26 over: Concerns/positives.

[ChiCubsfan0502]

It's hard to be critical of a team that has the record that they have but is there anything that causes you to be concerned with them?

 

My biggest concern is the production (or lack thereof) of Fukudome and Lee. Kosuke's slide has been well documented and he needs to get it together again. However, I am far more concerned with Lee. He's our 3 hitter who's OPS is worse then Fontenot's.

 

Seriously, how can Lee continue to hit 3rd when he has turned into a singles hitter? Lee's at bats have become very easy to call: "Ground ball to short, fly out to right or a single.

 

The starting rotation is as good as there is in Baseball, so no real concerns there. I'm very happen with how the pen is setting up, so no real concerns there. Neil Cotts has stepped up and Jeff Samardzija has been mostly lights out. Add Gaudin to the mix and Carlos Marmol back to being dominant, along with Wood being back, we're looking solid there.

 

Another concern I have is Piniella's in game managing. There are too many instances to go over on this one, but I think you all know what I'm talking about.

 

I do think Lou makes up for it in that he holds players accountable when they aren't producing.

The guy doesn't take any crap and I think that attitude has carried over to the team.

 

Overall I think this is the deepest, fundamentally sound team since 1984. They do 90% of the things you need to do in Baseball the correct way.

Edited August 14, 2008 by ChiCubsfan0502

[Choonch]

1) Lou's use of the bullpen.

2) Derrek Lee. He's just not a #3 hitter anymore. But, who else do you put in that spot?

3) Kosuke. This has been widely discussed. He needs to start getting on base again.

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.

.

.

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4) Another bat off the bench. Fontenot is ok, but I don't feel very confidend with Cedeno and especially Ward.

 

Other than that, this club is ready.

[jersey cubs fan]

My only concern is health. They are very good, balanced and deep.

[Little Slide Rooter]

2) Derrek Lee. He's just not a #3 hitter anymore. But, who else do you put in that spot?

 

4) Another bat off the bench. Fontenot is ok, but I don't feel very confidend with Cedeno and especially Ward.

 

2)-Soriano would be such a perfect #3 hitter if he could do what he does at the #1 spot there, and maybe Kosuke could be an OK leadoff guy, and Lee would be just fine in the 5 spot.

4)-If only we had a guy in the minors who was just knocking the cover off the ball. And if only he was a lefty.

Edited August 14, 2008 by Little Slide Rooter

[inari]

My only concern is health. They are very good, balanced and deep.

 

Yep. This one. When the worst hitters in your lineup get on base at a .370 clip, you're fine.

[soapy]

My only concern is health. They are very good, balanced and deep.

this.

 

i'd probably be more concerned with Lee and Fukudome if they were having trouble scoring. as of now i'm not, though i might move Lee out of the 3-hole at this point.

 

lou's bullpen usage concern's me a little, but not really if/when they reach the playoffs. there are enough days off in the playoffs for it not to be a concern.

[UMFan83]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

[inari]

My only concern is health. They are very good, balanced and deep.

this.

 

i'd probably be more concerned with Lee and Fukudome if they were having trouble scoring. as of now i'm not, though i might move Lee out of the 3-hole at this point.

 

lou's bullpen usage concern's me a little, but not really if/when they reach the playoffs. there are enough days off in the playoffs for it not to be a concern.

 

The guy that really comes to mind as who could hit 3rd besides Lee is Soriano and I don't think that's happening. I'm pretty happy with Rammy hitting 4th. I'm not really sure about who would take Lee's spot or where Lee would go. He seems best suited as a #2 hitter and that seems very unlikely to happen.

[BeerHere]

Health

 

Winning on the road

 

Brewers won't go away

[SouthSideRyan]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

[badger1679666666]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

Lineups really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. I think people stress out about that way too much. As long as the BEST hitters are hitting, The difference between the ABSOLUTE best and the ABSOLUTE worst lineups is about 80 runs or 8 games a year. And not even Dusty on Acid would use the absolute worst lineups.

 

I don't get why people make such a big deal about the lineups (not saying you are).

[kjfoster 1553]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

[SouthSideRyan]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

[kjfoster 1553]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

[SouthSideRyan]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

Why does being a singles machine mean he should hit 1 or 2? I think he's best served to hit 8, where he can be bunted into scoring position by our bad hitting pitchers, or possibly steal a base for our pitchers that can hit when there are 2 outs. Again, the lineup doesn't matter a lot considering how good each of our hitters are, but I see no reason to give the most ABs per game to Theriot, DeRosa, or Kosuke.

[JonnyRed]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

Not to mention he's our primary SB option.

