Hairston and Walker, our 1-2 punch we needed

[YearofDaCubs]

Hairston and Walker are clearly the guys we needed at the top of the order for this club to succeed. I hope Corey finds himself out in AAA but having Hairston and Walker both as everyday starters is exactly what we need. We would be foolish to trade Hairston, because he is the leadoff hitter we have been searching for since Lofton left. Chances are, if Corey is not traded he will be out CF next year which means we will be back to square one. If that is the case I would prefer for us to keep Hairston at 2B and not pick up Walker's contract for next season. It's not because Walker isn;t good because quite the opposite is true, but We need that leadoff hitter and I think Hairston is our answer. I know that Hairston's baserunning hasn't been that great and his defense has been below par but I think those things can be corrected.

[10man]

I wonder if Vince Coleman has been working with Hairston to improve his base running.

[dalgreen]

Hairston and Walker are clearly the guys we needed at the top of the order for this club to succeed. I hope Corey finds himself out in AAA but having Hairston and Walker both as everyday starters is exactly what we need. We would be foolish to trade Hairston, because he is the leadoff hitter we have been searching for since Lofton left. Chances are, if Corey is not traded he will be out CF next year which means we will be back to square one. If that is the case I would prefer for us to keep Hairston at 2B and not pick up Walker's contract for next season. It's not because Walker isn;t good because quite the opposite is true, but We need that leadoff hitter and I think Hairston is our answer. I know that Hairston's baserunning hasn't been that great and his defense has been below par but I think those things can be corrected.

 

It is great having Hairston and Walker at 1-2, but please don't overlook how the whole lineup's OBP has improved over the last three games.

[rocket]

Hairston and Walker are clearly the guys we needed at the top of the order for this club to succeed. I hope Corey finds himself out in AAA but having Hairston and Walker both as everyday starters is exactly what we need. We would be foolish to trade Hairston, because he is the leadoff hitter we have been searching for since Lofton left. Chances are, if Corey is not traded he will be out CF next year which means we will be back to square one. If that is the case I would prefer for us to keep Hairston at 2B and not pick up Walker's contract for next season. It's not because Walker isn;t good because quite the opposite is true, but We need that leadoff hitter and I think Hairston is our answer. I know that Hairston's baserunning hasn't been that great and his defense has been below par but I think those things can be corrected.

 

It is great having Hairston and Walker at 1-2, but please don't overlook how the whole lineup's OBP has improved over the last three games.

 

Somewhat related, but I think Barrett's recent approach at the plate has been VERY encouraging. I don't know if he was told to be more patient, or if something in his head clicked in (or maybe it's just one of those weird phenomenon's in baseball and Barrett isn't trying to be more selective), but Barrett's at bats in the Marlins series were almost always awesome. It's a slim sign that maybe management told the players to be less aggressive at the plate, but Barrett's recent approach has left with some semblence of excitement for the 2nd half.

[YearofDaCubs]

Hairston and Walker are clearly the guys we needed at the top of the order for this club to succeed. I hope Corey finds himself out in AAA but having Hairston and Walker both as everyday starters is exactly what we need. We would be foolish to trade Hairston, because he is the leadoff hitter we have been searching for since Lofton left. Chances are, if Corey is not traded he will be out CF next year which means we will be back to square one. If that is the case I would prefer for us to keep Hairston at 2B and not pick up Walker's contract for next season. It's not because Walker isn;t good because quite the opposite is true, but We need that leadoff hitter and I think Hairston is our answer. I know that Hairston's baserunning hasn't been that great and his defense has been below par but I think those things can be corrected.

 

It is great having Hairston and Walker at 1-2, but please don't overlook how the whole lineup's OBP has improved over the last three games.

You are right. As a whole our lineup is hitting MUCH better but I'm glad to see Hairston and Walker at the top. All of us knew those two should have been at the top but because they play the same positions it was almost impossible. Now that Corey is in the minors what was an impossibility has come to fruition.

[JC]

I wonder if Vince Coleman has been working with Hairston to improve his base running.

 

Well, he needs to work with him on how to go back on fly balls to center, too. :wink:

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hairston and Walker are clearly the guys we needed at the top of the order for this club to succeed. I hope Corey finds himself out in AAA but having Hairston and Walker both as everyday starters is exactly what we need. We would be foolish to trade Hairston, because he is the leadoff hitter we have been searching for since Lofton left. Chances are, if Corey is not traded he will be out CF next year which means we will be back to square one. If that is the case I would prefer for us to keep Hairston at 2B and not pick up Walker's contract for next season. It's not because Walker isn;t good because quite the opposite is true, but We need that leadoff hitter and I think Hairston is our answer. I know that Hairston's baserunning hasn't been that great and his defense has been below par but I think those things can be corrected.

 

It is great having Hairston and Walker at 1-2, but please don't overlook how the whole lineup's OBP has improved over the last three games.

 

Somewhat related, but I think Barrett's recent approach at the plate has been VERY encouraging. I don't know if he was told to be more patient, or if something in his head clicked in (or maybe it's just one of those weird phenomenon's in baseball and Barrett isn't trying to be more selective), but Barrett's at bats in the Marlins series were almost always awesome. It's a slim sign that maybe management told the players to be less aggressive at the plate, but Barrett's recent approach has left with some semblence of excitement for the 2nd half.

 

I think his better approach may have to do with him getting out of the 8 spot.

 

8 hitter: .238/.279/.427/.706 .041 IsoD in 149 PA's

Elsewhere: .302/.379/.479/.858 .077 IsoD in 108 PA's