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So now that the off-season is winding down, there is just one thing that isn't quite settled for me.
Who leads off?
I'm sure conventional wisdom will say Theriot and his .356 OBP as a leadoff hitter is sufficient. However there is just something about him that doesn't sit right with me as the #1 hitter.
Fukudome was in that role a lot last year and didn't do too shabby. We know he can take a walk and nearly a career .400 OBP in the 1-hole. Yet if a platoon is in his future, do we want to really slot him up top. Consistency is key for me.
The other option is if we bring in a 2B who can lead-off, but I'd say the chances of that are slim to none.
So what are your opinions on this matter? In my opinion the leadoff spot is the most integral in a lineup. Kenny Lofton (as you all know) what a HUGE difference maker for us in 2003. We need that sorely, and I don't think we had it in our last two trips to the playoffs.
"Last year, I was sort of a kid and I was a little scared, I ain't scared any more."
Quote:- Hank Aaron
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Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP
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<!--quoteo(post=77535:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM:name=Brock)-->QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably what management has in mind. I don't have a problem with that, but then I start to wonder who bats #2 on days that Fuk is out of the lineup. I have no idea.
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<!--quoteo(post=77541:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77535:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM:name=Brock)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably what management has in mind. I don't have a problem with that, but then I start to wonder who bats #2 on days that Fuk is out of the lineup. I have no idea.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was thinking about that too. Baker 2nd, Nady 7th? Soriano 2nd, Nady 6th? Byrd 2nd, Nady 5th? None of those sound too exciting to me...
The thing you need to remember is that all Cardinals fans and all White Sox fans are very bad people. It's a fact that has been scientifically proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Being a Cubs fan is the only path to rightousness and piousness. Cardinal and White Sox fans exist to be the dark, diabolical forces that oppose us. They are the yin to our yang, the Joker to our Batman, the demon to our angel, the insurgence to our freedom, the oil to our water, the club to our baby seal. Their happiness occurs only in direct conflict with everything that is pure and good in this world.
-Dirk
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<!--quoteo(post=77541:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77535:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM:name=Brock)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably what management has in mind. I don't have a problem with that, but then I start to wonder who bats #2 on days that Fuk is out of the lineup. I have no idea.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Baker? Nady? Dunno.
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<!--quoteo(post=77543:date=Jan 26 2010, 11:03 PM:name=Brock)-->QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77541:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77535:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM:name=Brock)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably what management has in mind. I don't have a problem with that, but then I start to wonder who bats #2 on days that Fuk is out of the lineup. I have no idea.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Baker? Nady? Dunno.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not a big fan of the a lead-off platoon.
Can you think of any other examples where a successful team has gone down this route?
"Last year, I was sort of a kid and I was a little scared, I ain't scared any more."
Quote:- Hank Aaron
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<!--quoteo(post=77563:date=Jan 27 2010, 09:37 AM:name=BackyardLegend)-->QUOTE (BackyardLegend @ Jan 27 2010, 09:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77543:date=Jan 26 2010, 11:03 PM:name=Brock)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77541:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Jan 26 2010, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77535:date=Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM:name=Brock)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Jan 26 2010, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Fuk vs. RHP
Theriot vs. LHP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's probably what management has in mind. I don't have a problem with that, but then I start to wonder who bats #2 on days that Fuk is out of the lineup. I have no idea.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Baker? Nady? Dunno.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not a big fan of the a lead-off platoon.
Can you think of any other examples where a successful team has gone down this route?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll play devil's advocate and ask if you can think of any examples where it was unsuccessful.
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<!--quoteo(post=77565:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll play devil's advocate and ask if you can think of any examples where it was unsuccessful.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am having a hard time thinking of an example of a playoff team with a rotating leadoff hitter.
"Last year, I was sort of a kid and I was a little scared, I ain't scared any more."
Quote:- Hank Aaron
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<!--quoteo(post=77568:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:37 AM:name=BackyardLegend)-->QUOTE (BackyardLegend @ Jan 27 2010, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77565:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll play devil's advocate and ask if you can think of any examples where it was unsuccessful.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am having a hard time thinking of an example of a playoff team with a rotating leadoff hitter.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Haven't the Cards sort of gone with a rotating cast of leadoff men during the past 5 years or so? They haven't really had a full-time person in that role for quite some time.
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<!--quoteo(post=77572:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:57 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 27 2010, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77568:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:37 AM:name=BackyardLegend)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BackyardLegend @ Jan 27 2010, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77565:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll play devil's advocate and ask if you can think of any examples where it was unsuccessful.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am having a hard time thinking of an example of a playoff team with a rotating leadoff hitter.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Haven't the Cards sort of gone with a rotating cast of leadoff men during the past 5 years or so? They haven't really had a full-time person in that role for quite some time.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Schumaker has been their guy for the last two years.
I'm merely asking if any time has been a contender with a righty/lefty platoon at the top of their order. Your #1 hitter should be someone who can get on base, regardless of the throwing arm of the pitcher.
"Last year, I was sort of a kid and I was a little scared, I ain't scared any more."
Quote:- Hank Aaron
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<!--quoteo(post=77568:date=Jan 27 2010, 09:37 AM:name=BackyardLegend)-->QUOTE (BackyardLegend @ Jan 27 2010, 09:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=77565:date=Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Jan 27 2010, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll play devil's advocate and ask if you can think of any examples where it was unsuccessful.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am having a hard time thinking of an example of a playoff team with a rotating leadoff hitter.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My point is, it's hard to come up with a platoon of any sort regardless of where they bat. I can name platoon players from over the years (Kevin Mench, Trot Nixon, Geoff Jenkins) but for the life of me, I cannot think of their platoon partners.
To ask for a successful platoon at the leadoff spot is grasping at straws if you're trying to prove it doesn't work. Especially considering platoons, more often than not, are not just set in stone with two players splitting time at one spot in the lineup.
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Schumaker has led off at times over the last couple of years but he has by no means been their fulltime lead off guy. They have rotated guys in that spot since Vina left.
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For the past two years, when Soriano went down with injuries, Theriot did just fine leading off. In fact 2 years ago when he took over the leadoff role, the Cubs went on a quite a nice run. Which always made me wonder why Lou did the platoon thing at leadoff. Theriot is the guy that should be leading off. He knows how to hit the opposite way and drive balls right back up the middle better than anyone on the team. That will get guys on base more times then not.
My biggest question with the lineup has been and still will be is why we don't bat Aramis in the 3 hole. This is a guy I want to see to come to the plate in the first inning of every game. In fact i'd consider batting Lee 2, Aramis 3 and Sorianno 4. But then I never received the call from Lou asking what I thought anyway's.
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<!--quoteo(post=77607:date=Jan 27 2010, 11:34 AM:name=stevestonescigar)-->QUOTE (stevestonescigar @ Jan 27 2010, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Schumaker has led off at times over the last couple of years but he has by no means been their fulltime lead off guy. They have rotated guys in that spot since Vina left.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's exactly how I remembered it. Then again, LaRussa has also been batting the SP 8th during that time too, so they've had 2 "leadoff" hitters.
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<!--quoteo(post=77607:date=Jan 27 2010, 11:34 AM:name=stevestonescigar)-->QUOTE (stevestonescigar @ Jan 27 2010, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Schumaker has led off at times over the last couple of years but he has by no means been their fulltime lead off guy. They have rotated guys in that spot since Vina left.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Shut your filthy hole...no one has any interest in your lack of insight.
White fat-assed fuck...
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