CubColtPacer

When do we next face a left-handed starter? I know where you are going with this :D The Cubs next face a left-handed starter on Monday (Duke). Just like has been par for the course this season though, the 2 starters that the Cubs are going to miss in the Pittsburgh series are 2 of their 3 left-handers. Actually, looking at the May schedule the team should greatly improve its percentage of left-handers they see. After Pittsburgh, they play 3 against Wash (1 possible LHP). Then 4 more against Pittsburgh (2 guaranteed games, 3 possible). Then 3 against Philly (0-2 possible). Then 4 against the Mets (1 guaranteed, 2 possible). 3 against the White Sox (0-2 possible). 3 against SD (1 possible), 3 against the Dodgers (1, possibly 2 possible if Hendrickson is still in the rotation) and 3 against the Marlins (2 possible). With all those left-handers in just about every rotation the Cubs are going to face for the next month, they can't keep just barely avoiding them-they are going to run into a decent number of those.

They only paid Miller 1 million to rehab last year. And another 1.5 this year. Well, this year they weren't paying him to rehab-at least they didn't think they were.

It's tough to judge. There weren't any plays where he had to make a long or quick throw, and the only play to show off any range was charging on a soft hit ball (there wasn't really a ball where he had to move left or right). Theriot did all that he could do though yesterday-he made all the plays that were hit to him flawlessly. And the key is that those plays are few and far between. If he fails to make that really difficult play once every 3-5 games but is getting on base once more every game or two than Izturis or Cedeno, the defense is something you can definitely live with. I'm not talking about the really difficult play-I'm just talking about the play where for example the shortstop has to take 3-4 steps to the right or left, pick up the ball, set and throw. My guess is that Theriot will be better at that going towards the second base bag then going away from that, but it was rather unusual that none of those types of plays happened yesterday. If he continues to hit, his defense will certainly be something that the team can live with though-because the addition of his bat will help give the Cubs one of the best offenses in the NL.

It's tough to judge. There weren't any plays where he had to make a long or quick throw, and the only play to show off any range was charging on a soft hit ball (there wasn't really a ball where he had to move left or right). Theriot did all that he could do though yesterday-he made all the plays that were hit to him flawlessly.

They only paid Miller 1 million to rehab last year.

I would hope he would make those plays. He really did not have to range into the hole to make a play. Everything was hit right at him. Im still not that confident with him at ss. Are you confident with Cesar Izhoribble at SS? Not trying to pick on you directly dude, but I really can't stand the philosophy of "good" defense making up for a pathetic bat...I really can't. I can understand it, but it only works if that turns out to be the only weak spot in the lineup. Our lineup has been way too inconsistant to have the better defensive player in over the better offensive player. Agreed with that. I also agree that Theriot might still be quite good defensively at SS, but today didn't have a single play that allowed him to show off any of his defensive skills. Right now though, the team needs Theriot's bat in the lineup at the 2nd spot, especially while they let Pie adjust to the major leagues. Izturis can be used in games as a pinch runner and then stay in as a defensive replacement, and have Theriot move to another position in some of those games. Also, Theriot will be needed to play other positions at times, so Izturis will get starts on those days. For now though, the team needs Theriot in there most days.

Lee's comment on the matter: I found the bolded part quite interesting-I've never heard a player phrase it in quite that way before. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270425116

He should be easily over a 1.000 OPS now as well-probably around a 1.030 or 1.040.

Murton's having trouble with his back-no reason to pinch-hit him in an almost meaningless situation.

3 things: 1) Ohman is getting back on track-two good outings in a row 2) Eyre pitched last night 3) off day tomorrow-it doesn't really matter too much who pitches today, they'll all be ready Friday

I hope he's ok-but I don't think he is.

Lee is now on pace for 72 doubles over 600 AB's :shock:

I'm not sure where to put this, so I'll put it here-the latest cubs.com article. It is mostly about Theriot possibly playing SS-here is some snippets And one more note confirming Murton's injury: That sounds like it has been ongoing.

Yeah-I'm pretty sure from slowing it down a couple of times that Floyd was safe. Still a great inning though!

I picked up Sheets yesterday, and now he's hurt.

