Running Man
I know there is clamoring out there for the Cubs to do something drastic or have a shakeup. Lou doesn't like to have meetings and I understand that. Really, what can you say? You know guys are trying and you know that the effort is there. Right now, the results have been real tough to come by.
I look at this roster and I see that on a given day, Lou can put a lineup out there where 4, 5, even 6 guys that can steal a base. If you see a matchup where the opposing pitcher is a bit slow to the plate or the catcher isn't throwing well, maybe you send the track team out there. Let them know before the ballgame everybody has the green light unless I tell you not to run and try to steal a ballgame just to prove to yourself there's more than one way to win a game.
When the Cubs were on their two-month hot streak, they've won in a variety of ways. They've stolen bases, sacrificed, and hit home runs. Since the team is having trouble driving the ball and swinging the bats, maybe one way to jump start things is to try and run one out there.
There's a lot of room in the outfield in Coors, so you can win in other ways than hitting home runs. Who knows? What we do know is that Lou will try anything. The team didn't take batting practice yesterday in hopes of mixing things up and breaking up the bad rhythm we see right now. Let's just hope they find a way to do that.
Bob
Comments
We have STOPPED running and hit and running... and the results have shown what happens when we don't do that.
We have to WIN ONE GAME, one game first.. and then some of this BRUTAL PRESSURE will dissipate. We NEED tonight's game.
Posted by: Lenny C | August 9, 2007 6:35 PM
I'm not clamoring for anything drastic, Bob. I want the Cubs to do what they've been doing since June. Soriano a piece of the success - but only a piece. There's enough hitting, running and fielding talent to fill the gap while he recuperates.
Come on, Cubbies. This is just an opportunity to shine and show the rest of the league the depth of talent that exists on this team!
Posted by: Tom Vander Well | August 9, 2007 7:27 PM
Hi guys. I was born and raised in Chicago in '58 so I grew up watching the Cubs with Jack and Milo, the original Bozo, and of course White Castle. So naturally I am a die hard Cubs fan. I now live in Denver, moved here in '90 to go to school and desided to stay because it is so beautiful. I now have a bad back so the altitude and high pressure really helps. Ok guys, so here is my question. It is in regards to the infamous humidor. Len was going over the stats and mentioned the infamous humidor durring Thursday's Rockie's game. First of all why did you bring it up? It is supposed to be a big secret. Do you realize that right after you brought it up that WGN TV on Comcast then blacked you out? At precisely 7:30 right after you mentioned the humidor the station was blacked out by the local Comcast office...not at 7:00 when the game started, but after you brought up that stupid humidor. It was also broadcast on FSN but it is just not the same. So I called Comcast and actually argued with the kid on the phone that the broadcast is not the same and demanded a credit on my account since I am paying for WGN but not getting it and he eventually gave me a credit for the day. Ok, last question. Isn't putting the balls in a humidor to gain softness and moisture considered cheating because it is altering the performance of the ball? How can the Rockie's get away with it? Thank you.
Posted by: Michael Mott | August 9, 2007 9:27 PM
I believe one of the things Lou should consider is shaking the lineup to maximize our current Cubs team's strengths and trends. We are not a home run hitting team. We are on paper, but not on the field. And that decreases even more with no Soriano and no Ramirez. So we need to manufacture runs, and have the CONSTANT hitting mind-set to manufacture. To me that means speedy lead-off hitters with high on-base percentage, and a high contact hitter in the two hole. A study of batting average with runners on and runners in scoring position will yield your number 3, 4, 5, and 6 hitters. I'm not saying anything baseball minds don't know, but I do think a thorough study of stats, with a consideration for current trends (i.e. guys who are hot) would reveal a lineup such as:
1. Ryan Theriot-SS
2. Mike Fontenot-2B
3. Derrek Lee-1B
4. Mark DeRosa-3B
5. Matt Murton-LF
6. Cliff Floyd-RF
7. Jacque Jones-CF
8. Jason Kendall-C
When Ramirez is healthy, he slides into the 4 spot and DeRosa and Fontenot platoon. When Soriano is healthy he slides into the 1-spot, and Murton and Floyd platoon based on pitching match-ups. Both Murton and Jones are hot right now, so having them in the line-up is key. Kendall has solidified his role as the everyday catcher. Fontenot rarely strikes out (18% of AB's), making him an ideal hit-and-run batter. Theriot stikes out less than 10% of his AB's and has the highest OBP of any of the "non power" hitters. So he's an obvious lead-off man, and 2-spot when Soriano returns. Just my two cents...
Posted by: Steve Holt | August 9, 2007 9:57 PM
As a long-time Cub fan in Springfield, IL, I know the Cubs have what it takes, with a few little bumps in the road. I will be attending Wrigley field on August 16 for the first time and am so excited.
Posted by: Joanne Pedrick | August 9, 2007 10:03 PM
In the mid 1960s the Cubs committed 7 errors in one inning (they were playing the Mets). Was that a record? If it was does it still hold?
Posted by: Barbara D'Amato | August 17, 2007 2:34 PM