Re: Bradley to hit cleanup

[Keener98]

Ok Im in again right now and I keep getting the "were sorry we are unable to process your request due to high activity". So I should keep hitting continue?

 

can we submit our own lineups!?!?!

 

 

;)

 

 

Haha oops guess thats what I get for trying to multi task huh

[mikeyt34]

All this line up discussion gets silly after a while. Ultimately Lou's best course of action is to split up the lefties and the righties down through the order as best he can...

 

Soriano

Fontenot

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Lee

Theriot

 

Bradley's numbers are much greater in the clean up spot for some reason, and I like the idea of guaranteeing an at bat for Ramirez every 1st inning. Lee may be batting a bit low, but this is strictly a line up to split up the left handers and right handers.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like this(RHP/LHP):

 

Soriano

Fontenot/Johnson

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Lee

Fukudome/Theriot

Theriot/Miles

 

Although switching up Lee and Soto to protect Lee's ego or whatever is fine too. Kosuke and Fontenot can switch if Kosuke gets hot and/or Fontenot slumps. Same with Theriot and Johnson against LHP.

 

Also interesting to note, with platoons in CF and 2B and Bradley being a switch hitter, we project an all right handed lineup v. LHP.

[TruffleShuffle]

Also interesting to note, with platoons in CF and 2B and Bradley being a switch hitter, we project an all right handed lineup v. LHP.

 

i'm not big on that at all.

[ELCABALLO45]

On Thursday, Piniella said the lineup he's leaning toward is Soriano, Aaron Miles, Derrek Lee, Milton Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Ryan Theriot.

 

"That seems like a real nice lineup to me," Piniella said. "Left, right, left, right -- we have some balance, we have some speed. You can add [Micah] Hoffpauir as one of those left-handed bats."

[cubsfan26]

On Thursday, Piniella said the lineup he's leaning toward is Soriano, Aaron Miles, Derrek Lee, Milton Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Ryan Theriot.

 

"That seems like a real nice lineup to me," Piniella said. "Left, right, left, right -- we have some balance, we have some speed. You can add [Micah] Hoffpauir as one of those left-handed bats."

 

 

Thats been posted elsewhere, Piniella never said he would leaning towards that line-up. He said, he could go with that line-up when both Miles and Fukudome play. He was more talking about how balanced the line-up could possibly be. It was Carrie Muskat who used a poor choice of words in that article. The Suntimes and Tribune worded it much differently. Thats not the line-up he's going with next year, just one of the potential ones he could use or try during spring training.

[17 Seconds]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

[cubsfan26]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

 

I agree, but I don't know if Lou is gonna go with a straight platoon with Miles and Fontenot at first. I can see them switching off and Lou playing the hot hand. I think it will lead to a platoon at 2b in the long run. But so far, I haven't heard the Cubs say anything about a platoon. It was more us fans deciding that because it makes alot of sense. I think Lou wants to take a look at things during the spring games, and figure out what he wants to do. But as long as Fontenot(CSN called him the favorite when taking about 2b tonight) hits the way he's capable of, I don't see a problem. Lou has been pretty good about playing superior hitter in the past, I don't see why things would change now. Plus I really don't know if Fukudome is a lock to be a strict platoon player yet. Yeah thats the plan right now, but If he starts to hit, I can see them giving him starts against average LH pitchers.

[TruffleShuffle]

Miles shouldn't be in the lineup

 

fixed

[Derwood]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

[Illini Iceman]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

[haubrich91]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say all of us are mad that DeRosa was traded. We don't want Miles at 2nd, we want DeRosa.

[Magnetic Curses]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say all of us are mad that DeRosa was traded. We don't want Miles at 2nd, we want DeRosa.

 

but fontenot will get the majority of the time there, so that makes me happy because i'm excited to see what he can do full-time.

 

and bradley should bat third because he'll get more pa's there and the more pa's he gets, the better.

[Cubswin11]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say all of us are mad that DeRosa was traded. We don't want Miles at 2nd, we want DeRosa.

 

but fontenot will get the majority of the time there, so that makes me happy because i'm excited to see what he can do full-time.

 

and bradley should bat third because he'll get more pa's there and the more pa's he gets, the better.

The problem with that thinking is that if Fontenot struggles early Lou will probably have a pretty short leash on him and he will probably go to the "vet" Miles pretty quickly and it would have to take a lot for Miles to lose the job back to Fontenot after that because it's alright for a "vet" to struggle and play below average but if a young player struggles early they are benched for good and not allowed to go through growing pains. I could see a similar situation for Fontenot that Pie went through last season. With such emphasis on "balance" this offseason I don't see Lou putting Bradley 3rd with a righty in Soriano leading off and a Lefty/SH batting 2nd. Bradley best "balances" our lineup hitting 4th.

[17 Seconds]

It seemed like Lou didn't like Pie from the start though, and never intended to really give him an extended chance. It seems like Fontenot is the opposite. He's liked Fontenot from the beginning. Last offseason when most of us thought Fontenot wouldn't/shouldn't make the opening day roster Lou told Fontenot early in ST not to worry and that he was making the team no matter what. It seems like Fontenot is one of his favorites so I think Lou will give him some time if he starts off slowly, but you never know. I'm still worried because Miles seems like Lou's kind of guy.

