26 over: Concerns/positives.

[David]

It's a good sign when so many of people's concerns revolve around the batting order in some way, which doesn't really matter all that much.

[SouthSideRyan]

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'

 

But when you're only stealing at a 62% rate it's not worth the risk of running into an out when you have your power hitters coming up behind him.

[rawaction]

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.

 

Exactly. He had the great 2005. Wasted 06. And last year hit for an abnormally high average for him. Lee is the player he was with the Marlins or early on with the Cubs. If he gets any worse though, it will become a huge concern. But I think surrounded Soto, Fukudome, Soriano, and Ramirez who should all maintain or improve in the next few years, Lee isn't a huge issue.

[kjfoster 1553]

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'

 

But when you're only stealing at a 62% rate it's not worth the risk of running into an out when you have your power hitters coming up behind him.

 

Basically we just don't have a "typical" leadoff hitter for this team. IMO he is the closest thing we have if Soriano is moved down (won't happen, which I am fine with)

[David]

Except there's no need for a "typical" leadoff hitter and we shouldn't be looking to fill an imaginary need.

[kjfoster 1553]

Except there's no need for a "typical" leadoff hitter and we shouldn't be looking to fill an imaginary need.

 

Not saying we should look to fill this 'imaginary need'. I said I was ok, and would actually prefer to lead Soriano in the leadoff spot.

[kente777]

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.

 

Out of all of our starters, Theriot has the highest OBP. Why wouldn't you want him to get more AB's?

[David]

Because he's the second least productive hitter in the everyday lineup.

[kjfoster 1553]

Because he's the second least productive hitter in the everyday lineup.

 

In what way?

[David]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2008.shtml

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Out of all of our starters, Theriot has the highest OBP. Why wouldn't you want him to get more AB's?

EqA (considers batting as well as baserunning):

Edmonds: 316

Soriano: 297

Ramirez: 294

Soto: 288

DeRosa: 285

Lee: 279

Theriot: 271

Fukudome: 267

[cubscausestress]

I'm concerned that they aren't as good as that 2006 Cardinals team. That team was just incredible! Look at what they accomplished!

[kjfoster 1553]

Out of all of our starters, Theriot has the highest OBP. Why wouldn't you want him to get more AB's?

EqA (considers batting as well as baserunning):

Edmonds: 316

Soriano: 297

Ramirez: 294

Soto: 288

DeRosa: 285

Lee: 279

Theriot: 271

Fukudome: 267

 

Thanks! I don't know all the stats that get thrown around here sometime.

[David]

Thanks! I don't know all the stats that get thrown around here sometime.

 

 

Equivalent Average. A measure of total offensive value per out, with corrections for league offensive level, home park, and team pitching. EQA considers batting as well as baserunning, but not the value of a position player's defense. The EqA adjusted for all-time also has a correction for league difficulty. The scale is deliberately set to approximate that of batting average. League average EqA is always equal to .260. EqA is derived from Raw EqA, which is (H + TB + 1.5*(BB + HBP + SB) + SH + SF) divided by (AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF + CS + SB). REqA is then normalized to account for league difficulty and scale to create EqA.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?search=EQA

 

 

Thought that might help out.

[kjfoster 1553]

Thanks! I don't know all the stats that get thrown around here sometime.

 

 

Equivalent Average. A measure of total offensive value per out, with corrections for league offensive level, home park, and team pitching. EQA considers batting as well as baserunning, but not the value of a position player's defense. The EqA adjusted for all-time also has a correction for league difficulty. The scale is deliberately set to approximate that of batting average. League average EqA is always equal to .260. EqA is derived from Raw EqA, which is (H + TB + 1.5*(BB + HBP + SB) + SH + SF) divided by (AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF + CS + SB). REqA is then normalized to account for league difficulty and scale to create EqA.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?search=EQA

 

 

Thought that might help out.

 

It very much did, thank you.

[aeaasie]

Been cheering for the Cubs since the 60's (Adolpho Phillips, Carmen Fanzone, etc.) - Best Cub team 1 - 25 that I have ever seen

 

For a roster spot reserved exclusively for pinch hitting we do need an upgrade for Ward - Lee and Fukudome have tailed off - Howry continues to stumble . ... ..

 

No team is perfect but I like what I see

 

If we stay injury free I'll take my chances with this team

 

Go Cubs

[nilodnayr]

2008 Cubs wOBA

 

Soriano= 357

Theriot= 347

Lee=354

ARam=368

Edmonds=408 (as a Cub)

Soto=364

Fukudome=327

DeRosa=360

 

Fontenot is at 381

 

I made this comparison before, but the numbers work out really nicely today so it bears repeating...Jhonny Peralta is leading Theriot by 50 points in OPS (816 vs 766), however they have exactly the same wOBA. Theriot has 20 XBHs this year, Peralta has 56. That just shows how much OPS is not an ideal tool to use to compare because it weights SLG and OBP evenly.

 

Now, I'm not advocating for Theriot because nearly all of his value comes from batting average, which is highly subject to luck, but I am saying that he has been very productive this year. If I were the GM, I'd sell high on Theriot this offseason.

[carolinacubbie]

Soriano should hit first, he is hands down the best hitter on the team, and he should get as many at bats as possible. With the bottom of our order being so great, even hitting Soriano first he still gets a ton of RBI chances. To move him third, would be stupid. You can hate Soriano all you want because he doesn't wanna hit anywhere besides first, but you have to admit he kills the ball in that spot. Lineups aren't that important anyways, why would I want a guy like Theriot hitting first and getting more at bats then Soriano? Soriano is probably a better base stealer then Theriot is anyways.

[TruffleShuffle]

However, I am far more concerned with Lee. He's our 3 hitter who's OPS is worse then Fontenot's.

 

fontenot has a .909 OPS... only 6 teams in baseball have better than a .909 OPS out of the 3 hole.

[jersey cubs fan]

However, I am far more concerned with Lee. He's our 3 hitter who's OPS is worse then Fontenot's.

 

fontenot has a .909 OPS... only 6 teams in baseball have better than a .909 OPS out of the 3 hole.

 

5 in the NL. The Cubs are 7th. Cubs 1B are 6th. (all out of 16)

[kjfoster 1553]

However, I am far more concerned with Lee. He's our 3 hitter who's OPS is worse then Fontenot's.

 

fontenot has a .909 OPS... only 6 teams in baseball have better than a .909 OPS out of the 3 hole.

=D>

 

I do love Mike Fontenot

[David]

However, I am far more concerned with Lee. He's our 3 hitter who's OPS is worse then Fontenot's.

 

fontenot has a .909 OPS... only 6 teams in baseball have better than a .909 OPS out of the 3 hole.

 

I was gonna do this, but then I figured, "Why bother?"

 

Plus, his real point, that Lee hasn't been performing up to expectations, is valid. So I was all meh about it.

[soapy]

the cubs are on pace to win about 98 games. i have to say i didn't see that coming. i thought they had a solid chance at the division, but they've exceeded my expectations so far. primarily Dempster, Edmonds and Theriot.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

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

you had to bring it up...

[javy knows my name]

ryan theriot needs to stop making outs on the basepaths before I kill him. He shouldn't have to hit 8th, but if he insists on being stupid then he needs to.