Olney's blog on the Cubs

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The theory always has been that Piniella's emotions can jar and push his teams from a malaise. But at this particular time, that theory might not fit the situation. It might not matter a bit how angry Piniella gets, because the Cubs have serious problems with their lineup, such as:

<b>1. Derrek Lee is not hitting and hasn't for a really long time. In his past 66 games dating back to last season, Lee has batted .252 with four homers, 33 RBIs and a .357 slugging percentage. This season, the first baseman is hitting .197 with one homer. </b>"The way the Cubs' lineup is constructed, they have to have power production from their corner guys -- first base, third base and left field," one rival talent evaluator said. "They're not going to get a lot of pop from their middle infielders, and they don't know how much pop they can get from center and from catcher. <b>They need Lee to hit, and if he doesn't hit, it might be very tough for them to make the playoffs this year, considering how much better the Cardinals are."</b>

Lee is a great gift to baseball in many ways, one of the leaders of the sport. But the Cubs are starved for hits from him. He was dropped to fifth in the lineup Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer writes.

2. Milton Bradley is not playing or producing. In an effort to balance their lineup, the Cubs took a calculated gamble during the offseason and signed the temperamental and oft-injured corner outfielder, despite his history of struggling to stay on the field. <b>So far, he has been out of the starting lineup for nine of 16 games, in keeping with his résumé of having played in at least 100 games in the outfield exactly once in his career. He has batted .043 so far this season. </b>Bradley's biggest foe is himself, writes Chris De Luca.

3. Geovany Soto, last year's NL rookie of the year, is batting .143. In 35 at-bats, he has yet to hit a home run. He returned from the World Baseball Classic bearing some shoulder soreness and for whatever reason just hasn't played that well.

The X factor with the Cubs, of course, is that they can make moves. They have resources, and they have an aggressive front office. General manager Jim Hendry's peers respect him for his ability to make deals, and there may come a day when Hendry will decide to make changes, because the Cubs' lineup is dormant. Chicago ranks 22nd in the majors in runs scored, and the journalists/seismologists around him probably dutifully wield their gauges from hour to hour.

<b>The Cubs have scored just one earned run in their past four games, </b>Paul Sullivan writes.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This was written pre-Sunday's game, of course. But the concerns are valid.

[Fella]

Yeah other than the bullpen my biggest worry for the whole season is Lee. He was awfully mediocre for the last 4 whole months last year and looks the same this year. One good sign is he has at least hit a few balls with authority to LF lately, including the one yesterday. I don't think he hit a single one the whole 2nd half last year. Still, I think its gonna be a struggle with him.

It would be nice to get something from Bradley, but I'm not so sure anymore. We all knew he was crazy and got hurt a lot. But, I thought maybe his attitude and work ethic would be the kind this team needed. Maybe he was a guy that wouldn't give a shit about the 100 years thing and would hit. All the reports from former teammates and managers were good so I felt good about him. What I didn't know is that he was such a prideful, selfish asshole. Now it seems like he might be the type that folds like paper in a big situation, if he ever makes it there healthy.

Still we know Alf and Ramirez are going to be fine, they always are. I also really think Fuk is gonna have a big year, he is staying in really well and driving the ball far better than he EVER did last year. I also think our starting rotation is gonna be very good again. Lilly looks good, Harden looks good, Z has looked good all but one start and Dempster and Marshall will be fine.

We also know we have the flexibility to make some moves at the deadline, something the Cardinals almost certainly don't have. If we have a huge hole, we will do something about it. Crane Kenney himself said we had room to make moves at the deadline.

The Cardinals also won't be this good all year, just not gonna happen. They started the same way last year, they have a terrible bullpen and ridiculously bad defense. I also bet Carpenter is out til the all-star break, at least.

I still think we are going to be fine, things have been a HUGE mess so far and somehow we are still over .500, guess we will see.

[BT]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"The way the Cubs' lineup is constructed, they have to have power production from their corner guys -- first base, third base and left field," one rival talent evaluator said. "They're not going to get a lot of pop from their middle infielders, and they don't know how much pop they can get from center and from catcher.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Remind to take every scouting evaluation from this guy and flush it down the toilet. Fontenot has pop. Soto has pop. Bradley has pop. Fucking Fukodome has pop.

Of course Fuk might go back in the toilet, and maybe Fontenot wilts in full time duty. But how many National League teams have 20 HR possibilities at every fucking position except shortstop? And this moron's view is that we have to get HR's from our corners, or we won't make the playoffs? The fucking stupidity of this statement is astonishing. Lee hit EXACTLY 20 homers last year, and the Cubs won 97 games. How fucking reliant were we on Lee's power last year?

[rok]

Olney has never impressed me as an authority on anything, and he has a stupid first name.

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=33480:date=Apr 27 2009, 01:03 PM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Apr 27 2009, 01:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->"The way the Cubs' lineup is constructed, they have to have power production from their corner guys -- first base, third base and left field," one rival talent evaluator said. "They're not going to get a lot of pop from their middle infielders, and they don't know how much pop they can get from center and from catcher.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Remind to take every scouting evaluation from this guy and flush it down the toilet. Fontenot has pop. Soto has pop. Bradley has pop. Fucking Fukodome has pop.

Of course Fuk might go back in the toilet, and maybe Fontenot wilts in full time duty. But how many National League teams have 20 HR possibilities at every fucking position except shortstop? And this moron's view is that we have to get HR's from our corners, or we won't make the playoffs? The fucking stupidity of this statement is astonishing. Lee hit EXACTLY 20 homers last year, and the Cubs won 97 games. How fucking reliant were we on Lee's power last year?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

wow, i was actually agreeing with the blog, but now i feel like an ass magnet. what was i thinking?

[BT]

veryzer, are you busting my chops?

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=33486:date=Apr 27 2009, 01:09 PM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Apr 27 2009, 01:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->veryzer, are you busting my chops?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


nope. you've been on fire lately. it's in my best interest to just agree with everything you say (unless it's about hair care or hair care products).

[Jody]

<!--quoteo(post=33482:date=Apr 27 2009, 01:05 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 27 2009, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Olney has never impressed me as an authority on anything, and he has a stupid first name.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->







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