Too Good to Be True

[Rob]

Ralph made this in excel all by myself! Yeah!

Oh wow, that's crazy.

 

The crazy thing is that we've drawn 91 walks in 20 games.

 

That's 4.55 walks per game... which puts us on pace for 737 walks this season. (Philadelphia led the NL last year with 641)

[Chocolate Milk]

Of course, the irony is we're going to put the worst OBP on the team at the top of the lineup as soon as he gets off the DL.

 

The non-ironic part is that if he's healthy he'll beat the poo out of the ball.

Yes. We are scoring many runs without a guy who is going to mash a lot of home runs. This is great. The back of the order has been getting on base too. He's going to have his chances.

[Soul]

<3 the Cubbies.

 

This is some of the best Cub baseball I think I've ever seen. It's friggin' beautiful man.

[RynoRules]

<3 the Cubbies.

 

This is some of the best Cub baseball I think I've ever seen. It's friggin' beautiful man.

 

I agree. I am trying to figure whether they have ever started this well (i.e., not just winning, but pounding teams) in my lifetime.

[RedFlash]

Of course, the irony is we're going to put the worst OBP on the team at the top of the lineup as soon as he gets off the DL.

 

I think Lou knows how well the lineup is working currently, and IMO, I believe Piniella is looking at the 5 or 6 hole for Soriano when he returns. Johnson and Theriot is currently working at the top of the order. And if that starts to faulter, then I would consider moving Soriano back up to the top of the order, but when Soriano comes off the DL, he should be put at 5 or 6, preferably 6. And if Soriano is a team player, then he takes to the spot in the lineup, and make it work.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

<3 the Cubbies.

 

This is some of the best Cub baseball I think I've ever seen. It's friggin' beautiful man.

 

I agree. I am trying to figure whether they have ever started this well (i.e., not just winning, but pounding teams) in my lifetime.

 

Don't know how old you are. I glanced through all the "good start" Cubs teams I could remember and didn't find any 14-6. 2003 and 1985 made it to 13-7, though.

 

1969 started 14-6.

[ctcf]

<3 the Cubbies.

 

This is some of the best Cub baseball I think I've ever seen. It's friggin' beautiful man.

 

I agree. I am trying to figure whether they have ever started this well (i.e., not just winning, but pounding teams) in my lifetime.

 

Don't know how old you are. I glanced through all the "good start" Cubs teams I could remember and didn't find any 14-6. 2003 and 1985 made it to 13-7, though.

 

1969 started 14-6.

 

Cool yet sad at the same time.

 

Thanks for looking that up though, I've been wondering that for a while.

[Andy]

Len said on the broadcast that 1975 was the Cubs' last 14-6 start.

[chasinf5s]

Ralph made this in excel all by myself! Yeah!

 

wow, just wow

[chuckywang]

OBP up to .371, three points behind the Red Sox who are playing right now.

[cubweiser03]

Yeah best start in 30 years how bout that, that hit me pretty good. Each year i always hope they start out like a house of fire. After the Milwaukee series i was like crap, but man they have gotten hot and this offense is deep. A couple days ago i thinking this is probably my most favorite Cubs offense ever, i had a hard time thinking of another one i liked so much. Yes, they will cool down but im loving the ISOD big time on this team.

[wrigley23]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

[frostwyrm]

What's really impressive is we have a 14-6 record and our $136M man has contributed absolutely nothing.

[ctcf]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

 

Yea it'd be nice if we had a lead off hitter right...

[Cubfanintheknow]

As a team, the Cubs' batting average is currently at .280. Only the Red Sox, Angels and Braves have a better average (D-backs are at .280 also). Another positive effect coming from the plate patience is that teams are figuring out they're going to have to throw strikes to get the Cubs out. Just getting the ball near the plate and watching the Cubs hack at it for outs isn't going to cut it anymore. They're seeing better pitches to hit and they're hitting the ball well.

 

As I watched today's game, I couldn't help but think, "These are my Cubs?"

 

Feels good!

[Jehrico]

What's really impressive is we have a 14-6 record and our $136M man has contributed absolutely nothing.

Add to that that our second best bat didn't contribute much of anything until here recently either.

[SouthSideRyan]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

 

Yea it'd be nice if we had a lead off hitter right...

 

Somebody's gotta fix that victrola.

[CubColtPacer]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

 

It's not like his replacements have done much better.

 

The replacements for Soriano in the lineup by day (including Fontenot replacing Soriano in the first inning when he got hurt):

 

Fontenot/Fontenot/Fontenot/Patterson/Cedeno/Cedeno? (could be either Cedeno or Murton)/Fontenot/Johnson

 

Those are the players who either played LF directly, or played 2B because DeRosa moved to LF to cover for Soriano.

 

And their performances:

 

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 1 2B, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 0 for 5

Patterson (leadoff) 0 for 4, 2 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 5, 1 2B, 1 K (if you believe Murton replaced him then it was 1 for 6)

Fontenot (2nd) 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K

Johnson (leadoff) 1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

 

Total numbers with Cedeno's 2nd day: 7 for 35, 2 2B, 3 BB, 10 K, a .200/.263/.257 line

Total numbers with Murton's day added: 6 for 36, 1 2B, 3 BB, 9 K, a .167/.231/.194 line

 

Soriano's numbers for the season: .175/.230/.298

 

Soriano was about the same as the people that replaced him, and 5 of the 8 days so far his replacement has batted leadoff, and another day his replacement batted 2nd. There is no evidence to support that Soriano getting hurt has led to the hot streak of the offense.

