Hey did you guys know the Cubs are more LH?

[DiamondMind]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3963717

 

Five months after a painful loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series, Piniella is brimming with ideas on how to remedy the team's 0-6 postseason record in 2007 and 2008. He's already vowing to rest his regulars more frequently as an antidote to those long, debilitating summers at Wrigley Field.

 

But it didn't take a trip to Barnes & Noble for Piniella to identify an even bigger problem at the corner of Clark and Addison. The Cubs, in the opinion of their manager, simply had to get more left-handed at the plate.

[UMFan83]

Didn't know that. Was that supposed to be some sort of problem they targeted to address in the offseason? First I've heard of it...

[DiamondMind]

Didn't know that. Was that supposed to be some sort of problem they targeted to address in the offseason? First I've heard of it...

 

The article does mention that even the players are aware of the RH beatdown applied to us by Arizona and LA the last two years. When something, true or false, is in the head of the clubhouse, aren't you forced to address it though as management?

[David]

I think there's some validity to the idea that there need to be some (good) lefties for pitchers to have to deal with so they don't get into a rhythm in terms of location... it's the same reason we shouldn't be going all righty vs. lefties.

[kente777]

Yeah, the extra rest the end of September last year really did Soriano and Ramirez a lot of good in the playoffs. :roll:

[KingCubsFan]

The great part is that other than Fontenot playing against righties, we didn't even get more LH in terms of our starting lineup. I don't understand why the media can't figure this out.

[Gingerballs Lives]

The great part is that other than Fontenot playing against righties, we didn't even get more LH in terms of our starting lineup. I don't understand why the media can't figure this out.

 

Milton Bradley?

 

I suppose that's only as long as kfuk is in center instead of RJ.

 

 

 

 

Oh, and Bako instead of Soto. :barf

[17 Seconds]

The great part is that other than Fontenot playing against righties, we didn't even get more LH in terms of our starting lineup. I don't understand why the media can't figure this out.

 

Milton Bradley?

 

I suppose that's only as long as kfuk is in center instead of RJ.

 

 

last year for the second half against RHP it was Edmonds and Fukudome occupying CF and RF, now it's Bradley and Fukudome.

 

He's right, the only left handed bat we added to the lineup against RHP is Fontenot, and I bet he won't even get much playing time against RHP.

[David]

The great part is that other than Fontenot playing against righties, we didn't even get more LH in terms of our starting lineup. I don't understand why the media can't figure this out.

 

Milton Bradley?

 

I suppose that's only as long as kfuk is in center instead of RJ.

 

 

last year for the second half against RHP it was Edmonds and Fukudome occupying CF and RF, now it's Bradley and Fukudome.

 

He's right, the only left handed bat we added to the lineup against RHP is Fontenot, and I bet he won't even get much playing time against RHP.

 

 

I'm willing to bet he'll get most of it.

[17 Seconds]

I hope so

 

On a semi-related note, Fontenot is getting no love whatsoever in fantasy leagues. On yahoo's rankings (not that they mean anything) he's ranked like 850 overall.

[anabiono]

I hope so

 

On a semi-related note, Fontenot is getting no love whatsoever in fantasy leagues. On yahoo's rankings (not that they mean anything) he's ranked like 850 overall.

 

yeah, but if you drag your cursor over his name a box appears saying, "Don't turn your back on sneaky power, or you might get burned..."

 

kind of creeped me out...what could it mean?!

[twothousandfive]

On a three year basis, Fontenot is better against righties than DeRosa (sample size issues). Bradley is likely to be better than Edmonds. So they may have made some gains on the margin.

 

But Lee, Soriano, Theriot all drop by about 100 points on OPS against righties. Soto's drop wasn't quite as bad, and Ramirez is very consistent no matter which hand a pitcher throws with. So Fukudome, but that isn't saying much.

 

Lee and DeRosa hit pretty well in the playoffs the last two years, Ramirez and Soriano haven't. If combined those two guys can't get at least a hit a game in the post-season, it is very tough to win. The left-handed righty mashers from last year play first base and third base. The Cubs first baseman has hit well in the post-season.Their third baseman hasn't but he typically hits lefties well.

 

The problem isn't really against lefties, but if they think it is, and they now think we have solved it, that's fine.

[David]

On a three year basis, Fontenot is better against righties than DeRosa (sample size issues). Bradley is likely to be better than Edmonds. So they may have made some gains on the margin.

 

But Lee, Soriano, Theriot all drop by about 100 points on OPS against righties. Soto's drop wasn't quite as bad, and Ramirez is very consistent no matter which hand a pitcher throws with. So Fukudome, but that isn't saying much.

 

Lee and DeRosa hit pretty well in the playoffs the last two years, Ramirez and Soriano haven't. If combined those two guys can't get at least a hit a game in the post-season, it is very tough to win. The left-handed righty mashers from last year play first base and third base. The Cubs first baseman has hit well in the post-season.Their third baseman hasn't but he typically hits lefties well.

 

The problem isn't really against lefties, but if they think it is, and they now think we have solved it, that's fine.

 

 

Maybe I'm misreading your post (which I easily could be), but I'm not sure what you're trying to say. The Cubs, presumably, see the problem as being against righties. Hence the supposed desire to add more LH bats to the lineup.

[17 Seconds]

Bradley is likely to be better than Edmonds. .

 

Only if you're talking about numbers of at-bats

[twothousandfive]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say

That happens a lot at home.

 

I think I'm saying three things:

1) They haven't really gotten more left-handed (as others have piinted out) except maybe 2B

2) If the "problem" is against righties (and they are fine against lefties), Derek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, or Ryan Theriot need a platoon partner -- they are the guys who are noticeably worse against righties

3) If the real "problem" is the playoffs, then (sample size of six games), then Soriano and Ramirez need to be platooned.

 

But, why platoon Ramirez based on six games? He generally hits righties fine. Why platoon Derek Lee? He's been fine in the play-offs. Same with deRosa so the Fontenot move doesn't solve the "problem." Platoon Soriano, since he just isn't quite the slugger we need against righties? That would mean he sits while, who, Hoffpauir starts? Not at that price tag.

 

I think it is difficult to conclude there is a problem. If there is a problem, they haven't solved it. But (again as someone else said) if they perceived a problem, and perceive they have solved it, maybe it will all work out.

[chuckywang]

The great part is that other than Fontenot playing against righties, we didn't even get more LH in terms of our starting lineup. I don't understand why the media can't figure this out.

 

Milton Bradley?

 

I suppose that's only as long as kfuk is in center instead of RJ.

 

 

last year for the second half against RHP it was Edmonds and Fukudome occupying CF and RF, now it's Bradley and Fukudome.

 

He's right, the only left handed bat we added to the lineup against RHP is Fontenot, and I bet he won't even get much playing time against RHP.

 

Edmonds (RH) was awesome for the Cubs. If the Cubs needed to get more LH, then Edmonds is definitely not the reason why.