spot (Fukudome and Lee if his power stays in 06-07 range), 2 guys for the #5 spot (Ramirez, Soriano), 2 7th hitters (Soto, Derosa) and 2 8th hitters (Pie, Cedeno/Theriot)

[CubColtPacer]

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Soto

DeRosa

Pie

Cedeno

 

That would be interesting. Cubs seemingly have 2 guys who would be good for the #2 spot (Fukudome and Lee if his power stays in 06-07 range), 2 guys for the #5 spot (Ramirez, Soriano), 2 7th hitters (Soto, Derosa) and 2 8th hitters (Pie, Cedeno/Theriot)

 

I think you're possibly underrating our hitters a little bit. If we truly had two 7 hitters and 2 8 hitters and no legitimate middle of the order hitter, then we would have a well below average offense, and we had an average offense last year.

Ramirez and Soriano have been top 30 hitters each of the last 2 years. That at least deserves a #4 ranking for each even if it doesn't deserve a #3 (Ramirez more than Soriano). Fukudome is a #2. Lee is either a #2 or #4, but remember he has only showed a lack of power in 1 half of a season. Soto is a #6 or #7 depending on performance. DeRosa has been an average #6 hitter the last 2 years. Pie could be a #6, #7, or #8 depending on what he does this year (probably a 7 or 8). Theriot is a #8.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Soto

DeRosa

Pie

Cedeno

 

That would be interesting. Cubs seemingly have 2 guys who would be good for the #2 spot (Fukudome and Lee if his power stays in 06-07 range), 2 guys for the #5 spot (Ramirez, Soriano), 2 7th hitters (Soto, Derosa) and 2 8th hitters (Pie, Cedeno/Theriot)

 

I think you're possibly underrating our hitters a little bit. If we truly had two 7 hitters and 2 8 hitters and no legitimate middle of the order hitter, then we would have a well below average offense, and we had an average offense last year.

Ramirez and Soriano have been top 30 hitters each of the last 2 years. That at least deserves a #4 ranking for each even if it doesn't deserve a #3 (Ramirez more than Soriano). Fukudome is a #2. Lee is either a #2 or #4, but remember he has only showed a lack of power in 1 half of a season. Soto is a #6 or #7 depending on performance. DeRosa has been an average #6 hitter the last 2 years. Pie could be a #6, #7, or #8 depending on what he does this year (probably a 7 or 8). Theriot is a #8.

 

I think we may be getting a little hung up on number designations. Ramirez and Soriano are like 5 hitters, because both have power but neither has any patience. An ideal #4 is going to OBP a lot close to .400 than either of these guys. But it doesn't mean neither could hit there (Ramirez much more so than Soriano) and have the team succeed. Lee has really only hit for great power in one year. Now that's he's recovered from the broken wrist, and shown to be back where he was most of his career, far away from an elite #3 type hitter (which he was in 2005, without question), he is an ideal 2. But it doesn't mean he can't hit 3 and have the team succeed.

 

Part of the problem the Cubs have had in recent years, when their offense was, at its best, only average, is that they've rarely had an ideal hitter for any of their positions, aside from when Ramirez was hitting 5th, and Sosa/Lee were at their best hitting in the middle of the order. They've never had an ideal top of the order guy. They've always been missing either an ideal 3, 4, or 5 (or more than 1 of those), and they've even struggled finding "ideal" 6 hitters. Moises was never an ideal cleanup hitter, At their best they've always had guys a little out of ideal position. As long as you aren't saddled with black holes, you can still thrive as an offense on the whole without those ideal hitters.

 

The bigger problem, of course, has just been the overall lack of OBP throughout the lineup, specifically the lack of willingness/ability to take walks. If they had more patient hitters, even if they weren't in their "ideal" spot, the offense as a whole would have been a heck of a lot better, and not just in the average years, but in the dysmal years as well.

 

As things stand right now, this offense would rock with an ideal 3 or 4 hitter. Somebody who hit for average, OBP and power would allow them to do something like Soriano, Fukudome, Lee, Somebody, Ramirez, DeRosa, Soto, Pie (or if that somebody played CF, switch out Pie with Theriot), and really be a great offense. But they don't have that somebody, so they need to maximize what they do have and eliminate the black holes, and find a way to be a top 5 offense.

[rawaction]

Yeah, sorry. I meant in an ideal lineup that's where all those guys would hit and be pretty prototypical for that spot in the lineup. I think Goony was getting at that, but I stopped reading. :D

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, sorry. I meant in an ideal lineup that's where all those guys would hit and be pretty prototypical for that spot in the lineup. I think Goony was getting at that, but I stopped reading. :D

 

So did I.

[UK1679666180]

I wouldn't put Fukudome 3rd, he still has to adjust to MLB pitching approaches and all the adjustments mentally/emotionally to playing in the US and the added pressure.

 

While it doesn't seem like such a sign. move going from the 3rd spot in the order to hitting 2nd, the Cubs don't have a real good #2 hitter although Derosa could become adequate.

 

I def. wouldn't reserve the spot typically given the best overall hitter to someone who hasn't had a MLB AB when there are capable #3 hitter already in place. That's something he could play his way into, which would be ideal as well for hitting #2 but there's a hole there.

 

I don't understand the thinking behind not letting him hit #3 because he's new but letting him hit 2 or 4.

 

I wouldn't put him 4th either, I doubt he has the ability to drive in runs (power) to hit 3rd or 4th ahead of Ramirez and Lee.

 

Would you hit Murton 3rd?

 

I don't expect much of an offensive difference between what Murton would bring with 600ABs and Fukudome.

[Beer Kaese]

Based on today, I think the opening day lineup will be:

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

The most likely change would be that Pie is a much better option (with a good spring) in the 2 spot than Theriot vs RHP.

 

If Pie can't hit I could see Fukudome in the 3 spot vs RHP. If that were the case, I think I might leave Ramirez cleanup and flip Fukudome with Lee against righties.

 

I'm not comfortable with the thought of Soto and Pie and Theriot in the last three spots in the lineup; although I suppose Lou could hit Zambrano 7 :shock: when he starts.