Lou: Fukudome Penciled in at 2-Spot in Linuep

[E.J.]

"He looks wonderful," Piniella said of Fukudome. "He's in really good shape. I told him we're holding a spot for him, and we'll put him out in center field and we'll try him in the No. 2 hole in the lineup.

 

"He said he's been working hard. He's excited about this World Baseball Classic and afterwards, he's looking forward to joining us."

 

Fukudome got off to a great start for the Cubs last season, his first in the U.S. Major Leagues, hitting .279 in the first half. But he followed that with a .217 average after the All-Star break. The Cubs manager said he anticipates a better season from the outfielder.

 

"I think he's more acclimated this year," Piniella said. "I know he's worked hard. The Japanese national team, they work hard and have good coaches. He's gotten some good foundation put in. I think you'll see this young man play the way he did the first half of last season all year for us."

 

As for the two-hole, Piniella said they'll play around with it but that he's leaning toward inserting Fukudome there behind Alfonso Soriano.

 

"We're going to try it initially with Soriano and Fukudome, one-two, against right-handed pitching and see how that works," he said. "I think that'll work quite well."

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090310&content_id=3960598&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Roast]

Nice to see a patient bat at the top of the order. I like it. I'm predicting a big season from Fuku (at least, in comparison to last year)

[ChiCubsFan]

I like it.

[CubColtPacer]

That pronouncement seems to pretty much solidify Lou's initial lineup against right-handed pitchers.

 

Soriano

Fukudome

Lee

Bradley

Ramirez

Soto

Fontenot

Theriot

Pitcher

 

That's a really well arranged lineup especially if Fukudome and Lee can bounce back a little bit. Your weakest hitter (Theriot) is at 8, but he also is going to be on first a lot so the pitcher will be able to bunt him over. It's also a nicely balanced lineup that is going to make it hard to easily matchup opposing relievers against. If Fukudome struggles you can always flip him and Fontenot.

 

We haven't heard much yet about against left-handed pitchers. My guess is that Miles will start the year in the 2 spot with Reed 7th and Theriot 8th, and then hopefully one of Reed or Theriot (probably Theriot) take the 2 spot against left-handers during the course of the season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hopefully if he does struggle it won't be as god awful useless as he was in the second half. He needs to at least get on base early.

[Wilson A2000]

Technically Lou said he is leaning that way, not that Fukudome is penciled in at the 2 spot.

[manbearcub]

Technically Lou said he is leaning that way, not that Fukudome is penciled in at the 2 spot.

thats why pencils have erasers.

[CubbieBum]

Technically Lou said he is leaning that way, not that Fukudome is penciled in at the 2 spot.

thats why pencils have erasers.

 

yeah but if they are made in china they just mess every thing up

 

 

 

I don't mind it. I still prefer Lee at 2 then Bradley and Ramirez but if Fukudome can see a lot of pitches and get on base a lot it will work out.

[Post Count Padder]

I really like this move, if Lou goes through with it.

[cubbinalltheway]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

[Derwood]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

[cubbinalltheway]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

[nilodnayr]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

[cubbinalltheway]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

among regulars he led the team in both average and obp last year. if that's "not that good" then what are the rest of the players?

[17 Seconds]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

among regulars he led the team in both average and obp last year. if that's "not that good" then what are the rest of the players?

 

better

[Garwilly]

Technically Lou said he is leaning that way, not that Fukudome is penciled in at the 2 spot.

thats why pencils have erasers.

 

yeah but if they are made in china they just mess every thing up

 

 

 

I don't mind it. I still prefer Lee at 2 then Bradley and Ramirez but if Fukudome can see a lot of pitches and get on base a lot it will work out.

 

He was made in Japan. :-))

[cubbinalltheway]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

among regulars he led the team in both average and obp last year. if that's "not that good" then what are the rest of the players?

 

better

convincing argument.

 

theriot is good in his own ways, and obviously has deficiencies as well. but to say that the guy who got on base more than every other player on the team last year "isn't that good" is just stupid.

[SouthSideRyan]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

among regulars he led the team in both average and obp last year. if that's "not that good" then what are the rest of the players?

 

better

convincing argument.

 

theriot is good in his own ways, and obviously has deficiencies as well. but to say that the guy who got on base more than every other player on the team last year "isn't that good" is just stupid.

