A few things noticed about Alfonso Soriano....

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

[David]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

Facing righties when his wrist isn't hurt?

[Banedon]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

Teeball. amirite?

[Sammy Sofa]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

Facing righties when his wrist isn't hurt?

 

Obviously, but Brasky's post seemed a bit beyond that.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

It just sounds like they'll throw him out there with some caution initially. Not that he has established any record with certain pitchers that conduce a favorable matchup, but any pitcher that's tough on lefties (be it a RHP or LHP) may push Pie to the bench until he starts to either A) show "confidence," which presumably means he'll be more disciplined at the plate and not flail or B) do what they want him to do, i.e., hit to LF more, shorten his swing, avoid a power hitter's approach ... learn how to steal.

 

Obviously he'll likely sit vs. LHP, but basically I wouldn't see a RHP matchup as a guarantee until he establishes a better approach - as deemed by Lou - at the plate and looks more comfortable and not resemble a desperate hitter and reduce his value either for the team or as an asset - as deemed by Hendry.

[jersey cubs fan]

It just sounds like they'll throw him out there with some caution initially. Not that he has established any record with certain pitchers that conduce a favorable matchup, but any pitcher that's tough on lefties (be it a RHP or LHP) may push Pie to the bench until he starts to either A) show "confidence," which presumably means he'll be more disciplined at the plate and not flail or B) do what they want him to do, i.e., hit to LF more, shorten his swing, avoid a power hitter's approach ... learn how to steal.

 

Obviously he'll likely sit vs. LHP, but basically I wouldn't see a RHP matchup as a guarantee until he establishes a better approach - as deemed by Lou - at the plate and looks more comfortable and not resemble a desperate hitter and reduce his value either for the team or as an asset - as deemed by Hendry.

 

This is the same cycle that's been talked about for every young player. He can't get that confidence and learn the approach without playing. But he can't play until he gets the confidence and learns the approach. You can't just let him play a couple games and decide, "nope, he's not confident yet, pull 'em", and then expect him to learn what he needs to learn from the bench. He's got to play nearly everyday for a very long period of time before you can expect him to learn anything and show improvement.

 

A guy like Theriot shows something to Lou right off the bat, and then can't lose his job for anything. Yet Pie struggles early and can't get a chance to improve. There's something wrong with such a system.

[Abe Frohman]

A guy like Theriot shows something to Lou right off the bat, and then can't lose his job for anything. Yet Pie struggles early and can't get a chance to improve. There's something wrong with such a system.

 

That's an fictitious system. Theriot showed he could handle SS and the bat last year. Everyone knows Pie is great in CF, but he hasn't shown any kind of idea at the plate so far in his ML career. In addition, Theriot was benched a few times last year, and this year.

 

I don't think Piniella has acted unprudently at all, or treated them any differently.

[Sammy Sofa]

Theriot showed he could handle SS and the bat last year.

 

If you're saying that he showed he can actually pick up a bat and not drop it, I completely agree with you.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Theriot showed he could handle SS and the bat last year

no, he really didn't

[Yestheydo]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

How about batting him somewhere he'll see something to hit? When Johnson plays, he's got Lee and Ramirez hitting behind him. When Pie plays, he has the pitcher "protecting" him. Yeah, that's fair.

 

I think/ hope he's hitting 8th so he'll learn to take a walk, and eventually wind up batting 2nd (not ideal but I've given up on the idea of DeRosa there).

 

I guess it's early and we just have to wait and see. Wouldn't it be funny if the Orioles finished the season with a better record than the Cubs?

[cbbryan]

i say reed is the starter for now.

No; Pie needs regular playing time. He's not going to improve by sitting on the bench or going back to AAA.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

How about batting him somewhere he'll see something to hit? When Johnson plays, he's got Lee and Ramirez hitting behind him. When Pie plays, he has the pitcher "protecting" him. Yeah, that's fair.

 

I think/ hope he's hitting 8th so he'll learn to take a walk, and eventually wind up batting 2nd (not ideal but I've given up on the idea of DeRosa there).

 

I guess it's early and we just have to wait and see. Wouldn't it be funny if the Orioles finished the season with a better record than the Cubs?

 

Putting developing players into the pressure spots at the top of the lineup is usually not a good idea.

[Yestheydo]

I think Lou and Hendry (especially Hendry) are going to want Pie used in situations that are more favorable for him to get him going. They'll probably maintain that until Pie starts to produce consistently. You've got to give reason to thought that Hendry is very leery of CPv2.0. It's likely that Johnson gets a good # of ABs because of that, but I don't see Pie losing out on anything this season because of Johnson.

 

What is a "situation favorable to Pie?"

 

How about batting him somewhere he'll see something to hit? When Johnson plays, he's got Lee and Ramirez hitting behind him. When Pie plays, he has the pitcher "protecting" him. Yeah, that's fair.

 

I think/ hope he's hitting 8th so he'll learn to take a walk, and eventually wind up batting 2nd (not ideal but I've given up on the idea of DeRosa there).

 

I guess it's early and we just have to wait and see. Wouldn't it be funny if the Orioles finished the season with a better record than the Cubs?

 

Putting developing players into the pressure spots at the top of the lineup is usually not a good idea.

 

Hey, Jerome Walton batted leadoff as a rookie, and look how great his career turned out :roll:

 

Seriously, though, it's only a bad idea if it doesn't work. What's the worst that could happen?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd rather put a young player in a pressure situation where he actually plays, rather than the pressure situation of "hit now or sit", or even worse, the non-pressure situation of not playing.

[biittner77]

I'd rather put a young player in a pressure situation where he actually plays, rather than the pressure situation of "hit now or sit", or even worse, the non-pressure situation of not playing.

 

Be careful what you wish for. With Theriot seemingly in the doghouse I could see Piniella putting Pie 2nd before he goes ahead and benches him for Johnson. That's what Dusty Baker would do. Except that Baker would give him 1 game. Piniella would give him about 4.

[CuseCubFan69]

i say reed is the starter for now.

No; Pie needs regular playing time. He's not going to improve by sitting on the bench or going back to AAA.

 

 

I can't disagree enough. The manager for the Cubs in 2003 said that young players learn how to play the game from the bench and by jingles, he had the Cubs within a game of the World Series so he knows what he's talking about.

[Soul]

There's something I just noticed about Alfonso Soriano. He freaking sucks right now.

[bukie]

Well...he did walk last night...

[Soul]

I just noticed something about you too now. :D

[bringdustybacker]

To think I was so excited about Soriano! But then we paid him 126 mil and now look at us...