“Don’t confuse me with the facts.” That was one of Grampa John’s favorite lines. My dad (who majored in math at IIT) would try to convince him of something or other based on flawless logic and/or a sound statistical analysis. Eventually, when he could take no more, Grampa John would erupt, barking “Don’t confuse me with the facts!” and then go off on what his gut told him was right. Facts be damned.
So here I go, celebrating Independence Day with a complete disregard for any factual reference point by spilling my guts about WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
- Sit Alfonso Soriano down until at least the All-Star break. Start Sam Fuld in left field and bat him leadoff. Fuld provides the defensive, leadoff, and overall offensive sparks the Cubbies need right now. Alfonso is, for the moment, a dud in all those areas. Lou says he’s confident that the Fonz will pick it up. So I believe him. But for now, Fuld gives us what we need and Soriano doesn’t.
I’m reminded of the maxim: When you find yourself in a hole; stop digging!
Witnessing the difference in the Cubs’ performance yesterday with Alfonso in there, versus the two days before when Sam was playing, the solution is obvious to me. Playing Alfonso but batting him lower in the lineup doesn’t fix the problem, it only moves it around.
Meanwhile Alfonso can pinch run, pinch hit and contribute by not digging. He’s going to make 18 million dollars (or so) whether he plays or sits, so let’s stop hurting ourselves for a while, OK?
- Milton Bradley’s left handed bat doesn’t seem to be providing the boost which it was brought here to provide. So play him against left handed pitching, but let Micah play RF against RHPs.
I think the Brewer’s lost yesterday’s game by giving Milton an intentional pass. Had they pitched to him, I’m confident he would have made at least one, possibly two outs in that at bat.
- With the return of Reed Johnson, the center field platoon with Kosuke can pick up where it left off.
- Aramis is coming back, but he may well not be able to play everyday. So spell him with Jake Fox at third for a while.
- Andres Blanco has to be the second baseman on this team. I have total confidence in his defense. Total confidence. His batting is improving, and is currently no worse than any of the other 2B options.
On those occasions when Andres in needed to cover SS for TheRiot, Fontenot can play 2nd.
- DLee must continue to start at 1B.
- Geovany and Koyie are both beginning to heat up. Alternate starts and/or switch ‘em in and out in pinch hit situations.
Those are my recommendations. They will make everything better. Trust me. Just don’t confuse me with the facts.The Terminator film
I’m not going to disagree with you….these things should be done and would help in the near term. I blieve that. I don’t feel it will happen, though, as GM’s and Managers these days are not going to remove $28 million in payroll from the starting lineup barring injury. Soriano has to hit 6th or lower until he gets right. I know he’s streaky, but this downward spiral has been hideous.
Great post!! I agree completely!!
Those are all excellent points, but assuming AAron gets DFA’d, one of the guys you mentioned has to get sent to AAA to make room for Aram and Johnson. Who else would you send down?
Lou said in the post game interview yesterday that he’ll be fiddling with the lineup today. I’m sure fiddling wasn’t the word he used but you get the point. And it was in response to a reporter question about Soriano. So we’ll see. I’d prefer he sit just like you mentioned, cubbiedude, but in the absence of that I’ll take 6th or 7th in the lineup for a spell until he deserves otherwise.
Per Levine, via TCR:
Fukudome, Theriot, DLee, Bradley, Fox, Soriano, Soto, Fontenot and Harden
Why does anyone pitch to Albert Pujols?
IMO Lou’s fiddling with the lineup is like Dusty’s was; when Dusty fiddled with the lineup it was a question of whether he bat Holly third and Neifi sixth or vice versa. If Soriano isn’t hitting what difference does it really make where you hit him? Lou needs to get out of his rocking chair and play the hot hand like he did in his first year. Soriano ain’t getting the job done and he needs to ride the pine until Fuld chills out. We are in a race right now and we need to play guys that contribute.
And what’s with Harden, he looked like he was pitching BP today. Wonder what his velocity is like, perhaps he’s lost a little and that’s why he’s getting killed.
I only watched the first 2 innings today, and decided not to torture myself longer than that so I missed Hasbro’s ding-er. Small price.
It was nice to see Alf down in the order, though sitting would be nice, Capt points out the economic reasons it won’t happen. Sure would be nice if Miles gets DFA’d, but he’s on the Dl and that won’t make any room on Monday, Likely the guys who have options, Fuld will be left wondering what else he can do. If Baker is going to stick, Fox likely trots back to Iowa. Did you know Iowa is an anagram for I Owe the World an Apology?