Soriano to bat 2nd, Fukudome 5th on Friday

[Schwarber Fan]

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The surprise of manager Lou Piniella before the Cubs played the Rangers in Surprise?

 

Alfonso Soriano will bat second starting Friday, flip-flopping with Ryan Theriot.

 

And Kosuke Fukudome will bat fifth.

 

"We want to keep Soriano nice and healthy and strong all year," Piniella said. "It seems to me, out of the leadoff spot, he'll want to do too much, run too soon. We'll see, just take a look at it.

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/03/soriano-to-bat.html

 

Haha, Lou

[Ding Dong Johnson]

seems to me that Theriot, in the leadoff spot, will suck too much too soon

[Schwarber Fan]

seems to me that Theriot, in the leadoff spot, will suck too much too soon

 

At the very least, he's more patient than Soriano.

[E.J.]

Better hope Roberts comes soon then because Theriot in the leadoff spot is horrible. I don't really like Soriano batting 2nd either. I think Lou is losing his mind a little bit.

[Schwarber Fan]

Better hope Roberts comes soon then because Theriot in the leadoff spot is horrible. I don't really like Soriano batting 2nd either. I think Lou is losing his mind a little bit.

 

Wishful thinking:

 

Hendry told Lou a Roberts deal is coming so he's putting Soriano in the 2 hole.

[sneakypower]

if Lou put Derosa in the leadoff spot this board would be leaping for joy, odd since he has the same career OBP as Theriot.

[shnsajax]

Better hope Roberts comes soon then because Theriot in the leadoff spot is horrible. I don't really like Soriano batting 2nd either. I think Lou is losing his mind a little bit.

 

Wishful thinking:

 

Hendry told Lou a Roberts deal is coming so he's putting Soriano in the 2 hole.

 

That was my thought too.

[javy knows my name]

seems to me that Theriot, in the leadoff spot, will suck too much too soon

 

At the very least, he's more patient than Soriano.

No, he isn't

[tfarks]

Rather see Fuku batting 2nd and Soriano 5th.

[javy knows my name]

Rather see Fuku batting 2nd and Soriano 5th.

[SABR Gamer]

Rather see Fuku batting 2nd and Soriano 5th.

 

 

That would be ideal....

 

Roberts

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

Edit: Crap, I have 2 second basemen and no shortstop....Rammy is gonna need to cover a lot of ground....

[UMFan83]

All this is going to do is confuse everyone.

[Warren Brusstar]

seems to me that Theriot, in the leadoff spot, will suck too much too soon

 

At the very least, he's more patient than Soriano.

 

I'm not sure how you're defining "patient" but if it's pitches seen per plate appearance, you're wrong.

 

Last year:

 

Soriano 3.67 Pitches/PA

Theriot 3.53 Pitches/PA

[Sammy Sofa]

seems to me that Theriot, in the leadoff spot, will suck too much too soon

 

At the very least, he's more patient than Soriano.

 

Theriot takes fewer pitches.

[Schwarber Fan]

Well, he draws more walks.

 

IBBs not included:

 

Soriano: 27

Theriot: 49

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, he draws more walks.

 

IBBs not included:

 

Soriano: 27

Theriot: 49

 

But he still takes less pitches and he scores far fewer runs. Besides, you can't just subtract Soriano's intentional walks. The kind of player he is draws him more of those types of walks. Is the end result the same? Yes. It's a walk.

[Schwarber Fan]

Well, he draws more walks.

 

IBBs not included:

 

Soriano: 27

Theriot: 49

 

But he still takes less pitches and he scores far fewer runs. Besides, you can't just subtract Soriano's intentional walks. The kind of player he is draws him more of those types of walks. Is the end result the same? Yes. It's a walk.

 

Not like it's a huge difference with the IBBs... Soriano drew 4, Theriot 1.

 

Plus, you're not going to get IBBed to start the game. I think Theriot is a better leadoff hitter than Soriano.

[shnsajax]

Well, he draws more walks.

 

IBBs not included:

 

Soriano: 27

Theriot: 49

 

But he still takes less pitches and he scores far fewer runs. Besides, you can't just subtract Soriano's intentional walks. The kind of player he is draws him more of those types of walks. Is the end result the same? Yes. It's a walk.

 

Not like it's a huge difference with the IBBs... Soriano drew 4, Theriot 1.

 

Plus, you're not going to get IBBed to start the game. I think Theriot is a better leadoff hitter than Soriano.

 

Its easy to draw the intentional walks with Theriot hitting behind you. Avoid one of the biggest HR threats in the lineup for maybe the worst hitter in the lineup. Considering Theriot should be batting 8th, there is no way he should be hitting leadoff. Hopefully once Derosa is 100% and the rust is gone he will move up to that.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think Theriot is a better leadoff hitter than Soriano.

 

The fact that Theriot sucks and Soriano does not, sort of throws a wrench in that theory though.

[CubColtPacer]

This is the absolute worse scenario. Move Soriano out of the 1 spot, where there is at least some evidence that he's better at and he's comfortable. The only reason you would think about doing that is to move him to a middle of the order slot where his home runs might do more damage.

 

To move him to 2 though? That would basically be the worst of both worlds. He would be a part of the lineup that both doesn't fit his game and he doesn't feel comfortable with. It simply doesn't make sense.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

News like this makes me want to hurt small animals, or something equally demented like paying more attention to the Roberts thread.

[JGalt73]

It's a shame Fukudome couldn't hold onto the 2-spot for more than 3 games... Theriot getting more PA is a bad, bad move.

[Backtobanks]

Rather see Fuku batting 2nd and Soriano 5th.

 

 

That would be ideal....

 

Roberts

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

Edit: Crap, I have 2 second basemen and no shortstop....Rammy is gonna need to cover a lot of ground....

 

Alert: 2 lefties in a row. Can't be done regardless of it making sense or not.

[B]

I think Theriot is a better hitter than Soriano.

[FergieJ31]

 

That would be ideal....

 

Roberts

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

Edit: Crap, I have 2 second basemen and no shortstop....Rammy is gonna need to cover a lot of ground....

 

Actually you have a passable shortstop batting in the 6-hole.