 

Ok, who do you think Theriot is a better hitter than for the 2009 season?

[David]

It wouldn't be COMPLETELY idiotic to say Fukudome, but beyond that....

[Vanilla Ice]

Ted Lilly, Sean Marshall, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster and maybe Carlos Zambrano.

[17 Seconds]

i would prefer theriot there, but fukudome isn't a bad choice for the number two hitter.

 

Theriot needs to bat 8th.

why?

 

Because hes not that good?

among regulars he led the team in both average and obp last year. if that's "not that good" then what are the rest of the players?

 

better

convincing argument.

 

theriot is good in his own ways, and obviously has deficiencies as well. but to say that the guy who got on base more than every other player on the team last year "isn't that good" is just stupid.

 

depends on how you interpret "isn't that good". i don't think that he meant theriot is bad.

 

really, a .746 OPS isn't that good. his obp was very good, but obp isn't everything. it's nice to hit yourself past 1st base every once in a while.

 

more than anything though, i don't expect him to match his avg/obp from 08. i think he'll be more .290/.360

[cubbinalltheway]

depends on how you interpret "isn't that good". i don't think that he meant theriot is bad.

 

really, a .746 OPS isn't that good. his obp was very good, but obp isn't everything. it's nice to hit yourself past 1st base every once in a while.

 

more than anything though, i don't expect him to match his avg/obp from 08. i think he'll be more .290/.360

well when we're talking about the number two slot, to me obp means a whole lot more than slg. which is why i think he's a great 2 hitter. that and the fact that he can move runners over, hit to the right side on a hit and run, etc.

[salukifudd]

depends on how you interpret "isn't that good". i don't think that he meant theriot is bad.

 

really, a .746 OPS isn't that good. his obp was very good, but obp isn't everything. it's nice to hit yourself past 1st base every once in a while.

 

more than anything though, i don't expect him to match his avg/obp from 08. i think he'll be more .290/.360

well when we're talking about the number two slot, to me obp means a whole lot more than slg. which is why i think he's a great 2 hitter. that and the fact that he can move runners over, hit to the right side on a hit and run, etc.

 

"Give your "best hitters" the most opportunities in a lineup".

[cubbinalltheway]

depends on how you interpret "isn't that good". i don't think that he meant theriot is bad.

 

really, a .746 OPS isn't that good. his obp was very good, but obp isn't everything. it's nice to hit yourself past 1st base every once in a while.

 

more than anything though, i don't expect him to match his avg/obp from 08. i think he'll be more .290/.360

well when we're talking about the number two slot, to me obp means a whole lot more than slg. which is why i think he's a great 2 hitter. that and the fact that he can move runners over, hit to the right side on a hit and run, etc.

 

"Give your "best hitters" the most opportunities in a lineup".

that's a flawed theory. by that logic, your best hitter will bat leadoff and always bat after your worst hitters, which will result in fewer chances to drive in runners.

[CubColtPacer]

depends on how you interpret "isn't that good". i don't think that he meant theriot is bad.

 

really, a .746 OPS isn't that good. his obp was very good, but obp isn't everything. it's nice to hit yourself past 1st base every once in a while.

 

more than anything though, i don't expect him to match his avg/obp from 08. i think he'll be more .290/.360

well when we're talking about the number two slot, to me obp means a whole lot more than slg. which is why i think he's a great 2 hitter. that and the fact that he can move runners over, hit to the right side on a hit and run, etc.

 

OBP is a very important statistic for a top of the order hitter. But Theriot and Kosuke are likely going to be at least similar OBP players next year. So the difference between who bats at the top of the order and gets a lot more at-bats has to be based on another factor with that one so close. And Kosuke's likely big slugging edge gives him the leg up on taking that #2 spot.

 

As for moving runners over, Theriot is actually pretty poor about it. The majority of his groundouts come to the left side while his flyouts are to the right side. He's a little better at the hit and run, but it's better to do the hit and run at the bottom of the lineup where more risks need to be taken and batting behind Fontenot gives him the opportunity to do it. Batting behind Soriano is going to have more straight steal attempts and less hit and run.

 

Theriot's just fine as a #2 hitter. But Kosuke is a better version of Theriot so it doesn't make sense to bat Kosuke 6 spots behind him.