Jaramillo "Byrd would be the perfect #5 hitter".

[A New Era]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100101&content_id=7866206&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

This would be my prefered lineup if no additional position player changes were made. We all know how that can change though. I much prefer Baker over Fontenot but his leftyness might give him a more extended shot than he deserves.

 

Fukudome

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Byrd

Soriano

Soto

Baker

P

[Little Slide Rooter]

If the season started today, the NL Central linups would look something like:

 

Cubs

What you said

 

Cards w/o Holliday

1. Schumaker

2. Lugo

3. Pujols

4. Ludwick

5. Rasmus

6. Molina

7. Ryan

8. P

9. Freese/Greene

 

Cards w/ Holliday

1. Schumaker

2. Rasmus

3. Pujols

4. Holliday

5. Ludwick

6. Lugo

7. Molina

8. Ryan

9. P

 

Brewers

1. Weeks

2. Escobar

3. Braun

4. Fielder

5. McGhee

6. Hart

7. Zaun

8. Gomez

9. P

 

Stros

1. Bourn

2. Matsui

3. Pence

4. Berkman

5. C. Lee

6. Feliz

7. Keppinger

8. Towles

9. P

 

DBR

1. Tavares

2. Dickerson

3. Phillips

4. Votto

5. Bruce

6. Rolen

7. Hernandez

8. Janish

9. P

 

We have a lot of solid lineups here, but nothing dazzling. Pretty evenly matched. Of course, if the Cards to resign Holliday, they'll be the clear favorite. St. Lou also has the best pitching by far. The Cubs may not be the clear favs as they were the past 2 years, but will definitely be in the running.

[Sammy Sofa]

The continued insistence to bat Soriano #6 instead of #5 if he "must" be moved down in the lineup is baffling to me.

 

I'd much rather have Byrd or even Baker (if he continues some reasonable semblence of the success he had last year) in the #2 spot instead of Theriot.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The continued insistence to bat Soriano #6 instead of #5 if he "must" be moved down in the lineup is baffling to me.

 

I'd much rather have Byrd or even Baker (if he continues some reasonable semblence of the success he had last year) in the #2 spot instead of Theriot.

 

Agred. My ideal lineup would be more like

 

Fukudome

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Byrd

Soto

Baker

P

 

Theriot and Baker could switch as well, but for some reason, Lou has Soriano as a 6 hitter.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

bingo

[erik316wttn]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

bingo

 

I don't understand the extreme amount of Theriot hate on this board. I think he's just fine at the top of the order. He certainly is not a liability at the plate, and it's not like he has some massive contract to live up to.

[Sammy Sofa]

What would how much he is paid have anything to do with where he should hit?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

bingo

 

I don't understand the extreme amount of Theriot hate on this board. I think he's just fine at the top of the order. He certainly is not a liability at the plate, and it's not like he has some massive contract to live up to.

I said "bingo", not "I hate "Theriot".

[SouthSideRyan]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

bingo

 

I don't understand the extreme amount of Theriot hate on this board. I think he's just fine at the top of the order. He certainly is not a liability at the plate, and it's not like he has some massive contract to live up to.

 

Theriot's likely to be about the 7th best hitter on the team. Why would you want him batting 2nd?

[imb]

I think I'm more annoyed by the insistence to bat Theriot at the top of the order.

bingo

 

I don't understand the extreme amount of Theriot hate on this board. I think he's just fine at the top of the order. He certainly is not a liability at the plate, and it's not like he has some massive contract to live up to.

 

wtf

[17 Seconds]

massive contract = not good for the top of the order?

[biittner77]

massive contract = not good for the top of the order?

 

What if he rolled up his massive contract and used it instead of a bat?

 

I'm more concerned that Fukudome won't lead off this year but bat 5th to balance the lineup. It would not surprise me to see this lineup at least at the start of the season:

 

Byrd

Fontenot

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

P

[Illini Iceman]

massive contract = not good for the top of the order?

 

What if he rolled up his massive contract and used it instead of a bat?

 

I'm more concerned that Fukudome won't lead off this year but bat 5th to balance the lineup. It would not surprise me to see this lineup at least at the start of the season:

 

Byrd

Fontenot

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

P

 

I don't think they will use Byrd as leadoff. If it isn't Fukudome I think it will be Theriot.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Theriot really is a taditional #2 type hitter. Solid .avg, solid OBP and some speed, but not enough of any to hit leadoff. let the 3-5 guys(6 too with a good lineup) hit for OPS, but not everyone is going to OPS .900. Hes more a #2 hitter than he is a 7-8 hitter who are generally .250-.260 hitters, sometiems with a touch of power, sometimes not..

[Sammy Sofa]

And it's better to have a guy there with some power as opposed to the "nots."

[Little Slide Rooter]

And it's better to have a guy there with some power as opposed to the "nots."

 

And we do. Both Baker and Fontenot have what it take to be above average 8 hitters, and if we can get any kind of rebound from Soto, he'll be a well above average 7 hitter.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Kosuke

Byrd/Baker

Lee

Ramirez

Soto

Soriano

Theriot/Byrd

Fontenot/Theriot

 

Wow, we're going to give LHP nightmares this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

And it's better to have a guy there with some power as opposed to the "nots."

 

And we do. Both Baker and Fontenot have what it take to be above average 8 hitters, and if we can get any kind of rebound from Soto, he'll be a well above average 7 hitter.

 

I'm talking about hitting #2.

 

And if Soto rebounds you're nuts if you want him hitting all the way down at #7.

[Little Slide Rooter]

And it's better to have a guy there with some power as opposed to the "nots."

 

And we do. Both Baker and Fontenot have what it take to be above average 8 hitters, and if we can get any kind of rebound from Soto, he'll be a well above average 7 hitter.

 

I'm talking about hitting #2.

 

And if Soto rebounds you're nuts if you want him hitting all the way down at #7.

 

Thats the beauty of a solid linup though. Ideally, if both Soto and Soriano rebound, youd want 3-6 to be Lee, Aram, Sorino, Soto, but we all know Lou well enough to know that hes not going to go with 4 righties in the middle of the order, unless maybe were facing a lefty, but otherwise, Byrd is going to make his way to the 5 spot, or at least the 6, unless Fontenot is to have some kind of surge and make his way there.

 

As for Theriot at the 2 spot, traditionally, the 1-2 guys are going to be table setter for the power guys to send them home.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Marlon Byrd hits right handed.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Marlon Byrd hits right handed.

 

I dont know why I thought he was a lefty. This being the case, I have no idea why theyd bat him ahead of Soriano and Soto.

[17 Seconds]

Fukudome

Byrd

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

Baker/Fontenot

 

looks fine to me

[Cubswin11]

With the idea that backloading Byrd's contract allows us to have more financial flexibility and possibly making 1-2 more moves I would like us to sign one of Orlando Hudson or Felipe Lopez and then roll out a lineup of

 

Fukudome RF

Hudson/Lopez 2B

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Soriano LF

Byrd CF

Soto C

Theriot SS

P

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't think a strict platoon between Fontenot and Baker would be that bad of an option given the money currently available. It's not necessarily ideal, but there's a decent chance Fontenot rebounds if he's not having to play 3rd and basically only faces righties. Hell, even if they did sign Hudson (which I'm iffy about given his age and how old this team already is) I'd like to essentially see him platooned with Baker getting starts against lefties.