Soriano Back to Leadoff

Two more days of a lackluster offense and Alfonso Soriano is back in the leadoff spot...Soriano, Riot, Fukudome, Lee, Reed Johnson, Fontenot, Soto, Miles and Harden try to avoid the sweep today.

Way to stick with it, Lou.

"We said we'd try it and we did," Lou Piniella said of Soriano, who
struck out three times on Saturday. "We'll just put him in the leadoff
spot. That's where he feels comfortable, and that's where we'll leave
him."

Even Soriano seems confused if this Twitter quote is from him: "Soriano: ''Back again? My goodness, only 2 games?'' I think that's meant to be a quote from Soriano, although maybe it's just Wittenmyer's reaction to it.

On another note, please, please win this game.

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Gameday Open Thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 12:03pm
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Comments

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 12:40pm

lame.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 12:51pm

Lou on the pregame interview with Santo:

Bradley's not ready.

Expects ARam to be ready sometime during the Arizona series.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:00pm

Last thing I saw was that Bradley could be back by Wednesday...

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:04pm

Happy Birthday Kosuke Fukudome, 32 today.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:18pm

nice start for the birthday boy

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:23pm

DLee needed one more biscuit for breakfast, but a RBI is a RBI

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:31pm

That DLee double wasn't for lack of strength or power. It was a line drive shot that just didn't get high enough in the air.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:29pm

Hoffpauir in, after Lee doubled in his first AB...

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:29pm

Hoffpauir in for DLee in bottom of the 1st.

Oh oh. Not reporting why as yet.

At least Hoff isn't out of position today.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:35pm

yeesh.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:37pm

I'm all for eating one more biscuit

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:39pm

1B Jake Fox already has hit nine HR at Iowa and was named PCL Player of the Week and will probably be PCL Player of the Month, too, so if D-Lee is down for any extended period, J-Fox could get recalled to platoon at 1B with Micah Hoffpauir.

And INF Luis Rivas is here in Mesa at Fitch Park (Extended Spring Training) rehabbing a hamstring injury, but he looks to be about ready to get reactivated, so if the Cubs need an infielder who can play 3B-SS-2B when they get to Arizona tomorrow, he can take a cab over to Chase Field after playing in the EXST game tomorrow morning.

Also, 2008 #1 draft pick RHP Andrew Cashner has left EXST and is en route to Daytona. In related minor league roster moves, RHP Marcos Mateo has been promoted from Daytona to AA Tennessee, LHRP Jayson Ruhlman has been promoted from Tennessee to AAA Iowa, and RHP Justin Berg (on the Iowa DL with a sore shoulder) has arrived at Fitch Park to begin his rehab. .

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:41pm

neck spasm for Lee...

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:42pm

DLee out with neck spasms. He's had some neck problems a year or two ago as I recall. Usually a day by day thing unless it's a Hank White type scenerio who had a cervical disc herniation.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:43pm

Sheesh...Soriano hit in the head/helmet

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:43pm

in the back of the head, fastball...staying in.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:45pm

M*A*S*H

Soriano staying in (so far)...portable MRI being wheeled to first base.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:48pm

regarding our upcoming series vs DBacks, in addition to Webb, Stephen Drew is now on the DL

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 1:52pm

4 runs...soriano back to leadoff...case closed.

I kid.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 2:28pm

another RBI single for the Birthday boy, 6-1 (top 4)

K Fukudome singled to center, R Theriot scored. >CHC 6 STL 1
R Theriot safe at second on throwing error by shortstop K Greene, A Soriano scored. >CHC 5 STL 1
A Soriano stole third.
A Soriano hit a ground rule double to deep right.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 4:51pm

Scoring backwards you are, my padiwan.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 3:17pm

Kerry Wood gets save #4 in typical fashion

single, walk, double play, K.

Bulls ahead by 4 in double overtime...we'll see.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 4:49pm

Angelo is having a helluva a draft, given what he went in with. Looks like he's got about 6 guys who could have been 2nd or 3rd rounders.

And I guess the Hawks won, so things turning up roses in Chicago, at least for a day.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 3:22pm

Cotts in, game gets interesting...

BB and double so far...

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 3:46pm

"Cotts in, game gets interesting..."