Soriano is still this team's leadoff hitter (when he plays). He's getting the day off because of the wet outfield. Lou said that when Soriano returns to the lineup, Theriot will bat second. Also, reportedly, Murton isn't playing because he has a stiff back. First I've heard of Murton's stiff back. Who's reporting it (I'm not questioning you, I just want to know more about it)? Navigator said in the game thread- that the Score reported that Lou said the reason that Murton is not playing today because of the back.

1) What about Floyd? 2) What did he do this time? 1) Excuse me, I must have seen only a partial list-Theriot has been a little higher than Floyd 2) basehit by Floyd, Theriot goes to second. ball gets a little bit away from third base, Theriot tries to run to third, gets thrown out easily.

Theriot for starting SS! :rolleyes: You actually think Izturis is a better option? I do want to make it clear that I think Theriot should play SS a decent amount of the time even with those problems-but he does have to work on those two things, because they both have been pretty glaring.

Theriot shows the two things he's been really bad at this year. 1, he has to see more pitches-he is the worst player on the entire team in P/PA this year. 2) he makes horrible baserunning mistakes

Bruce said quite a few things. He said that the team needed to hit for more power and get on base. He also said that Floyd was playing reasonably well. He talked about how Lou saw Theriot as a right side of the IF player, but how because of the struggles of the offense Theriot is probably needed at SS to provide a spark. He talked quite a bit about the "swagger" the team needed. He said the OF defense has been quite a good surprise, and that Pie is quite energetic and fun and makes plays that you are very surprised by. The only players he mentioned: Lee, Jones, Floyd, Pie, Soriano, Theriot-didn't hear anybody else.

How convinent LOL, maybe it's true. Lou doesn't need to offer any excuse for why someone isn't in the lineup... Yeah, there's no real reason to lie in that situation. You have very little benefit, and a lot to lose if the media asked Murton about his back and he said that he didn't have back problems. I see no reason to not believe them here, although I don't believe them about Miller (there though, they had incentive, and the player had incentive to agree to go along with the lie).

Probably just precautionary-just come back from the injury, day game after night game, wet outside..sit him today, he gets 2 days more off, and he should be ready to go for the St. Louis series. I haven't heard that this is the reason for sure though.

I think I want the guy with the 457 OBP to be batting as well please :D

You've been saying that for weeks. I'm sorry to call you out because I know you're not advocating it, but I'm just sick of reading people's excuses. There is no rational explination for keeping Murton on the bench at this point. None. It's all just lame excuses. First it was Murton is stuggling. Then it was riding the hot hand. Then it was Murton is the emergency catcher. Then it was playing the matchup. Now it's Murton can't play against RHP, but don't worry........Floyd isn't going to play anymore. This is just an anomoly. I would agree-although I would argue the situation changed. I didn't expect that Pie would come up this quick, plant himself in center, Sori move to left, Jones not traded, and now Jones/Floyd/Murton playing one position basically. Murton was getting some starts against RHP with just Floyd (and I still think would have had more starts over the course of the season), but now with Jones he's not going to be able to prove himself there. Until Jones is traded, I doubt we really ever see Murton against RHP-because on the days that Jones moves positions, Floyd will get his occasional start. So at this point-I'd really like to see Jones traded. Not because he is terrible or doesn't have value or anything like that, but because there are 3 OF's who are trying to play one position, and at least one of them needs more playing time then they are getting. Something needs to be done to fix that jam in RF.

When are you going to run out of excuses for this? It's always going to be something, just like with Dusty. It's not an excuse-it is what's happening. I don't like it-I think Floyd is playing too much. That's the reason though he's playing-it's a right-handed pitcher, and against a right-hander it's Jones who gets to start first, then Floyd, then Murton. I'm simply saying that Floyd's not usually going to get to start anymore because Jones is blocking him against RHP, while Murton is the one who gets to play against LHP. I bet $5 that the next time the Cubs face a leftie, Murton doesn't start and Lou busts out his, "you have to have a leftie in there to make the pitcher throw both sides of the plate" routine. The only way Lou doesn't suck as much as Dusty right now is that he hasn't abused the starters. If he does do that-believe me, you'll see me ranting about him pretty bad. So far he hasn't shown any evidence of that-in fact, he's taken great pains to make sure that both Jones and Floyd are not playing against left-handers even if he has to give Theriot or DeRosa out there. So if Floyd or Jones play against a left-hander over Murton, I'll be very, very upset.