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Soriano would be just as misused batting second. A prototypical #2 hitter is usually a good contact hitter that works the count and draws a lot of walks. A #2 hitter should also be the best situational hitter in the lineup. Soriano does none of these things well. Fukudome would be the perfect leadoff hitter for the Cubs with his good eye at the plate. Theriot is the best contact hitter on the team. He would be a good #2 hitter. Soriano shouldn't be batting any higher then fifth on the Cubs.

I understand what you are saying Angelos, but the Cubs don't have a prototypical lead off hitter or #2 hitter. And Fukudome leading off? Not with his skill set. I have Soriano hitting second because of his speed and base running abilities. Dropping him to 5th negates some of his innate skills. Alfonso isn't a prototypical anything. His skill set is unusual, to say the least.

micah hoffpauir?

Batting him lead off makes good sense also. He loves hitting there and does rather well there.

I wouldn't put Soriano second simply because he has a thing about hitting leadoff, and a player being comfortable in his slot is important. But otherwise CCC's points are good.

I like the Zambrano move.

"I understand what you are saying Angelos, but the Cubs don't have a prototypical lead off hitter or #2 hitter. And Fukudome leading off? Not with his skill set. I have Soriano hitting second because of his speed and base running abilities. Dropping him to 5th negates some of his innate skills. Alfonso isn't a prototypical anything. His skill set is unusual, to say the least.
Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox | 05/24/08, 05:08 AM

I don???t understand how you can say that Fukudome doesn???t have the skill set to lead off. He doesn???t have much power, hits for a decent average and gets on base a lot. That sounds like the perfect skillset for a leadoff hitter to me. Stolen bases aren't that important. If speed and base running were that important, Nook Logan would have a job right now and Corey Patterson would still be with the Cubs. Chicago ranks first in extra base hits, second in slugging percentage and fourth in homeruns. They don't need to manufacture runs with Lee and Ramirez in the middle of the lineup. They just need people to get on-base.

Basically, Lou just needs to switch Fukudome and Soriano in the batting order. The rest of their lineup is fine.

Hoffpauir is the bomb. The first game he started he hit two doubles. Expect him to keep his starting spot.

Misused as a leadoff?! Are you kidding me?

No, C3 is correct. His skills would be best used a little further down in the lineup, where he can drive in more runs. What good is having the power when you are hitting solo run bombs?

With Lee, Ramirez, and Fukudome hitting 3,4,5, you have a very potent middle of the order lineup. Sorry Lee, but vote goes to C3.

"Batting him lead off makes good sense also. He loves hitting there and does rather well there."

.327OBP with 130-150 strikeouts is doing rather well for a lead off hitter?

"Hoffpauir is the bomb. The first game he started he hit two doubles. Expect him to keep his starting spot."

Micah Hoffpauir is 28 years old and has started exactly ONE game in the majors...has exactly 7 career at bats...and you have him as a permanent starter and hitting 5th in the lineup based on THAT? LMAO. The only thing you can expect is that this career minor leaguer will be back in AAA very soon.

Micah Owens is the best hitting pitcher in baseball, not Zambrano.

"Micah Owens is the best hitting pitcher in baseball"

I assume you mean Micah Owings? With barely 90 career AB's I need to see more from him before heaping that kind of praise on the guy, but he has been phenomenal so far.

By the way my brother's account is KingLouie. He is the kid who logged on and did it. He is two years younger. I made him sign up for his own account today. Ask him if he did, he will tell you.

I can't believe Louis did that! What did you do to him?

"By the way my brother's account is KingLouie. He is the kid who logged on and did it. "

Uh huh. So an account that was JUST OPENED was hijacked by your little brother, eh? I mean RIGHT AFTER you opened the account he suddenly figured out how to get on and start a TD? Whatever.

Oh, and since "King Louie" and you BOTH voted in this TD that you claim HE started, that would be a violation of TOS. Using one account to start a TD and another to vote in it is enough to get you banned...you know that, right?