What to do about the Mendoza Twins

[Little Slide Rooter]

I speak of course of Derrek and Aramis. we have a lot of guys hitting the ball, but when your 2 supposed stars are doing this bad, without a little help from Brewers pitching, runs are going to be tough to come by.

 

Im not as worried about Derrek. Traditionally, he heats up with the weather in late May and June. He started off brutally last year, and then really got going. Its just a bit dissapointing this year because of how hot he was to start out. It looked as though he could be revisiting 2005. He also has been making some loud outs, which is a good sign.

 

Aramis, on the other hand is a different story. He tends to be a hot started. However, we all know about his shoulder issues. Could he be so worried about what move hes going to make in the offseason that its bothering him but he doesnt want to miss time?

 

I really think that Tracy and Nady should be given a few starts here and there while these 2 are doing so poorly. I know neither of them have been doing any better, but maybe if given a few starts, they could pick things up. Of course, its a catch 22, because if Derrek and Aramis are benched for any leangth of time, they wont be given the chance to heat up. Maybe put Byrd, Soto, and Soriano at the 3-5 spots for now.

[Prizefight]

Call up Castro for SS. Move Theriot to 2nd. Nady spells Lee at first and Baker gives Aram days off at 3rd.

 

 

Done.

 

 

:-" :-"

[UMFan83]

I think we could probably work out a Lee for Pujols swap with St. Louis, since both players are heading to the scrap heap anyways. Maybe they just both need a change of scenery.

 

As for Aramis, I guess we should listen to what esteemed hitting coach Mark McGwire has to say. And after talking it over with him, he said he doesn't want to talk about the past. I think what he's saying is that we should ignore the other 10 seasons of data that suggest he won't hit .152 this year, and DFA him immediately.

[OleMissCub]

Do nothing. They'll work it out.

[Magnetic Curses]

Do nothing. They'll work it out.

 

yeah, these are the best two hitters in the lineup.

[Rob]

They are both struggling a bit, but their BABIP numbers are ridiculously low. I'm not worried in the least.

[TruffleShuffle]

They are both struggling a bit, but their BABIP numbers are ridiculously low. I'm not worried in the least.

 

aramis' K rate is nearly twice his career average... the BABIP is really low but that's hardly his only problem.

[XZero771679666304]

They are both struggling a bit, but their BABIP numbers are ridiculously low. I'm not worried in the least.

 

aramis' K rate is nearly twice his career average... the BABIP is really low but that's hardly his only problem.

 

Aramis has k'd twice in his last six games played. I think he's starting to see the ball better.

[Keener98]

Yea lets bench them for Chad [expletive] Tracy and Xavier Nady, thats the answer. You do nothing and let them work themselves out of it. I have a bigger problem with 2nd base right now than 1st or 3rd.

[Careless]

They are both struggling a bit, but their BABIP numbers are ridiculously low. I'm not worried in the least.

 

aramis' K rate is nearly twice his career average... the BABIP is really low but that's hardly his only problem.

 

Aramis has k'd twice in his last six games played. I think he's starting to see the ball better.

His LD% has gone from 7.1% to 13.8% over that time period but his BA hasn't moved much. He went from terrible to terribly unlucky.

[Sammy Sofa]

This shouldn't be such a huge issue, but unfortunately the Cubs have a horrible manager which just makes it an even worse problem. Between Soto, Soriano and Byrd the Cubs can stand to move Lee and Aramis down in the lineup temporarily and give them some extra days off while Lee and Aramis get their [expletive] together. It's hardly like we're talking about anything complicated here. Theriot-Fukudome-Soto-Byrd-Soriano is a perfectly acceptable 1-5 for a week or so. God forbid Lou do anything this simple.

[The Logan]

If Aramis keeps playing like this you can be damn sure he'll be a Chicago Cub next season

[chasinf5s]

He has had bad first months before, it all worked out in the end.

 

He batted

 

.241 in 2005--- finished .302

.197 in 2006--- finished .291

 

 

Lee hit .189 the first month of 2009, finished .306

[bhogg]

send them to the bullpen

[questionmarkgrace]

I agree this is a problem and yes moving them down in the line up would help. To Lou's credit though he did break up lee and ramirez(he batted 5th) a couple days ago probably against a lefty or something.

 

I still contend though that we are too streaky of a team and have been for a while. Theriot, Lee, Soriano, and to an extent Ramirez go on wild fluctuations where they can do no wrong and conversely when they are ice cold. Its hard to win with a team like that. Sure every player goes through fluctuations in their quality of play but it seems like these guys are abnormally up and down.

[Sammy Sofa]

Lee and Aramis are not typically streaky players. Certainly nowhere to the degree that Soriano is, or even Theriot.

[OleMissCub]

I agree this is a problem and yes moving them down in the line up would help.

 

Why? These two guys are seasoned professionals and aren't head cases. It's not like "the pressure" of batting 3rd and 4th is getting to them or anything like that. I don't think it would make any difference to their current slump if they bat in the 4 hole or bat 7th.

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree this is a problem and yes moving them down in the line up would help.

 

Why? These two guys are seasoned professionals and aren't head cases. It's not like "the pressure" of batting 3rd and 4th is getting to them or anything like that. I don't think it would make any difference to their current slump if they bat in the 4 hole or bat 7th.

 

It matters because they're going to get more AB's if they stay at 3-4. They're horrible right now and the team is better served putting people currently having much more success into those slots until they stop being horrible. It's less a matter of "fixing them" so much as it is getting hitters who can actually hit into two critical spots in the lineup.

[OleMissCub]

Yes I understand all that obviously, I figured he was talking about getting them out of their slumps. On rereading his post it is obvious to me now he was mainly talking about causing an effect on the team, not on those specific guys.

[minnesotacubsfan]

send them to the bullpen

poty

[Careless]

He has had bad first months before, it all worked out in the end.

 

He batted

 

.241 in 2005--- finished .302

.197 in 2006--- finished .291

 

 

Lee hit .189 the first month of 2009, finished .306

when he hit .197 in 2006 he had an OPS that month of .715. .802 in April 2005. Under .500 now, I think

[Soul]

"Mendoza twins"? Really?

[flynnhicks03]

They're not twins.

[questionmarkgrace]

just cause they are different hitters doesn't mean they aren't all streaky. Lee usually starts really slow and has had great years and bad years as of late, soriano usually has a crazy month and is mediocre the rest of the year, theriot is hot for a couple weeks cold for a couple weeks and then slides at the end of the year and Ramirez is having a slow start and also did so the year that D-Lee got hurt 06?.

 

 

Also yes moving them down in the order helps because they get less at bats and the way are 1 &2 hitters are getting on base it takes the pressure off them and allows someone who has more confidence and is hitting well the chance to drive in some runs.

[Keener98]

They're not twins.

 

WHAT! All this time and Ive been thinking they were twins! I don't believe you, you are wrong