Archive - Apr 3, 2008

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

The Cubs find themselves in the precarious position of having to count on Ryan Dempster to avoid an embarrassing opening series sweep to what is expected to be our biggest challenge to repeating as NL Central Champs. I know I feel confident.

The big news being that Lou has switched Soriano back to the leadoff spot and I have a feeling that I'm one of the few (besides Lou) that doesn't mind this move. Is it because I think Soriano hits better out of the leadoff spot? Absolutely not. What it does is knock a few PA's off Theriot's total over the course of the season which is good. It would be better if he was replaced by DeRosa or Fukudome in the two spot though. But for those who watched the game yesterday, in the 5th inning Theriot reached on a single with two outs with Soriano due up next. With two outs and Jason Kendall behind the plate, that would be the perfect time to send Theriot to get him in scoring position. But, possibly being afraid of running themselves out of the inning and taking the bat out of Soriano's hand, Theriot stayed put. Now, Theriot's usefulness on offense is pretty much limited to scrappiness and stealing bags on those rare occasions he reaches base. If you're going to be afraid to steal with him, he becomes that more useless. Of course, I have plenty of other reasons that I don't mind those move, but that's at least one small, albeit important one in my mind.