CubsFanSince1978

Sorry folksssss, I have to go eat dinner now. This is a good topic. What we all want is for the Cubs to win. Go CUbbies!!!!!

where are you getting this from? His 80 major league at bats? Not many at bats, but enough to convince me it wasn't a fluke. It's not that he was hitting the cover off the ball, it was his approach that impressed me.

And that would be a bummer because with Walker batting second, the notion of small ball goes out the window. Having just one speedy leadoff hitter is not enough. Pierre needs a fast 2-hitter behind him to be more effective. Furthermore, I don't think Walker lays as good a bunt as Cedeno. Walker will square off to bunt, Cedeno doesn't. That keeps the other team guessing. Cedeno can hit to both sides, Walker is a dead pull hitter. When Walker struggles (and he struggles for a long time), he hits too many ground balls. I just see a lot of wasted SB opportunities with Pierre because Walker does not know how to play small ball. He's too dumb and makes too many mental mistakes. My issues with Walker don't end with just his lack of fundamentals, but his less than impressive defense. How many times did we see him and Neifi hack away on the first pitch to hit a pop up when we had a runner trying to steal second?? you've convinced me - walker should definitely bat 2nd. eliminating smallball will lead to many more runs. And how do you figure that? Are you kidding? (I can't spot sarcasm if you had any). Our lack of runs scored in the first inning last year was due to NO small ball. We had too many hackers last year, and Walker is one of them. What does small ball do? It advances runners into scoring position for the big boppers and that requires capable and fundamentally sound tablesetters. One thing I agree is that Walker is a better 2-hole option than Neifi or CPatt, but that isn't much to say, is it? Small ball is a myth. If you get 27 outs in a game, why waste them? If there is a specific situation where the Cubs need to advance a runner, bunting ability is important, but that's not a way to formulate an offensive strategy. The Cubs should value not making outs over making them. And our lack of 1st inning runs was due to the fact that Lee would usually bat with 2 out, and no one on base, because our 1-2 hitters...made too many outs. Not only were Neifi and CPatt not getting on base ahead of Lee, but they were virtually automatic outs (aside from not taking a base on ball). There was a time when Neifi hit well, but we know what happened for most of the season after that.

Probably more than 15-20 times. I get your point, but it's good to have someone who can execute when the occasion asks for it. Anyway, good bunting is just one facet of the game. I also went over the fact Cedeno is very selective. Ok, lets just wait and see what both players will bring. With Walker we know pretty much what he'll bring....an ok glove, good pop, decent OBP (you see I'm not just trying to bring him down). With Cedeno, I predict many of you will be surprised. The kid is special.

Hooray. Nonononono, you don't need any speedy hitters at all. It's a luxury and you are overrating it's value. WAY down the list of things you look at when determining batting order. Thing is, Walker is a superior hitter to Cedeno in every aspect of the game. Again, we want Walker getting on base and hitting for extra bases, not taking hittable pitches so Pierre can risk an out with his less than amazing stealing prowess, not bunting or grounding out on purpose to advance runners. You don't need any speedy hitters at all? So you think the Pierre/Castillo combo was crap? (I just showed how silly your point of view looks) Common people, what I'm trying to say is that a speedy WITH good OBP 2-hitter is better than a slow one. I dont need a Porsche. That doesn't mean that it's crap. I just showed how silly your post was. Bad analogy. A Porsche doesn't score runs. Can Walker make pitchers nervous when he gets on base? NO.

That's not the point. The point is he is not fundamentally sound. If you can't remember all the mental mistakes he made, then I don't know what else to say. For those of us who don't remember them, please list by date and opponent. I'm calling BS on this. Walker may not be the best defensively and he lacks range there, but he doesn't make mental mistakes. You've provided no evidence to the contrary. The evidence is in the games he played last year. Geez I don't have the dates, but since some people tend to forget rather easily, then I guess I'll have to record everything just to prove my point. Did you forget the game when Walker threw home instead of getting the sure out at 1st base? There was no way he could gotten the runner going home. That is just one of the ton of mistakes he made.

