Cubs could move Soriano to second base 'as last resort'

[Jim]

I'm confused why everyone is piling on Little Babe Ruth, as Santo likes to call him.

Last I checked he was a very small part of a very big problem:

soriano:.265
lee:.239
johnson:.232
miles:.216
soto:.206
bradley:.184

the cubs are going to hit. i'd be a lot more worried if their starting pitching stunk, but it's so far been great.

font will be fine, as will bradley.

moving soriano to the infield is idiotic. he'd butcher the place.

pinella's just doing that to light a fire under certain guys.

if we have five players hovering at the mendoza line come july 1, then we'll talk.

[Wbrown Memphis]

I actually kinda like the idea. Anything to shake things up and get the best bats in the lineup.

[Bart]

One thing for sure. If the cubs do not start hitting and turn things around, we will not need to worry about them being swept in the playoffs. As jim said, it is not just Fontenot, it is the entire team. I hope Aramis comes back soon. Maybe his presence will motivate everyone else.

[Cubbie in Houston]

Maybe it will pay off in the long run, but is anybody else missing DeRosa (both in the field and at the plate right now)?

[Jorge Arbusto]

Sorryasshole is Sosa, Jr.

[mikem]

PiniellPiniella said he could move Soriano to second base and stick Micah Hoffpauir in left field.

Wow Lou what a greate idea..(JUST Kidding). BETTER yet bench Soriano against righhties until he hits to right field and doesnt miss a slider by a foot and strike out constantly,

Bench Soto against most righties and PLAY HILL.

Bench once and for all Fontenot and play Scales.

PLay Reed Johson much more even againt righthies.
Hes a class guy that shows hustle and enthusiasm.

Play Hoffpauir in LF.. I have been bogging this for 2 weeks.

Play Freel at third and hope he will starts hitting. Give him more than a day LOU.. NOT like what you did to Hill after he went 3 for 4 and threw out a runner.(he sat on bench for how long LOU?)

Let Bradley lead off and play some against left handed batters.. Hes a better hitter from the right side. I can see that
he has more power from the right side.

DO NOT LEAD OFF WITH SORIANO.. bat him 7th if you must play him against righties.

[Jonesy]

Lou is the best, this is his way to crank up his team. He knows they aren't playing as well as they should be. So, time to get them going, and rather than do something like bench soriano, which is what he deserves, lou mentions a move to second base. Soriano better get the message, striking out 6 out of 12 at bats vs the cards is not how a superstar marquee player performs. He is getting paid like pujols but is playing like well, no player would ever get on the cards roster that plays like soriano. Soriano is the worst player signing I have ever seen as a cubs fan. He is a net negative to any team he is on and is completely oblivious and thinks he is above it all. The cubs will never win anything with soriano they may as well just eat his salary and dump him. Maybe jim hendry will put his salary toward the massive hole in the cubs budget and the years of failure he has caused by signing soriano. I hope the new owners realize this and clean out the mess this move has left on the cubs. Paying superstar money to a guy that won't hit where he can help the team, but has to hit leadoff, even if he isn't a leadoff hitter, and can't play any position in the outfield, or infield is just ridiculous. No wonder Lou is at wits end trying to patch together a lineup around this prancing diva. It is like playing with a designated strikeout and giving the opposing team one run a game because of bad play in the field. Net negative. Dump him.

Lou can play the rest of his roster whereever he wants, but as long as his hands are tied with this wasted locker space, the cubs are going nowhere.

[mike m]

That Mark De Rosa trade was a mistake. I think Jim Hendry has done very well during his time in Chicago, and i'm glad to hear the three pitchers are doing well in the farm system. However, let's be realistic - the Chicago Cubs are on a deadline, there is a window here....win a WS in the next year or maybe two...and for that reason - trading De Rosa, and letting Wood go will stand as huge mistakes.

[stewart]

I'd rather see Soriano benched. Don't blame all the lack of hitting on just Fontenot and at least he is fielding effectively--unlike unlike about everyone else except Koske. The pitchers have been getting screwed statistically while there should've been a lot more errors on the fielders.

[Stratmaster]

CaptainObvious wrote:

Here's your solution: Bench DP Lee and play Hoffpauir at first. Lee's skills have been eroding the last two years...it's been very painful to watch. As for Fontenot, he's probably not an every day player, or at least, not at third. He'll be better when Ramirez gets back. And yes, by all means, trade for Peavy. Padres are desperate, take advantage.

Lee has been on base 17 times in the last 10 games and raised his average 37 points in that time.

[Stratmaster]

Scott wrote:

This is what the Cubs need to do to pull through this and be playoff contenders:
1. Trade for Peavy immediately + release Patton and Cotts
Rotation then becomes:
Zambrano, Peavy, Lilly, Harden,and Dempster
Bullpen then becomes: Wells, Marshall, Gregg, Marmol, Ascanio, Heilman, and Guzman
2. Move Soriano to 2B and Hoffpauir to LF
Infield: Lee, Soriano, Theriot, Ramirez (when healthy), Soto
Outfield: Hoffpauir, Fukudome, Bradley
Bench: Hill (L), Fontenot (L), Freel (R), Johnson (R), Miles (S)
These moves give the Cubs the best starting rotation in baseball, solidifies the bullpen, and adds a LH power bat in the lineup.

So it appears in your scenario they traded Peavey to us for... nobody?

[Stratmaster]

The Grinch wrote:

I'm waiting for Jim Hendry to step up and admit that our team's problems are all his fault, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Our team was better than anyone by far in the division and he got rid of our solid closer and most valuable player for NOTHING. If Jeff Stevens is so great, then why isn't he up here instead of Jose Ascanio, who is supposed to be a STARTER now? The great coaching continues...
The fact is, that we wouldn't be in the mess that we're in if DeRosa and Wood hadn't been traded. Bradley was a HUGE waste of money and I'm tired of watching .100 hitting Ryan Freel throw balls into the stands.
I'm also tired of watching Piniella run the SAME line-up out there every night that STINKS. Why do you have to move Soriano? SIT BRADLEY and let Hoffpauir play!!! If Fontenot's not hitting, let Scales play every day. Call up Fox and let him learn his way at 3B until Ramirez gets back (he can't be worse than Freel can he?). Let Koyie Hill play since Soto can't hit a breaking ball anymore. Use Aaron Miles as a sub, which is all that he is (he's not a starter!).
When is Hendry going to step up, take ownership, and fix this team? It's obvious that we're no better than a second place team with this current roster. Stop hiding behind the sale of the team.
Keep up the great work!!!

The fact is the Cubs wouldn't be vying for their 3rd straight division title if not for Hendry. Sure beats all those 90 loss seasons. How long have you been a cubs fan?