[Mephistopheles]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

 

This isn't really the correct way to think about anything. Miles shouldn't be in the lineup over Fontenot, but Miles and Fukudome are completely unrelated. They don't affect each other.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'd still give fontenot some ABs against LHP - even fukudome from time to time. i think if you have a lineup that's 100% righthanded that the pitcher can just settle into a rhythm. like if he prefers to pitch on the outer half, he can just pound the same side of the plate all game long, rather than having to move around.

[17 Seconds]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

 

This isn't really the correct way to think about anything. Miles shouldn't be in the lineup over Fontenot, but Miles and Fukudome are completely unrelated. They don't affect each other.

 

Fukudome (unless he starts crushing the ball and you can't take him out of the lineup against LHP) should only be playing against RHP to start the season, while Miles should only be playing against LHP... if that. If Miles and Fukudome are in the same lineup that means one is facing their unfavorable split while a guy who rakes against that split (Fontenot against RHP, Johnson against LHP) is on the bench. That's why they're related in this conversation.

[The Other 15]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say all of us are mad that DeRosa was traded. We don't want Miles at 2nd, we want DeRosa.

You wont get Miles at 2B and you wont miss DeRosa by June if Lou is serious about playing Fontenot everyday.

[17 Seconds]

Miles shouldn't be in baseball

 

fixed

 

re-fixed

 

I know a lot of this is probably tongue in cheek, but the irrational Aaron Miles hatred that has been building around here lately is silly. Yes, he is just a reserve type middle infielder without a lot of power. But he shouldn't be in baseball? They guy hit .317 last year with a .355 OBP in 379 AB's. If a guy that can do that doesn't even belong in baseball there should be a lot of 22 man rosters. He sure belongs to be in a baseball at least as much or more than Ronny Cedeno who was the Cubs' utility infielder last season and I assume will be on the Mariners roster this year.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say all of us are mad that DeRosa was traded. We don't want Miles at 2nd, we want DeRosa.

You wont get Miles at 2B and you wont miss DeRosa by June if Lou is serious about playing Fontenot everyday.

 

Only if Bradley actually stays healthy

[badnews]

i'd still give fontenot some ABs against LHP - even fukudome from time to time. i think if you have a lineup that's 100% righthanded that the pitcher can just settle into a rhythm. like if he prefers to pitch on the outer half, he can just pound the same side of the plate all game long, rather than having to move around.

 

Bingo. I think it was Andy Pettitte who said he loves facing an all-righties lineup.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

 

This isn't really the correct way to think about anything. Miles shouldn't be in the lineup over Fontenot, but Miles and Fukudome are completely unrelated. They don't affect each other.

 

Fukudome (unless he starts crushing the ball and you can't take him out of the lineup against LHP) should only be playing against RHP to start the season, while Miles should only be playing against LHP... if that. If Miles and Fukudome are in the same lineup that means one is facing their unfavorable split while a guy who rakes against that split (Fontenot against RHP, Johnson against LHP) is on the bench. That's why they're related in this conversation.

 

Kosuke had no platoon split last year.

[17 Seconds]

Miles and Fukudome shouldn't be in the same lineup

 

This isn't really the correct way to think about anything. Miles shouldn't be in the lineup over Fontenot, but Miles and Fukudome are completely unrelated. They don't affect each other.

 

Fukudome (unless he starts crushing the ball and you can't take him out of the lineup against LHP) should only be playing against RHP to start the season, while Miles should only be playing against LHP... if that. If Miles and Fukudome are in the same lineup that means one is facing their unfavorable split while a guy who rakes against that split (Fontenot against RHP, Johnson against LHP) is on the bench. That's why they're related in this conversation.

 

Kosuke had no platoon split last year.

 

And what about in his 4503 PAs in Japan? You don't think Fukudome will end up being better vs righties than lefties? You don't want him platooned with Johnson?

 

Johnson has a career .836 against LHP (.869 last 3 seasons). Do you think Fukudome comes close to matching that against LHP?

 

And for the record, even though his split OPS was only .17 apart, he was still a different hitter against LHP and RHP. All 10 home runs came against righties. His OPS was somewhat evened out by his higher average against lefties, but his BABIP was also much higher. I can't find LD% splits but I'd be guess by his 10-0 home run splits that he didn't hit the ball harder against lefties and the high BAIP was more luck than anything.

[Derwood]

one thing I agree with Brenley on: Players are expected to hit both lefties and righties their entire time in the minor leagues, so why do you suddenly platoon them in the majors? Unless their splits are really extreme, it seems like a waste of time

[TruffleShuffle]

one thing I agree with Brenley on: Players are expected to hit both lefties and righties their entire time in the minor leagues, so why do you suddenly platoon them in the majors? Unless their splits are really extreme, it seems like a waste of time

 

because a lot of guys do have pretty extreme splits in the real world. obviously with an awesome hitter like manny ramirez or albert pujols you're going to let them it against anyone, but you can take a guy like jason michaels or bobby kielty and make them useful by utilizing the matchups against RHP. it's the same concept as using a LOOGY - you're trying to make your team as productive as possible and sometimes that means a platoon.