 

Oh, by the way. Soriano was striking out every 5.18 at-bats so far this season. His replacements are striking out every 3.5 at-bats. The Cubs strikeouts so far have actually gotten worse because Soriano has not been in the lineup.

[Andy]

What's really impressive is we have a 14-6 record and our $136M man has contributed absolutely nothing.

Add to that that our second best bat didn't contribute much of anything until here recently either.

I'm assuming you're talking about Aramis, who hasn't been great, but has reached base in every game we've played.

[Productive Outs]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

 

It's not like his replacements have done much better.

 

The replacements for Soriano in the lineup by day (including Fontenot replacing Soriano in the first inning when he got hurt):

 

Fontenot/Fontenot/Fontenot/Patterson/Cedeno/Cedeno? (could be either Cedeno or Murton)/Fontenot/Johnson

 

Those are the players who either played LF directly, or played 2B because DeRosa moved to LF to cover for Soriano.

 

And their performances:

 

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 1 2B, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 0 for 5

Patterson (leadoff) 0 for 4, 2 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 5, 1 2B, 1 K (if you believe Murton replaced him then it was 1 for 6)

Fontenot (2nd) 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K

Johnson (leadoff) 1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

 

Total numbers with Cedeno's 2nd day: 7 for 35, 2 2B, 3 BB, 10 K, a .200/.263/.257 line

Total numbers with Murton's day added: 6 for 36, 1 2B, 3 BB, 9 K, a .167/.231/.194 line

 

Soriano's numbers for the season: .175/.230/.298

 

Soriano was about the same as the people that replaced him, and 5 of the 8 days so far his replacement has batted leadoff, and another day his replacement batted 2nd. There is no evidence to support that Soriano getting hurt has led to the hot streak of the offense.

 

Oh, by the way. Soriano was striking out every 5.18 at-bats so far this season. His replacements are striking out every 3.5 at-bats. The Cubs strikeouts so far have actually gotten worse because Soriano has not been in the lineup.

 

you never cease to amaze me. good post.

[RegulusBlue]

Ralph made this in excel all by myself! Yeah!

 

Hey dude, nice graph. How is Israel?

[Dallas Green]

Ralph made this in excel all by myself! Yeah!

 

 

Nice work Ralph.

[NCCubFan]

Many of us were expecting big things from the offense last year because of Perry replacing Clines as hitting coach. It took awhile, but it's paying off big time now.

[Dallas Green]

maybe jim hendry finally did the right thing in just copying what the previous world series winner did. the red sox were built to draw walks and see a ton of pitches, and maybe jim actually saw it this time!

 

wtg jim

Jim's main fault in this regard was Dusty, not the player selection. The 2003 and 2004 teams had several veterans with solid OBPs (not great) that underperformed in OBP under Dusty's command because of the philosophy enforced, and the loss of playing time for not hitting. Dusty had too much influence over player decisions in his last two years, and Hendry's worst decisions seemed to all occur during these years.

 

Extremist thinking paints Hendry as a man obsessed with tools and lineup formulas (RH/LH, Speed at 1, etc) and nothing else, but there are numerous personnel decisions throughout his tenure that show more balanced thinking than that, including guys with plate patience and disciplined hitting (highlighted by Lee, Fukudome, Walker, Lofton, Kendall).

 

I'd put him squarely in moderate old school, not on the extreme, with a willingness to flow with his scouting roots (which infers a willingness to embrace aspects of new school numbers).

 

I agree with this. Hendry likes to combine guys like Gary Hughes and stat guy Chuck Wasserstrom theese days. I think Lou asking for the right kind of players helps too. How many times did Dusty challange Hendry the last two years by not playing younger players or not putting people in certain positions.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Let's see if Soriano shows up to the OBP class first before we get too giddy. The offense didn't click quite the same when the human strikeout led off games a couple weeks ago.

 

It's not like his replacements have done much better.

 

The replacements for Soriano in the lineup by day (including Fontenot replacing Soriano in the first inning when he got hurt):

 

Fontenot/Fontenot/Fontenot/Patterson/Cedeno/Cedeno? (could be either Cedeno or Murton)/Fontenot/Johnson

 

Those are the players who either played LF directly, or played 2B because DeRosa moved to LF to cover for Soriano.

 

And their performances:

 

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 1 2B, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 1 for 5, 2 K

Fontenot (leadoff) 0 for 5

Patterson (leadoff) 0 for 4, 2 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

Cedeno (8th) 2 for 5, 1 2B, 1 K (if you believe Murton replaced him then it was 1 for 6)

Fontenot (2nd) 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K

Johnson (leadoff) 1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K

 

Total numbers with Cedeno's 2nd day: 7 for 35, 2 2B, 3 BB, 10 K, a .200/.263/.257 line

Total numbers with Murton's day added: 6 for 36, 1 2B, 3 BB, 9 K, a .167/.231/.194 line

 

Soriano's numbers for the season: .175/.230/.298

 

Soriano was about the same as the people that replaced him, and 5 of the 8 days so far his replacement has batted leadoff, and another day his replacement batted 2nd. There is no evidence to support that Soriano getting hurt has led to the hot streak of the offense.

 

Oh, by the way. Soriano was striking out every 5.18 at-bats so far this season. His replacements are striking out every 3.5 at-bats. The Cubs strikeouts so far have actually gotten worse because Soriano has not been in the lineup.

stop letting facts get in the way of his arguments