Hooray. Nonononono, you don't need any speedy hitters at all. It's a luxury and you are overrating it's value. WAY down the list of things you look at when determining batting order. Thing is, Walker is a superior hitter to Cedeno in every aspect of the game. Again, we want Walker getting on base and hitting for extra bases, not taking hittable pitches so Pierre can risk an out with his less than amazing stealing prowess, not bunting or grounding out on purpose to advance runners. You don't need any speedy hitters at all? So you think the Pierre/Castillo combo was crap? (I just showed how silly your point of view looks) Common people, what I'm trying to say is that a speedy WITH good OBP 2-hitter is better than a slow one.

That's not the point. The point is he is not fundamentally sound. If you can't remember all the mental mistakes he made, then I don't know what else to say.

And that would be a bummer because with Walker batting second, the notion of small ball goes out the window. Having just one speedy leadoff hitter is not enough. Pierre needs a fast 2-hitter behind him to be more effective. Furthermore, I don't think Walker lays as good a bunt as Cedeno. Walker will square off to bunt, Cedeno doesn't. That keeps the other team guessing. Cedeno can hit to both sides, Walker is a dead pull hitter. When Walker struggles (and he struggles for a long time), he hits too many ground balls. I just see a lot of wasted SB opportunities with Pierre because Walker does not know how to play small ball. He's too dumb and makes too many mental mistakes. My issues with Walker don't end with just his lack of fundamentals, but his less than impressive defense. How many times did we see him and Neifi hack away on the first pitch to hit a pop up when we had a runner trying to steal second?? you've convinced me - walker should definitely bat 2nd. eliminating smallball will lead to many more runs. And how do you figure that? Are you kidding? (I can't spot sarcasm if you had any). Our lack of runs scored in the first inning last year was due to NO small ball. We had too many hackers last year, and Walker is one of them. What does small ball do? It advances runners into scoring position for the big boppers and that requires capable and fundamentally sound tablesetters. One thing I agree is that Walker is a better 2-hole option than Neifi or CPatt, but that isn't much to say, is it? Small ball is a myth. If you get 27 outs in a game, why waste them? If there is a specific situation where the Cubs need to advance a runner, bunting ability is important, but that's not a way to formulate an offensive strategy. The Cubs should value not making outs over making them. And our lack of 1st inning runs was due to the fact that Lee would usually bat with 2 out, and no one on base, because our 1-2 hitters...made too many outs. What's your definition of small ball? You make it sound as if it was one-dimensional. It isn't just bunting, it's also not only getting on base, but also stealing, advancing to second when the opposing pitcher is not paying attention, or just good baserunning qualifies as well. The 2003 Marlins won because they had all the ingredients. They had pitching, good bullpen, defense, small ball, some power with Lee and Cabrera and a few others. A balanced approach is the best way to win.

And that would be a bummer because with Walker batting second, the notion of small ball goes out the window. Having just one speedy leadoff hitter is not enough. Pierre needs a fast 2-hitter behind him to be more effective. Furthermore, I don't think Walker lays as good a bunt as Cedeno. Walker will square off to bunt, Cedeno doesn't. That keeps the other team guessing. Cedeno can hit to both sides, Walker is a dead pull hitter. When Walker struggles (and he struggles for a long time), he hits too many ground balls. I just see a lot of wasted SB opportunities with Pierre because Walker does not know how to play small ball. He's too dumb and makes too many mental mistakes. My issues with Walker don't end with just his lack of fundamentals, but his less than impressive defense. How many times did we see him and Neifi hack away on the first pitch to hit a pop up when we had a runner trying to steal second?? I'd rather have a number two hitter with the ability to double Pierre home from first than have a hitter that would give up an out to get him to second or third. It's just me, but the outs are important. Furthermore, Walker is usually a patient hitter. If Pierre wanted to steal, Walker's patience would give him time to do so. Cedeno is a much more agressive hitter. Also, I'm not sure Ronny is up to the pressure of hitting in the second spot. And I don't see how anyone can say Walker is a "dumb" player. That's about as baseless of a comment as I've seen. It's the other way around IMO. I think Walker can be either or (patient and sometimes aggressive). I don't know how you think Cedeno is more aggressive. One thing is for sure, he doesn' swing at pitches out of the zone much. He's way more selective than any other Cub I've seen in recent years. Murton is almost as selective as he is. Like I said before, good AND fast 2-hitters like Luis Castillo don't hit a whole lot of doubles or homeruns, but they act as secondary leadoff hitters that put pressure on opposing pitcher on the basepaths. I'd rather have that than an all or nothing doubles hitter (good), first pitch pop up hitter (bad), slow ground ball double play hitter (very bad). I guess you don't remember the amount of mental mistakes Walker made on baserunning, throwing to home when he should have thrown to first to get the sure out....I mean, I don't know how a player like that doesn't get called dumb. Walker is not a fundamentally sound player, and that is a fact.

