Lou: Soriano 5th, Johnson leadoff, Fukudome 2nd against LHP

[17 Seconds]

Or at least it's a tentative plan. Not sure if this was posted yet.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080329&content_id=2465512&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[BCVM22]

I like it in theory, but the only thing I see in the article that Lou's actually thinking about making a constant is Johnson leading off/hitting 2nd against LHP, unless I missed something.

[17 Seconds]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

[javy knows my name]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

Shh don't ask questions he might change his mind

[17 Seconds]

I like it in theory, but the only thing I see in the article that Lou's actually thinking about making a constant is Johnson leading off/hitting 2nd against LHP, unless I missed something.

 

Yeah you're right. The heading to that article was kind of deceiving ("Johnson, Fukudome hit 1-2 in potential lineup vs. lefties").

[CubColtPacer]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

 

I have no idea. Lou has so many strange ideas to go along with his right ideas that it's hard to tell why he does things sometime. I guess he thinks Fukudome is effective protection behind Ramirez against right-handers, but not against left-handers?

 

It looks like if he stays with that lineup (Johnson-Fukudome-Lee-Ramirez-Soriano-DeRosa-Soto-Theriot) that the lineup against left-handers will be set.

 

Against right-handers, I feel that the key to getting a good lineup will be Pie. If Pie hits, Lou will feel more comfortable with him and move him up in the lineup. That will open up the 8 spot for Theriot (and Lou has repeatedly shown that he only wants to have hitters like Theriot 1, 2, or 8 if he can possibly help it). If Theriot then leaves the top of the order, Fukudome becomes the natural fit to replace him. Then the only question becomes if Soto or DeRosa are hitting well enough to protect Ramirez in Lou's mind, or if he will then move Soriano down and bring somebody else up to the 2 spot.

 

If Pie doesn't hit, my guess is that the lineup against right-handers will not change significantly.

 

I think Lou has a definite priority list when making his lineup. Put Lee and Ramirez 3 and 4. Then put your worst hitter 8th. In Lou's mind, that's Pie. Now, put all other non-power players in the 1-2 spot. That's Theriot. Then, the 5th spot is next to be filled with your best protection for you great hitter in the 4 spot, and Lou thinks the best person for that is Fukudome . After that, you fill in the other 3 spots with whoever is left. I really think that's the priority in how Lou fills out his lineup card on a normal basis.

[anabiono]

hey lou...listen up!!!

 

RIGHTIES

 

FUKUDOME

DEROSA

LEE

RAMIREZ

SORIANO

SOTO

PIE

THERIOT

 

LEFTIES

 

JOHNSON

FUKUDOME

LEE

RAMIREZ

SORIANO

DEROSA

SOTO

THERIOT

 

BAM

 

now please go give hendry a great big creamy doughnut, massage his belly for a few minutes and grease this roberts deal

[Vanilla Ice]

now please go give hendry a great big creamy doughnut, massage his belly for a few minutes

 

I get it, it's because Hendry is fat

[anabiono]

now please go give hendry a great big creamy doughnut, massage his belly for a few minutes

 

I get it, it's because Hendry is fat

 

and he likes pastries

[Abe Frohman]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

 

I'm thinking that Lou is trying to ease Soriano into the #5 spot in the lineup, where he belongs.

[Roast]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

Protection for Ramirez.

 

He wants someone the pitcher will "fear," or respect, batting behind Ramirez to give him some protection. Therefore, against lefties - with whom Kosuke may have some problems - he will put Soriano in the 5 spot to provide better protection for Ramirez. Though, Kosuke is likely to succeed against Righties and thus he is adequate protection while allowing Soriano to hit in the leadoff spot.

 

I don't know that I agree with that - but that's Lou's reasoning.

[javy knows my name]

Can someone explain to me the point of switching Fukudome and Soriano against left handed pitching? I mean, I guess I like that better than the other, but I don't see his motivation for doing it only against lefties. Why not just do it all the time?

 

I'm thinking that Lou is trying to ease Soriano into the #5 spot in the lineup, where he belongs.

I'm calling this too optimistic. Soriano will be right back in the leadoff spot once his legs are "100%," whatever the hell that means.

[bhogg]

Johnson is going to be the everyday CF'er.

[BCVM22]

Johnson is going to be the everyday CF'er.

 

...what?

[bhogg]

Johnson is going to be the everyday CF'er.

 

...what?

 

 

Just a hunch. Pie may well struggle early and Johnson is loaded with grit and play-the-game-the-right-way-edness. I see him as a Theriot with more talent.

[javy knows my name]

Johnson is going to be the everyday CF'er.

 

...what?

 

 

Just a hunch. Pie may well struggle early and Johnson is loaded with grit and play-the-game-the-right-way-edness. I see him as a Theriot with more talent.

Whatever keeps Pierre off the team.

[Magnetic Curses]

johnson is like the perfect hendry player.

[17 Seconds]

joh

johnson is like the perfect hendry player.

 

Not really. Johnson takes a decent amount of walks and doesn't steal many bases.

 

To be honest, I'm shocked Hendry didn't get Crisp. Before the Crisp rumors even started I thought he'd end up on the Cubs.

 

Fast- Check

Doesn't take many walks- Check

"Athlete"- Check

Bad contract- Check

 

That has Jim Hendry written all over it.

[Sammy Sofa]

johnson is like the perfect hendry player.

 

On the contrary, Johnson is the type of useful utility/backup/platoon player Hendry typically ignores.

[big_shooter17]

well, the thing is that johnson is a platoon guy only. as soon as he plays too regularly, the numbers drop off too much. the thought of him being an everyday guy is scary. when you look at his 06 numbers, he had his best success with fewer than 80 ab's per month (when he was platooning with catalonotto) and when he wasn't starting every game. looking at 05, it appears to be the same thing. as soon as he started 75% of the games in a month (or so) or more, the numbers typically dropped off. He doesn't have a terribly large sample size, but from a mix of looking at the statistics and from seeing him perform, the more that he pays, the less effective that he becomes.

 

i also have a feeling that if pie struggles and they send him down, they would at least let fuld have a shot against rhp. i don't know how much better he'd be than johnson, but i doubt that they'd just hand the job to johnson when lou so badly wants a lh bat in the lineup, something that fuld could supply if pie cannot get the job done. that said, i think that pie will be effective enough that it won't come to that.

[Kosuke1]

The Cubs had a rough time against lefties last season, so they made it their priority to get more left-handed batters. I love the Cubs.

[Abe Frohman]

The Cubs had a rough time against lefties last season, so they made it their priority to get more left-handed batters. I love the Cubs.

 

Yeah, never mind the fact that Matt Murton is one of your top rakers of LHP. Too bad he isn't a lefty...

[jersey cubs fan]

That will open up the 8 spot for Theriot (and Lou has repeatedly shown that he only wants to have hitters like Theriot 1, 2, or 8 if he can possibly help it).

 

So he's repeatedly shown he's only willing to put his worst hitters in 37.5% of potential lineup spots?

[CubColtPacer]

That will open up the 8 spot for Theriot (and Lou has repeatedly shown that he only wants to have hitters like Theriot 1, 2, or 8 if he can possibly help it).

 

So he's repeatedly shown he's only willing to put his worst hitters in 37.5% of potential lineup spots?

 

Well, it's somewhat counterintuitive to say that a player belongs at either the very top of the lineup or the bottom of the lineup. Everybody says that Lou can just put Pie and Theriot 7 and 8. It is quite meaningful to point out that Lou won't put those two back to back very often because neither one fits his mold of what a 7 hitter is supposed to be.