Fukudome Could Hit Second When Soriano Returns

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

Manager Lou Piniella said he likes how Kosuke Fukudome has handled the leadoff spot since moving from the 5 hole to fill in for injured Alfonso Soriano. He said he might put Fukudome at No. 2 when Soriano returns.

 

''When we get Soriano back, we'll put Soriano back in the leadoff spot and Fukudome can hit either 2 or 5,'' Piniella said. ''But I feel very comfortable with him in the leadoff spot. He's doing a really nice job. He'll have a high on-base percentage, he'll see a lot of pitches, and I think if he stayed there for a long period of time, you'd see him running more.''

[Rusch33]

Who would have thunk it? We got a guy who can coach a baseball team.

[Sammy Sofa]

About damn time.

[jaydee]

Who would have thunk it? We got a guy who can coach a baseball team.

 

its nice that lou is really open minded about things. it seems like a lot of people in baseball are just stubborn and the exact opposite of him.

[inari]

Who would have thunk it? We got a guy who can coach a baseball team.

 

its nice that lou is really open minded about things. it seems like a lot of people in baseball are just stubborn and the exact opposite of him.

 

It seems to me that keeping Fukudome in the five hole for as long as he has despite it being quite obvious he shuld be elsewhere is a sign that Lou is pretty stubborn himself.

[CubColtPacer]

It was all about the Cubs CF position. Pie blocked the 8 spot for a while, leaving nowhere for Theriot to go but 2 in Lou's mind. At the same time, a left-handed bat was needed in Lou's mind to protect Ramirez.

 

Now Edmonds is filling that role of the 5th place hitter, which allows Lou to do what he wanted all along and put Fukudome up at 2 and Theriot down at 8.

 

How Edmonds hits the next 3 weeks will probably be the biggest determining factor in where Fukudome goes when Soriano gets back, no matter what Fukudome or Theriot does. Not saying I agree with it, but piecing together all of Lou's quotes, this seems to be the plan he had envisioned all along.

[CubbieBum]

Theriot has a good OBP and the highest average on the team, plus speed. It's not like our 2 hole has been bad all year. It's been very productive (does that sound dirty) and our offense until recently had the most runs in the majors. If I'm the manager I'm not going to mess with a team that is scoring better than everyone else and not going to move a guy out of a spot he has been producing in unless circumstances force my hand (like an injury). People on this board need to step down off their high horses, open their eyes, and quit complaining about our offense when there has been nothing wrong with it.

[Banedon]

I know I said this somewhere earlier in the year, but it's funny...Lou eventually comes around to the right ideas, but it sure can take some time for it to happen. Better than not happening at all, but this should've happened long ago.

[soapy]

i wonder if Ramirez strong showing this weekend without Kosuke hitting behind him helped Lou realize that it wasn't really necessary. that seemed to be part of Lou's rationale, that Ramirez needed Fukudome protecting him.

[rawaction]

i wonder if Ramirez strong showing this weekend without Kosuke hitting behind him helped Lou realize that it wasn't really necessary. that seemed to be part of Lou's rationale, that Ramirez needed Fukudome protecting him.

 

No, Edmonds strong showing recently is the reason. He's provided the LH power behind Ramirez.

[soapy]

i wonder if Ramirez strong showing this weekend without Kosuke hitting behind him helped Lou realize that it wasn't really necessary. that seemed to be part of Lou's rationale, that Ramirez needed Fukudome protecting him.

 

No, Edmonds strong showing recently is the reason. He's provided the LH power behind Ramirez.

 

true, but the protection idea for Ramirez seemed silly anyway. Ramirez hasn't needed protection before this season, and I don't think he needs it now. hopefully Edmonds has turned a corner and can maintain something close to this level though.

[rawaction]

i wonder if Ramirez strong showing this weekend without Kosuke hitting behind him helped Lou realize that it wasn't really necessary. that seemed to be part of Lou's rationale, that Ramirez needed Fukudome protecting him.

 

No, Edmonds strong showing recently is the reason. He's provided the LH power behind Ramirez.

 

true, but the protection idea for Ramirez seemed silly anyway. Ramirez hasn't needed protection before this season, and I don't think he needs it now. hopefully Edmonds has turned a corner and can maintain something close to this level though.

 

So, you're saying Burnitz, Jock Jones, and Floyd didn't protect Ramirez? Well, you're right.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

Link.

 

Manager Lou Piniella said he likes how Kosuke Fukudome has handled the leadoff spot since moving from the 5 hole to fill in for injured Alfonso Soriano. He said he might put Fukudome at No. 2 when Soriano returns.

 

''When we get Soriano back, we'll put Soriano back in the leadoff spot and Fukudome can hit either 2 or 5,'' Piniella said. ''But I feel very comfortable with him in the leadoff spot. He's doing a really nice job. He'll have a high on-base percentage, he'll see a lot of pitches, and I think if he stayed there for a long period of time, you'd see him running more.''

 

---I was thinking the same thing Vance. break up the right handed power right off the...bat (pun intended).