[CubinNY]

The only concern I have is the health of Rich Harden and Z.

 

The Cubs are at or near the top in all the important offensive numbers in the NL.

 

If the rotation stays intact I like their chances of making it to the WS.

[jersey cubs fan]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

Not to mention he's our primary SB option.

 

Plus our best CS option.

[CubinNY]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

Not to mention he's our primary SB option.

I don't want Theriot trying to steal under most circumstance. He's not good at it.

[kjfoster 1553]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

Why does being a singles machine mean he should hit 1 or 2? I think he's best served to hit 8, where he can be bunted into scoring position by our bad hitting pitchers, or possibly steal a base for our pitchers that can hit when there are 2 outs. Again, the lineup doesn't matter a lot considering how good each of our hitters are, but I see no reason to give the most ABs per game to Theriot, DeRosa, or Kosuke.

 

Theriot is already 2nd on the team in AB's, 3rd in PA, 4th in BB, leads the team in steals, OBP and BA for everyday players. Sounds like a leadoff hitter to me.

 

Also leads the team in CS, but has a 62.1 SB%

[SouthSideRyan]

Theriot is already 2nd on the team in AB's, 3rd in PA, 4th in BB, leads the team in steals, OBP and BA for everyday players. Sounds like a leadoff hitter to me.

 

Also leads the team in CS, but has a 62.1 SB%

 

That's a bad SB%.

 

His rankins in ABs and PAs just says that he's played a lot and hit quite a bit at the top of the order. That says nothing about where he should hit. I don't understand why guys want leadoff men and 2 hitters to steal when you have your power hitters coming up behind them. Steals make more sense to me when you have a singles hitter coming up behind them. Why try and steal 2nd when Ramirez woulda doubled you in from first anyway?

 

Yes Theriot's OBP has been great this year, and he does take a walk and hit for a high average. Most seasons, he'd be a great option for us at the top of the order. This year, we're lucky enough that we have superior options who bring more than OBP to the top of the order, and lucky enough that Theriot's OBP in the 8 hole can still bring some real value to the team because we have a power hitter hitting 1st, and our #2 hitter isn't some slug who's up there to hit the ball to the right side.

[ChiCubsfan0502]

Kinda surprised not many people have mentioned Lee as a concern.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It will never happen but

 

Theriot

DeRosa

Ramirez

Soriano

Lee

Edmonds

Soto

Fukudome

 

I don't want 2 of our lower half hitters hitting 1-2. I'm fine with how the lineup is now. It's hard to screw up a lineup as consistent as we have.

 

What does 'lower half hitters' mean?

 

As in not one of the best 4 hitters on our team.

 

Riot should hit either 1 or 2. He is a single machine.

 

No, hes married.

[kjfoster 1553]

Theriot is already 2nd on the team in AB's, 3rd in PA, 4th in BB, leads the team in steals, OBP and BA for everyday players. Sounds like a leadoff hitter to me.

 

Also leads the team in CS, but has a 62.1 SB%

 

That's a bad SB%.

 

I agree, which is why I put it after the good stuff

 

His rankins in ABs and PAs just says that he's played a lot and hit quite a bit at the top of the order. That says nothing about where he should hit. I don't understand why guys want leadoff men and 2 hitters to steal when you have your power hitters coming up behind them. Steals make more sense to me when you have a singles hitter coming up behind them. Why try and steal 2nd when Ramirez woulda doubled you in from first anyway?

 

I would argue if Theriot singles, and steals second, he is MUCH more likely score than if he is sitting on 1st. Even on a double. Hence the reason its 'scoring position'

 

Yes Theriot's OBP has been great this year, and he does take a walk and hit for a high average. Most seasons, he'd be a great option for us at the top of the order. This year, we're lucky enough that we have superior options who bring more than OBP to the top of the order, and lucky enough that Theriot's OBP in the 8 hole can still bring some real value to the team because we have a power hitter hitting 1st, and our #2 hitter isn't some slug who's up there to hit the ball to the right side.

 

I agree he brings amazing value in the 8 hole, but I was going off the concern UMFan had about Lee hitting in the 3 hole, which he adjusted by moving both he and Soriano down in the lineup

[jersey cubs fan]

Kinda surprised not many people have mentioned Lee as a concern.

 

He's been disappointing and should probably be a long-term concern. However, he's not hurting this team. He typifies the lineups "good most everywhere with no superstars" makeup. Yes, I'd prefer he do more, but he's almost 33 and pretty much producing in-line with his career. The trend doesn't look good right now, and hopefully he picks it up a bit soon.