Lou Pinella, What the hell are you doing?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm shocked on a daily basis how Lou doesn't give Cedeno some more starts. What more does this kid have to do?

 

I'm surprised that Lou doesn't give him more end of the game at-bats (pinch-hitting and coming into the game defensively). I'm not surprised that he isn't starting him. Cedeno has a few walks and a few bloop singles this month. Granted, his at-bats have been sporadic, but he hasn't been hitting the ball very hard this month, and it shows in his results: .217/.333/.217

 

Then when you compare Cedeno and the people fighting with him for playing time as far as what types of balls they've hit,

 

Cedeno: 16.4 LD, 41.8 GB, 41.8 FB, .382 BABIP

Theriot: 24.5 LD, 49.7 GB, 27.8 FB, .355 BABIP

DeRosa: 21.7 LD, 37.5 GB, 40.8 FB, .372 BABIP

Fontenot: 26.0 LD, 46.0 GB, 28.0 FB, .286 BABIP

 

Cedeno's had the most balls fall in despite having the fewest linedrives, and the highest fly ball percentage. That isn't normal. I think Cedeno's great new approach at the plate has masked that he has hit a lot of bloops this year, and his sporadic playing time the last couple weeks has masked that he really hasn't played well recently.

 

With that being said, I feel that Lou's riding all the starters a little hard right now. You have two capable middle infielders on the bench, and I'd be using them to make sure two players who have gotten tired in past seasons (DeRosa and Theriot) get regular rest. I know Lou has already said that as the weather heats up, Soto will be sitting more, so I hope that is true for those two as well.

 

I think you are underplaying how sporadic they have been. He had 45 tremendously productive at-bats in April, what I think was too low of a number already. Then he started May by getting 3 PA over 5 games - going 1-2 with a walk. He then had back to back starts where he went just 1-8 combined, then got 2 more at bats in 6 games. He's got just 23 at bats in 12 appearances spread out over 20 games. He's barely gotten more playing time than Felix Pie (4 more AB) who was sent to AAA over a week ago and was getting barely any playing time himself.

[Keener98]

Nice double switch Lou. Blanco at 1st?Haha Oh and could you stop playing our better defensive SS at 2nd freaking base when he is in the game at the same time as noodle arm Theriot?

[Old Style]

Nice double switch Lou. Blanco at 1st?Haha Oh and could you stop playing our better defensive SS at 2nd freaking base when he is in the game at the same time as noodle arm Theriot?

Yeah, I didn't understand the double switch at all. Blanco is a terrible hitter. He would have been better off leaving DLee in the game and using Zambrano to pinch hit for the pitcher. That mistake probably cost us the game.

[MPC]

Nice double switch Lou. Blanco at 1st?Haha Oh and could you stop playing our better defensive SS at 2nd freaking base when he is in the game at the same time as noodle arm Theriot?

Yeah, I didn't understand the double switch at all. Blanco is a terrible hitter. He would have been better off leaving DLee in the game and using Zambrano to pinch hit for the pitcher. That mistake probably cost us the game.

it's even worse because when blanco's spot came up in the order, he just bunted anyway. easily something a pitcher could've have done.

 

an terrible move by Piniella.

[Mizzou]

Wait, Lou double switched Lee out of the game? I wasnt able to watch the end of the game. Why the hell did he do that?

[Sammy Sofa]

Wait, Lou double switched Lee out of the game? I wasnt able to watch the end of the game. Why the hell did he do that?

 

Great minds of science will still be trying to determine the answer to that final question centuries from now.

[CubColtPacer]

Wait, Lou double switched Lee out of the game? I wasnt able to watch the end of the game. Why the hell did he do that?

 

There were runners on first and second with one out. Lou brought Eyre in to face LaRoche. After LaRoche struck out, Lou decided to bring Wuertz in to try to get the next guy out and end the inning.

 

Since he only had Wuertz and Ascanio left, Lou had to use Wuertz for more than 1 inning. Wuertz was due up 3rd the next inning, so the only way to keep Wuertz from batting was to doubleswitch. Blanco was the last guy remaining on the bench, and based on where the Cubs were in the lineup (they had just finished with Ramirez the previous inning) Lee was the only candidate to be replaced. Lou gambled that the Cubs could score before they got all the way back around to Lee's spot.

 

The mistake lies in bringing in Wuertz, not the double switch. If you let Eyre pitch to one more batter, you can then pinch-hit for him the next inning and then bring in Wuertz. Once Lou pulled Eyre, the double switch made sense, but I'd rather gamble that Eyre can get the next batter out then be forced into that decision.

 

I actually thought that the decision to bunt with Blanco was a poor one. He had walked the previous two hitters. Blanco is better against left-handers than right-handers. It was a 1-0 count. I'd let him take a strike (showing bunt) and hope that the pitcher either continues to be wild or attempts to groove one over expecting the bunt attempt.

[Sammy Sofa]

Lou is batting Johnson 5th today and Fukudome 6th.

[Old Style]

Lou is batting Johnson 5th today and Fukudome 6th.

Wait, what? #-o

[Mizzou]

Wait, Lou double switched Lee out of the game? I wasnt able to watch the end of the game. Why the hell did he do that?

 

There were runners on first and second with one out. Lou brought Eyre in to face LaRoche. After LaRoche struck out, Lou decided to bring Wuertz in to try to get the next guy out and end the inning.

 

Since he only had Wuertz and Ascanio left, Lou had to use Wuertz for more than 1 inning. Wuertz was due up 3rd the next inning, so the only way to keep Wuertz from batting was to doubleswitch. Blanco was the last guy remaining on the bench, and based on where the Cubs were in the lineup (they had just finished with Ramirez the previous inning) Lee was the only candidate to be replaced. Lou gambled that the Cubs could score before they got all the way back around to Lee's spot.