Does one often come without the other?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 5:43pm

No, in that way Cotts is like good sex.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 5:06pm

I think I hate Cotts more than I hate Hendry, and that is not easy...:)

Now that they scored 10 runs today, Soriano will now for sure never leave the leadoff spot. A bit surprised Lou only gave it 2 games more switching back, even though I shouldn't be surprised since it is Lou.

Great job by the offense to jump on STL today early and Harden doing well. Hopefully Lee is fine and we cna turn things around a bit on the road the next 3 games.

Go Cubs!!!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 4:13pm

this team is doomed...

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 5:07pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqcn_TPu4qQ

Submitted by Jeff_Pico
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 5:59pm

Much needed win and they didn't look bad doing it either. Hopefully we can just get through these next couple of games and get everyone healthy again. We are playing 2 teams that are also pretty cold in the Dbacks and Marlins. Could be a nice bounce back week.

Hopefully a few people have stepped off the ledge.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 9:30pm

Bats will need to get hot for the Marlins series. Their rotation easily rivals the Cubs rotation.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 9:35pm

Hmm... the Marlins have given up 44 runs in their last 6 games. Their starting rotation is good, but their bullpen is awful.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 7:57pm

I'd like to propose a trade of Chad Gaudin, Rich Hill, and Jose Ceda to the White Sox for Nick Swisher. I know he had a down year, but I think he fits nicely in RF and the middle or top of the lineup for the Cubs and will re surge in 2009.

Oh hindsight.

Could we see Fontenot and Hoffpauir at the corners tomorrow? It'd be ridiculous if none of Lee, Aramis, or Bradley are available to do anything but pinch hit tomorrow.

Great game though. I'm thrilled to see the offense put it together. I hope Fontenot and Soto find their bats, especially Fontenot (I really don't want to see Miles take any playing time from him).

Submitted by George Altman
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 8:16pm

Honestly, how can you not DL Bradley backdated to his last appearance and recall a bat from anywhere including the waiver list. I mean the '40-Man' is currently a '34-Man' reserve list. Is there some 'under the table' agreement with his agent?

I can't say I would mind Hoffpauir playing 1B 3-4 times a week.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 9:26pm

Fontenot and Miles are both rubbish, imo. Sorry.

And lol @ Cubster for the "portable MRI machine" comment. Very funny.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 10:20pm

I humbly disagree on Fontenot.

Oh, not humbly. Angrily. I angrily disagree with you about Fontenot.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 10:38pm

Maybe "rubbish" is too strong. But I think fans have gone all "Murton" on him. He's really not as awesome as most Cub fans think he is.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 11:09pm

No, Cubs fans don't go crazy over the flavor of the month new young Cubs (Murton, Dubois, Choi, Fontenot, etc.). My favorite was John Hill, may God rest his sole, had this weird obsession over Jermaine Van Buren. Yes, the same JVB who lasted a hole 19.0 innings in the big leagues.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 11:18pm

i think fontenot has a good eye and a decent doubles-swing, myself.

his D is good. his footwork is good. his arm is pretty good, too.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 11:31pm

and then there's Cubs fan who don't actually like anything about the team....

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:25am

What Cubs fans are you referring to who don't like anything about the team?

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:22am

Van Buren- #.00 ERA, 6 innings, 9 walks, 3 K's.

Choi: .218/.350/.421, 8 HR, 28 RBI

Dubois: 227 AB's, .233/.286/.443

Murton: .288/.354/.438, 900 AB's

Yeah..Murton equals those 3...

I will say this. Manny, you were dead on about Ronny Cedeno. Murton coulda been a sold LF, if they'd have just left him alone about the power..lol. It got into his head too much.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:27am

Murton is nothing more than a 4th OF, IMO.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 11:21am

And you may be right, but IMO, he deserved a better fate than what he got here, especially after the first full season:
.297/.365/.444, 13 HR, 62 RBI.

I just don't think he deserved to get yanked around, or is comparable to Choi, Dubois, etc...

OrangeDude is hitting .417, with 3 HR, 17 RBI's , and 5 steals for AAA Col. Springs..

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 9:17am

I'll give you that. But I think he's a decent all around player, especially at the salary. He's at least adequate with the glove and, I think (though he's only shown OBP skills this year), that he can be a pretty respectable 2, 6-8 hitter. He isn't Chase Utley, but I think on a good year he can approach what DeRosa has done in his best years (offensively).

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 8:59pm

Holy balls, Jacob Ellsbury steals home off Pettitte and it works!

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