Chicago Sports
Posting Date: May 6, 2008
Some Free Advice To Blunt Cubs’ Free Fall
Well, the Cubs (as of this writing: Monday, May 5) have fallen out of first place, having lost 2 of 3 games to both of their main NL Central rivals: the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.
The week featured a lot of negatives, not the least of which was the return of Alfonso Soriano — and his return to the leadoff spot and his spotty (at best) play in left field.
The week also featured the meltdown (and trip down to the minors) of Rich Hill and — what has been overlooked — the use, or misuse, of Carlos Marmol for two innings of a blowout win against the Cardinals.
And the week also featured the meltdown of manager Lou Piniella, who apparently has unending patience with Soriano but none for Hill and reporters who ask about his use of Soriano. And it was Piniella who decided to use Marmol for two innings in Saturday’s 9-3 win against the Cards, thus making him unavailable for the following game against the Cards, who the Cubs — if not for wasted opportunities — could have gone ahead of in the late innings.
Soriano’s defense — not good to begin with — was deplorable in the finale of the three-game series against the Brewers and in the opener of the three-game series against the Cardinals, costing the Cubs wins in both games. And his role as a leadoff man is a continuing problem. The Cubs, quite simply, were a better team with Reed Johnson leading off, and would be if he stayed in the role (or someone else, such as Kosuke Fukudome, batted leadoff).
That is not to dismiss what Soriano has done with his bat since his return, such as the game-tying homer in the ninth against the Cards on Friday. But he has taketh away more than he has giveth, not only because of his poor defense but because of his continued poor on-base percentage as a leadoff man.
He would have served the Cubs a lot better with a one-week stint in the minors to get rid of the rustiness, and he would better serve the Cubs now if he batted fifth or sixth in the lineup.
As for Hill, Piniella may have been right in removing him so quickly against the Cards and sending him to the minors, but his lack of patience in this regard is in stark contrast to how he has treated Soriano’s peccadillos.
But Hill will be back, and he will show why he should be an untouchable in any trade. And the Cubs may right the ship, even with Soriano in the leadoff spot.
They will soon be first again in the division (indeed, they may already be by the time you read this), and Soriano may be leading the way.
But the long-term prospects (meaning the playoffs) are not good, unless they get the leadoff situation straightened out.