Don’t Confuse Me With The Facts!
Saturday, July 4th, 2009“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.