And that would be a bummer because with Walker batting second, the notion of small ball goes out the window. Having just one speedy leadoff hitter is not enough. Pierre needs a fast 2-hitter behind him to be more effective. Furthermore, I don't think Walker lays as good a bunt as Cedeno. Walker will square off to bunt, Cedeno doesn't. That keeps the other team guessing. Cedeno can hit to both sides, Walker is a dead pull hitter. When Walker struggles (and he struggles for a long time), he hits too many ground balls. I just see a lot of wasted SB opportunities with Pierre because Walker does not know how to play small ball. He's too dumb and makes too many mental mistakes. My issues with Walker don't end with just his lack of fundamentals, but his less than impressive defense. How many times did we see him and Neifi hack away on the first pitch to hit a pop up when we had a runner trying to steal second?? you've convinced me - walker should definitely bat 2nd. eliminating smallball will lead to many more runs. And how do you figure that? Are you kidding? (I can't spot sarcasm if you had any). Our lack of runs scored in the first inning last year was due to NO small ball. We had too many hackers last year, and Walker is one of them. What does small ball do? It advances runners into scoring position for the big boppers and that requires capable and fundamentally sound tablesetters. One thing I agree is that Walker is a better 2-hole option than Neifi or CPatt, but that isn't much to say, is it?

And that would be a bummer because with Walker batting second, the notion of small ball goes out the window. Having just one speedy leadoff hitter is not enough. Pierre needs a fast 2-hitter behind him to be more effective. Furthermore, I don't think Walker lays as good a bunt as Cedeno. Walker will square off to bunt, Cedeno doesn't. That keeps the other team guessing. Cedeno can hit to both sides, Walker is a dead pull hitter. When Walker struggles (and he struggles for a long time), he hits too many ground balls. I just see a lot of wasted SB opportunities with Pierre because Walker does not know how to play small ball. He's too dumb and makes too many mental mistakes. My issues with Walker don't end with just his lack of fundamentals, but his less than impressive defense. How many times did we see him and Neifi hack away on the first pitch to hit a pop up when we had a runner trying to steal second??

If Jones continues to struggle against lefties and hits around .260-.270, then you're right. Do you think that slow Walker would have a problem getting picked off at 2B when Murton gets those infield hits? I don't think Walker is that slow. Jones should be on the bench against lefties. Yes he's very slow. He's the slowest we have, except for Aram. I think he got slower after his injury last year.

I don't think those OBP numbers show what Cedeno is capable of. His good eye at the plate and selection showed me that. Too bad he got injured, but he was going to be as impressive as Murton. I think Cedeno can match or even surpass Murton in BA and OBP, except in power. With more pop, Murton is going drive in more runs that Cedeno. That's why I think Murton should bat 6th.

If Jones continues to struggle against lefties and hits around .260-.270, then you're right. Do you think that slow Walker would have a problem getting picked off at 2B when Murton gets those infield hits?