The Mad Scientist

Is Lou crazy or crazy like a fox?  That is the question that is burning through the minds of Cubs fans after Lou finally unveiled his surprise in Surprise Arizona.  With the offense still struggling, Lou figured it was time to make some changes, so here is the new line up;

1. Ryan Theriot SS

2. Alfonso Soriano LF

3. Derek Lee 1B

4. Aramis Ramirez 3B

5. Koske Fukudome RF

6. Geovany Soto C

7. Mark DeRosa 2B

8. Felix Pie CF

9. Pitcher

No, do not refresh your web browser, you have read correctly.  Alfonso Soriano, the one player who is not a situation hitter, is being asked to hit in the spot where it is most important to be able to hit situationally.  The spot where you have to hit it to the right side of the field to move runners over, the spot where you have to lay down bunts, the spot where you have to take pitches to allow the runner a chance to steal, all the things Soriano cannot do.  Lou was asked the reasons for such a dramtic change;

"We want to keep Soriano nice and healthy and strong all year," Piniella said. "It seems to me, out of the leadoff spot, he'll want to do too much, run too soon. We'll see, just take a look at it.

"Last year he was out a few times with the leg pulls. If you talk to him, [he says] he's 80-85 percent. Put it this way: Out of the two hole it might be easier for him not to have to run as much. ...

"I don't think we'd ask him to bunt. My point of this is it's for his own good. And for the team's good, because having him in that lineup is important to us."

As for Fukudome, Piniella said: "In the five hole, I think he'll give us the best protection for [cleanup hitter] Aramis] Ramirez. He's a good contact guy. He'll drive in runs with guys in scoring position, put the ball in play. It makes sense to me. We'll try it for a few more games and see what happens."

Now the big problem has been Soriano's legs.  He went from stealing 41 bases in 2006, to 19 in 2007.  Leg injuries in April and August have robbed him of his speed, and the quad injury still has not healed correctly.  When Lou said that moving Soriano is for his own good, he's right.  If Soriano's injuries prevent him from stealing bases, he better learn to hit somewhere else in the lineup.  He needs to get this idea that he is a lead off hitter out of his mind.  At least when he stole bases, you could justify him batting lead off.  But now that he can't run, plus the fact that he strikes out 1 out of every 4 times he is up to bat is just to much for Lou to overlook. 

Or could this be a temporary move?  As I wrote yesterday, the Orioles have been looking at second basemen, specifically, Mark Loretta of the Astros.  Maybe this is going to be the lineup until the Roberts deal goes through.  If the Roberts deal goes through, the lineup would look like this;

1. Roberts 2b

2. Theriot SS

3. Lee 1B

4. Ramirez 3B

5. Fukudome RF

6. Soriano LF

7. Soto C

8. Pie CF

9. Pitcher

That line up makes you feel a lot better, doesn't it?  In fact, that looks like the perfect balance between speed and power, right handed hitters and left handed hitters.  This is the line up that Lou wants.  It's the lineup that Cubs fans should want.  Pinella has to know a deal is close.  Looking at the Orioles, their pitching staff is just horrible.  How bad?  They are really hoping that Steve Trachsel makes the starting rotation.  That bad.  If we can give them Sean Gallagher, Sean Marshall, Jason Marquis, cash and Ronnie Cedeno, wouldn't that be fair.  And please don't offer us Jay Payton.  Just give us Roberts and we'll be fine.  Let's get this done so the team has time to gel before Opening Day, which is now less then three weeks away. 

Go Cubs!