Byrd/Soriano to hit 5/6

[17 Seconds]

Says Lou

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4831864

 

this quote was pretty funny-

 

"That, to me, is the most important thing to our team this year offensively -- who hits fifth," Piniella said at the annual Cubs Convention.

 

that's the most important thing about our offense next season?

[Sammy Sofa]

Wow.

 

What a dumb, dumb decision.

 

If Soto and Soriano rebound they'll be hitting #6 and #7?

 

Let's let that one sink in.

[Cubswin11]

I never put much into any pre-season lineup projections from Lou, he's always messing with the lineup during the year and moving guys around (yeah part of that is due to injuries to Soriano, Soto, and Ramirez the last 2 years) but even when everyone is healthy it's rare that he sends out the same lineup more than 4-5 days in a row.

[Sammy Sofa]

I never put much into any pre-season lineup projections from Lou, he's always messing with the lineup during the year and moving guys around (yeah part of that is due to injuries to Soriano, Soto, and Ramirez the last 2 years) but even when everyone is healthy it's rare that he sends out the same lineup more than 4-5 days in a row.

 

This is true, and definitely something I realized as soon as I read this idea.

 

Still, it doesn't excuse the initial stupidity.

[TruffleShuffle]

marlon byrd is pretty much the ideal #5 hitter, except for his inability to hit well.

[Derwood]

so....

 

1.

2.

3. Lee

4. Ramirez

5. Byrd

6. Soriano

7. Soto

8.

 

 

Theriot, Baker/Fontenot and Fukudome fit in where? Is Fukudome platooning in CF with Byrd or is he playing RF?

[BCVM22]

Of the remaining personnel that have to be slotted in:

 

RF Fukudome

SS Theriot

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Byrd

LF Soriano

C Soto

2B Baker/Fontenot

 

If Soto returns to 2008 form, I swap him and Byrd as soon as possible.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Soriano returned to form I'd put him back at #1, move Fukudome to #2 and drop Theriot down to #7 or #8. Keeping Soriano at #6 if he's able to bounce back to anything resembling his usual self is nuts.

[JonJayCutler]

The Byrd hate has got to stop. In what world is a CF who has OPSed above .800 the last three seasons not good? Just because Bradley got worse doesn't mean everyone who comes from Texas will follow suit. Bradley's career stats indicate 2008 was an abberation anyway.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Byrd hate has got to stop. In what world is a CF who has OPSed above .800 the last three seasons not good? Just because Bradley got worse doesn't mean everyone who comes from Texas will follow suit. Bradley's career stats indicate 2008 was an abberation anyway.

 

I don't think it's "hate" to think he should hit #6 if Soriano and Soto are performing more along the lines that we hope they will. Hell, if Byrd is doing well I don't have a problem with him hitting #2 and Fukudome hitting #6 instead.

[JonJayCutler]

The Byrd hate has got to stop. In what world is a CF who has OPSed above .800 the last three seasons not good? Just because Bradley got worse doesn't mean everyone who comes from Texas will follow suit. Bradley's career stats indicate 2008 was an abberation anyway.

 

I don't think it's "hate" to think he should hit #6 if Soriano and Soto are performing more along the lines that we hope they will. Hell, if Byrd is doing well I don't have a problem with him hitting #2 and Fukudome hitting #6 instead.

 

I was mainly responding to the comment that Byrd has an inability to hit well.

[17 Seconds]

there isn't really any byrd hate on this board though. pretty much everybody said the signing wasn't bad.

[Butterscup1679666578]

soriano and soto won't rebound so it won't matter much anyways.

[17 Seconds]

soriano and soto won't rebound so it won't matter much anyways.

 

with neutral luck, soto would have been over an .800 OPS last season, sooooooo

[17 Seconds]

cubs.com says Soto will bat 8th

 

Byrd, coming off a season in which he set career highs in home runs (20) and RBIs (89), is projected to bat fifth. Either Ryan Theriot or Kosuke Fukudome will lead off, followed by Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Byrd, Soriano, either Mike Fontenot or Jeff Baker, and Geovany Soto.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100116&content_id=7928602&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[weis21]

I don't believe that. It sounds like speculation from Muskat.

[17 Seconds]

I don't believe that. It sounds like speculation from Muskat.

 

earlier in the article she said lou enveiled his lineup at the convention, so im assuming that's what lou said.

[weis21]

eh, whatever then.

 

like another poster insinuated earlier, lou's lineups are only as good as his current temperament.

 

If soto has a little more luck in ST, he'll undoubtedly be moved up the line-up.

[Guest]

The Byrd hate has got to stop. In what world is a CF who has OPSed above .800 the last three seasons not good? Just because Bradley got worse doesn't mean everyone who comes from Texas will follow suit. Bradley's career stats indicate 2008 was an abberation anyway.

 

 

The hate is actually directed at Jim Hendry.

[Derwood]

soto batting 8th sounds like a page out of Dusty's book. Batting Baker/Fontenot ahead of Geo would be terrible

[Roast]

soto batting 8th sounds like a page out of Dusty's book. Batting Baker/Fontenot ahead of Geo would be terrible

If he hits the way he did in 08 then yes, it would be terrible.

 

IF he hits the way he did in 09, then 8th isn't a bad place for him.

[Butterscup1679666578]

soriano and soto won't rebound so it won't matter much anyways.

 

with neutral luck, soto would have been over an .800 OPS last season, sooooooo

 

yeah but he's on the cubs so he has cubs luck.

 

and this year he'll be too skinny and have no power, so i'm not holding my breath.

[Guest]

I was there for the lineup quotes...

 

Lou talked about

- Fukudome & Theriot in the top spots

- Lee & ramirez, of course

- Byrd & Soriano at #5 &6

 

He didn't really mention the bottom two spots. He did joke at one point about wanting to see how much speed Geo has gained with the weight loss and that maybe he could lead off now.

[17 Seconds]

soriano and soto won't rebound so it won't matter much anyways.

 

with neutral luck, soto would have been over an .800 OPS last season, sooooooo

 

yeah but he's on the cubs so he has cubs luck.

 

and this year he'll be too skinny and have no power, so i'm not holding my breath.

 

he didn't have cubs luck in 2008?

 

and lol @ the too skinny part.

[Guest]

Lou talking about the lineup.

 

http://www.312sports.com/cubs-blog-entries/51-latest-news/655-video-lou-on-the-2010-lineup