Lou Getting Concerned About Hitters

[jersey cubs fan]

This is silly. Let's just not have Spring Training then, by your logic it should make no difference.

 

And this is a ridiculous mischaracterization of what I wrote.

 

Spring training matters. Getting in game shape matters. Getting your timing down, seeing pitches, stretching arms, the daily grind, all that stuff matters.

 

The results don't matter. The results should not have any effect on decisions. It makes no difference whether Lee is hitting .500 right now or .100.

[CarolinaCubFan]

First off, I'll say I don't expect Lee to match his 2005 stats. I also understand a wrist injury takes time to heal. My heart went out to Lee and his family while dealing with the illness of his daughter.

 

This is a new season, it's time for Lee to get his head in the game. If it means Lou putting a fire under his arse, fine by me. Lou knows how to manage a ball club. A spark like this might be just what Lee needs, and Lou is happy to oblige. Get on him Lou!

 

IT'S MARCH 12TH.

 

What's your point? This is Spring Training. The time players need to get back to the grind, get their grooves back, brush up on the basics. Lee is not hitting. Lou wants him to work on it. Where is the problem?

[David]

This is silly. Let's just not have Spring Training then, by your logic it should make no difference.

 

And this is a ridiculous mischaracterization of what I wrote.

 

Spring training matters. Getting in game shape matters. Getting your timing down, seeing pitches, stretching arms, the daily grind, all that stuff matters.

 

The results don't matter. The results should not have any effect on decisions. It makes no difference whether Lee is hitting .500 right now or .100.

 

I was going to post this.

[Soul]

This is silly. Let's just not have Spring Training then, by your logic it should make no difference.

 

And this is a ridiculous mischaracterization of what I wrote.

 

Spring training matters. Getting in game shape matters. Getting your timing down, seeing pitches, stretching arms, the daily grind, all that stuff matters.

 

The results don't matter. The results should not have any effect on decisions. It makes no difference whether Lee is hitting .500 right now or .100.

 

Maybe it's not about results. Maybe it's all about what Lou is seeing in Lee that tells him he's not getting the timing down, or not seeing the pitches.

 

You have no idea if this is or isn't the case. Neither do I. So why make assumptions about it?

[Sammy Sofa]

First off, I'll say I don't expect Lee to match his 2005 stats. I also understand a wrist injury takes time to heal. My heart went out to Lee and his family while dealing with the illness of his daughter.

 

This is a new season, it's time for Lee to get his head in the game. If it means Lou putting a fire under his arse, fine by me. Lou knows how to manage a ball club. A spark like this might be just what Lee needs, and Lou is happy to oblige. Get on him Lou!

 

IT'S MARCH 12TH.

 

What's your point? This is Spring Training. The time players need to get back to the grind, get their grooves back, brush up on the basics. Lee is not hitting. Lou wants him to work on it. Where is the problem?

 

There is no problem. Lee not hitting in spring traning isn't a problem.

[CarolinaCubFan]

This is silly. Let's just not have Spring Training then, by your logic it should make no difference.

 

And this is a ridiculous mischaracterization of what I wrote.

 

Spring training matters. Getting in game shape matters. Getting your timing down, seeing pitches, stretching arms, the daily grind, all that stuff matters.

 

The results don't matter. The results should not have any effect on decisions. It makes no difference whether Lee is hitting .500 right now or .100.

 

I was going to post this.

 

Lou wants Pie to quit swinging for the fence and utilize his other talents. He wants Soto to try hitting to the opposite field. I'd rather this be worked on now, not during games that count. Same for Lee, work on it now, don't wait for the season to start.

[CarolinaCubFan]

First off, I'll say I don't expect Lee to match his 2005 stats. I also understand a wrist injury takes time to heal. My heart went out to Lee and his family while dealing with the illness of his daughter.

 

This is a new season, it's time for Lee to get his head in the game. If it means Lou putting a fire under his arse, fine by me. Lou knows how to manage a ball club. A spark like this might be just what Lee needs, and Lou is happy to oblige. Get on him Lou!