[TheDude]

Theriot has a good OBP and the highest average on the team, plus speed. It's not like our 2 hole has been bad all year. It's been very productive (does that sound dirty) and our offense until recently had the most runs in the majors. If I'm the manager I'm not going to mess with a team that is scoring better than everyone else and not going to move a guy out of a spot he has been producing in unless circumstances force my hand (like an injury). People on this board need to step down off their high horses, open their eyes, and quit complaining about our offense when there has been nothing wrong with it.

 

Theriot is an ideal 8-hitter. When he gets on base, it's likely a single or walk, so he is on first. This allows the weak hitting pitchers an easy sacrifice opportunity, or you might see Theriot swipe second to get in scoring position for someone like Zambrano who can actually drive him in.

 

Plus you have a high OBP somewhat in front Soriano.

[CuseCubFan69]

I know I said this somewhere earlier in the year, but it's funny...Lou eventually comes around to the right ideas, but it sure can take some time for it to happen. Better than not happening at all, but this should've happened long ago.

 

I blame Theriot and his stupid high OBP.

[TheDude]

I know I said this somewhere earlier in the year, but it's funny...Lou eventually comes around to the right ideas, but it sure can take some time for it to happen. Better than not happening at all, but this should've happened long ago.

 

Lou didn't "come around" to anything. He had a prescribed desire for the 5-hole hitter that superceded the desire for the 2-hole hitter. Then the team acquired Edmonds to satisfy Lou - but not immediately.

 

Before Piniella considered moving Fukudome out of the 5-hole for Edmonds, the team had to see if Edmonds was going to produce. So Edmonds got a lot of pt and we've seen a lot of experimentation with the line-up the last few weeks, but the bottom line is Edmonds has produced and now Piniella has the confidence to move Fukudome and put Edmonds in the 5-hole, which is what the organization intended all along when the acquired Edmonds.

[mul21]

I just hope that Edmonds remains productive and Rammy doesn't revert back to his free swinging because he feels like he has to get it done every time with no help behind him in the lineup.

[javy knows my name]

About damn time.

Now if only we could get Soto hitting in front of Edmonds...

[FergieJ31]

I agree - about damn time - but I thought the reason why Fukudome has been slotted in the 5-hole is because he wanted to bat there; it was his preference and not Lou's. Is that not true? If so, it sounds like Lou talked him into accepting the role of batting ahead of Lee/ARam.

[CubmanPi]

About damn time.

Now if only we could get Soto hitting in front of Edmonds...

One of the things I heard Lou talking about (could have been during the in-game interview, but not sure) was that he likes having a lefty hitting 5th behind Ramirez. Fuku batting second means Edmonds will remain fifth.

[javy knows my name]

About damn time.

Now if only we could get Soto hitting in front of Edmonds...

One of the things I heard Lou talking about (could have been during the in-game interview, but not sure) was that he likes having a lefty hitting 5th behind Ramirez. Fuku batting second means Edmonds will remain fifth.

I realize that, but it doesn't make it logical or a smart thing to do

[badger1679666666]

Who would have thunk it? We got a guy who can coach a baseball team.

 

its nice that lou is really open minded about things. it seems like a lot of people in baseball are just stubborn and the exact opposite of him.

 

It seems to me that keeping Fukudome in the five hole for as long as he has despite it being quite obvious he shuld be elsewhere is a sign that Lou is pretty stubborn himself.

 

 

Yea The Riot and his close to .400 OBP was stinking up the joint in the #2 slot all year Tomy.

[CubbieBum]

Theriot has a good OBP and the highest average on the team, plus speed. It's not like our 2 hole has been bad all year. It's been very productive (does that sound dirty) and our offense until recently had the most runs in the majors. If I'm the manager I'm not going to mess with a team that is scoring better than everyone else and not going to move a guy out of a spot he has been producing in unless circumstances force my hand (like an injury). People on this board need to step down off their high horses, open their eyes, and quit complaining about our offense when there has been nothing wrong with it.

 

Theriot is an ideal 8-hitter. When he gets on base, it's likely a single or walk, so he is on first. This allows the weak hitting pitchers an easy sacrifice opportunity, or you might see Theriot swipe second to get in scoring position for someone like Zambrano who can actually drive him in.

 

Plus you have a high OBP somewhat in front Soriano.

 

I don't argue that point at all. Theriot is a ideal 8-hitter but with that said he was still producing in the 2-hole and our offense was clicking so I'm not going to sit and blast Lou for not messing with one of the best offenses we have ever had.

[David]

You guys are making way too much of the batting order. It's not even worth all this bandwidth.

 

Just be happy that guys like Neifi Perez, Rey Rnez, CPatt, and Macias aren't batting at the top of it (or at all, really). That's all that really matters.

[twothousandfive]

Won't this reduce the RBI opportunities for Soto?

 

I have to think he and DeRosa were the biggest winners in line-up construction -- when the guy in front of you is on base 40% of the time, good things happen.

 

I'd even argue that, unless and until Theriot stops getting on base, he should bat behind Edmonds, and ahead of Soto and DeRosa. It's nice to think when your 7 & 8 hitters get an extra base hit, it scores a run.