 

The mistake lies in bringing in Wuertz, not the double switch. If you let Eyre pitch to one more batter, you can then pinch-hit for him the next inning and then bring in Wuertz. Once Lou pulled Eyre, the double switch made sense, but I'd rather gamble that Eyre can get the next batter out then be forced into that decision.

 

I actually thought that the decision to bunt with Blanco was a poor one. He had walked the previous two hitters. Blanco is better against left-handers than right-handers. It was a 1-0 count. I'd let him take a strike (showing bunt) and hope that the pitcher either continues to be wild or attempts to groove one over expecting the bunt attempt.

Thanks for the thorough explanation.

 

So basically it was Lou overmanaging, like he's been doing more and more lately. I'm still a fan of his, but he's starting to wear on me.

[rawaction]

Wait, Lou double switched Lee out of the game? I wasnt able to watch the end of the game. Why the hell did he do that?

 

There were runners on first and second with one out. Lou brought Eyre in to face LaRoche. After LaRoche struck out, Lou decided to bring Wuertz in to try to get the next guy out and end the inning.

 

Since he only had Wuertz and Ascanio left, Lou had to use Wuertz for more than 1 inning. Wuertz was due up 3rd the next inning, so the only way to keep Wuertz from batting was to doubleswitch. Blanco was the last guy remaining on the bench, and based on where the Cubs were in the lineup (they had just finished with Ramirez the previous inning) Lee was the only candidate to be replaced. Lou gambled that the Cubs could score before they got all the way back around to Lee's spot.

 

The mistake lies in bringing in Wuertz, not the double switch. If you let Eyre pitch to one more batter, you can then pinch-hit for him the next inning and then bring in Wuertz. Once Lou pulled Eyre, the double switch made sense, but I'd rather gamble that Eyre can get the next batter out then be forced into that decision.

 

I actually thought that the decision to bunt with Blanco was a poor one. He had walked the previous two hitters. Blanco is better against left-handers than right-handers. It was a 1-0 count. I'd let him take a strike (showing bunt) and hope that the pitcher either continues to be wild or attempts to groove one over expecting the bunt attempt.

 

Agreed on all counts. Eyre doesn't have horrible splits vs. RH hitters, if I remember correctly. You gamble that he can get Michaels with 2 outs. It did add insult to injury, though, that Blanco was just called on to bunt anyway.

[Jon]

And if Lou was bringing in Blanco, why not move Soto to first? Geovany had 22 games at first last year at Iowa and doesn't need to catch the extra innings.

[JimSorgi]

Lou is batting Johnson 5th today and Fukudome 6th.

Are you serious? That's a new level of stupid for Lou. :banghead:

[SouthSideRyan]

If Dusty pulled that crap that Lou pulled yesterday, we'd still be referencing it to reds44.

[NCCubFan]

If Lou hadn't wasted Fontenot earlier in the game he could have been used in the double-switch and Lee could have remained in the game.

[cheapseats]

Lou is batting Johnson 5th today and Fukudome 6th.

Are you serious? That's a new level of stupid for Lou. :banghead:

 

And Reed was caught stealing for the third time this year with only one success.

 

Lou likes running into outs.

[Sammy Sofa]

Dude loves his hit and runs and worthless steals when the heart of the lineup is up.

[Old Style]

Will Lou finally put a defensive replacement out in LF in late innings of close games? Soriano is pathetic out there.

[Tyrant]

Will Lou finally put a defensive replacement out in LF in late innings of close games? Soriano is pathetic out there.

 

Who on the roster should Lou have put in left field?

[Irrelevant Dude]

Will Lou finally put a defensive replacement out in LF in late innings of close games? Soriano is pathetic out there.

 

Who on the roster should Lou have put in left field?

Jason Marquis? Anyone but Soriano.

[CubColtPacer]

Will Lou finally put a defensive replacement out in LF in late innings of close games? Soriano is pathetic out there.

 

It's an interesting question right now because Soriano is pretty bad out there at the moment.

 

At the same time, last year Yost kept pulling Braun for a defensive replacement. The Brewers lost some games after the other team tied it up anyway, and then Braun wasn't available to hit and Yost was criticized.

 

It's really a tough question to determine. Is the chance of a ball going out to LF that Soriano will mess up so great that it's worth losing his bat later if the opponent ties it up anyway? This is a gamble whichever way Lou decides. There's not really any good option.

[SouthSideRyan]

Will Lou finally put a defensive replacement out in LF in late innings of close games? Soriano is pathetic out there.

 

Who on the roster should Lou have put in left field?

 

Reed Johnson. Not that I'm saying they should, but if you wanted a defensive replacement, you obviously move Johnson to LF, Edmonds to CF.

[Sammy Sofa]

Cubs up 2-1 against the Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th with the bases juiced and 2 outs....Theriot due up...if only he had a SS who has had awesome success with bases loaded this season...if only...

[Keener98]

Cubs up 2-1 against the Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th with the bases juiced and 2 outs....Theriot due up...if only he had a SS who has had awesome success with bases loaded this season...if only...

Dont forget the part where Soriano walked right in front of Theriot, and then Theriot swings at the 1st pitch. Smart Ryan smart.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Cubs up 2-1 against the Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th with the bases juiced and 2 outs....Theriot due up...if only he had a SS who has had awesome success with bases loaded this season...if only...

Dont forget the part where Soriano walked right in front of Theriot, and then Theriot swings at the 1st pitch. Smart Ryan smart.

 

It was a good pitch to hit, and with the bases loaded you're supposed to look to swing at the first pitch. It's not like Park walked Soriano on 4 straight pitches nowhere near the zone either.