 

IT'S MARCH 12TH.

 

What's your point? This is Spring Training. The time players need to get back to the grind, get their grooves back, brush up on the basics. Lee is not hitting. Lou wants him to work on it. Where is the problem?

 

There is no problem. Lee not hitting in spring traning isn't a problem.

 

Yeah, I'd rather him get off to a slow start again, no since in rushing him, he'll show up in June.

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe it's not about results. Maybe it's all about what Lou is seeing in Lee that tells him he's not getting the timing down, or not seeing the pitches.

 

You have no idea if this is or isn't the case. Neither do I. So why make assumptions about it?

 

Even if Lou can somehow see that Lee is getting the timing down, he can't punish a guy (ie, work him harder) into fixing such a problem. Hitting is a funny thing over the course of an entire season. It's downright hilarious in spring training.

 

I'm hoping Lou was just tired of answering questions about the closer spot and Pie's nuts and decided to just make up a new story that he knew the writers would be forced to run with. Because if he actually is upset with the hitters for not hitting and thinks they need to completely change their plan based on two weeks of results of sporadic spring training stats, then he's an idiot.

[Sammy Sofa]

First off, I'll say I don't expect Lee to match his 2005 stats. I also understand a wrist injury takes time to heal. My heart went out to Lee and his family while dealing with the illness of his daughter.

 

This is a new season, it's time for Lee to get his head in the game. If it means Lou putting a fire under his arse, fine by me. Lou knows how to manage a ball club. A spark like this might be just what Lee needs, and Lou is happy to oblige. Get on him Lou!

 

IT'S MARCH 12TH.

 

What's your point? This is Spring Training. The time players need to get back to the grind, get their grooves back, brush up on the basics. Lee is not hitting. Lou wants him to work on it. Where is the problem?

 

There is no problem. Lee not hitting in spring traning isn't a problem.

 

Yeah, I'd rather him get off to a slow start again, no since in rushing him, he'll show up in June.

 

He had a slow start last year coming off of a wrist injury. Traditionally, that was the exception, since he almost never has a "slow start" once the ACTUAL season starts.

[jersey cubs fan]

This is silly. Let's just not have Spring Training then, by your logic it should make no difference.

 

And this is a ridiculous mischaracterization of what I wrote.

 

Spring training matters. Getting in game shape matters. Getting your timing down, seeing pitches, stretching arms, the daily grind, all that stuff matters.

 

The results don't matter. The results should not have any effect on decisions. It makes no difference whether Lee is hitting .500 right now or .100.

 

I was going to post this.

 

Lou wants Pie to quit swinging for the fence and utilize his other talents. He wants Soto to try hitting to the opposite field. I'd rather this be worked on now, not during games that count. Same for Lee, work on it now, don't wait for the season to start.

 

They are working on it now, and nobody is asking for anything else.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I'd rather him get off to a slow start again, no since in rushing him, he'll show up in June.

 

Lee's batting average on March 12th has absolutely no impact on how he will start the season.

[CarolinaCubFan]

Maybe it's not about results. Maybe it's all about what Lou is seeing in Lee that tells him he's not getting the timing down, or not seeing the pitches.

 

You have no idea if this is or isn't the case. Neither do I. So why make assumptions about it?

 

Even if Lou can somehow see that Lee is getting the timing down, he can't punish a guy (ie, work him harder) into fixing such a problem. Hitting is a funny thing over the course of an entire season. It's downright hilarious in spring training.

 

I'm hoping Lou was just tired of answering questions about the closer spot and Pie's nuts and decided to just make up a new story that he knew the writers would be forced to run with. Because if he actually is upset with the hitters for not hitting and thinks they need to completely change their plan based on two weeks of results of sporadic spring training stats, then he's an idiot.

 

I don't see making Lee take some extra work as a "punishment", Lou is getting his team ready to play ball. I understand the opposing view, but I like Lou's approach on this one.

[Cubfanintheknow]

Interesting quote by Lou Piniella in the Sporting News. But that's not all he said on the subject.

 

I couldn't find the link to the article in the Tribune, so I'll type in what was in this morning's sports section as Piniella further elaborates on Cub hitters:

 

"We're giving away very easy at-bats... A lot of first and second-pitch outs. We can talk about, 'Well, we have time.' And we can be talking a week from now, 'We still have time,' Let me see it here a little sooner, and then we can put that to rest."

 

Piniella never once mentions batting average. He is, in fact, talking about working the count bit and seeing a few more pitches. Somthing that I believe, oh, everybody on this board is in favor of.

 

So I think the hitters should get in a little extra work in spring training. There's that old adage, "you play how you practice." They ought to be practicing patience and pitch selection now. Hopefully a deep bench will offset any concerns about the players getting gassed later in the season because they played too much in spring training.

[abuck1220]

little leaguers may play how they practice, but i don't think big leaguers do.

[jersey cubs fan]

little leaguers may play how they practice, but i don't think big leaguers do.

 

Eckstein probably does.

[Cubfanintheknow]

little leaguers may play how they practice, but i don't think big leaguers do.

 

Yes, you keep thinking that.

[David]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

[Sammy Sofa]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

Great point. the slow starters seem to be focusing only on the homers, but Lee was hitting like crazy. He was racking up doubles like nobody's business.

[CarolinaCubFan]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

 

I saw the numbers and had to shut up haha. It seems Lee starting slow has been a big topic every start of the season, I was wrong. I do have to say that I've been a little let down by Lee, I hope he has a great season.

[jersey cubs fan]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

Great point. the slow starters seem to be focusing only on the homers, but Lee was hitting like crazy. He was racking up doubles like nobody's business.

 

Yes, very good point. He was hitting over .400 for a long time and could not stop hitting doubles.

[CarolinaCubFan]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

Great point. the slow starters seem to be focusing only on the homers, but Lee was hitting like crazy. He was racking up doubles like nobody's business.

 

Yes, very good point. He was hitting over .400 for a long time and could not stop hitting doubles.

 

To me, he performed more like a 2 hitter, not a 3 or 4. The wrist being healed will help turn some of those doubles to HR's, but I'd like to see Lee coming out of the gates strong this season, with a little power.

[jersey cubs fan]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

 

I saw the numbers and had to shut up haha. It seems Lee starting slow has been a big topic every start of the season, I was wrong. I do have to say that I've been a little let down by Lee, I hope he has a great season.

 

This spring, or as a Cub in general. If it's this spring, I don't understand what there is to be let down by. Spring training results do not matter at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

To me, he performed more like a 2 hitter, not a 3 or 4. The wrist being healed will help turn some of those doubles to HR's, but I'd like to see Lee coming out of the gates strong this season, with a little power.

 

He hit .392 .468 .567 in April. That's absurdly good no matter where he hits in the order, and ideal for any 3 or 4 hitter.

[CarolinaCubFan]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

 

I saw the numbers and had to shut up haha. It seems Lee starting slow has been a big topic every start of the season, I was wrong. I do have to say that I've been a little let down by Lee, I hope he has a great season.

 

This spring, or as a Cub in general. If it's this spring, I don't understand what there is to be let down by. Spring training results do not matter at all.

 

In general, I think I'm still hoping he comes close to 2005 again. Wishful thinking, but hey, I'm a Cub Fan.

[Soul]

LOL at people saying Derrek Lee started out slow last year.

 

He did not hit a lot of HR, that is for damn sure, but his start was anything BUT slow.

 

 

I saw the numbers and had to shut up haha. It seems Lee starting slow has been a big topic every start of the season, I was wrong. I do have to say that I've been a little let down by Lee, I hope he has a great season.

 

This spring, or as a Cub in general. If it's this spring, I don't understand what there is to be let down by. Spring training results do not matter at all.

 

I'm certainly not let down by him, either this year or as a Cub. I just want everyone to be ready, that's all. I don't want to be sitting late April, 6 games under already, and looking up at the Brewers.