vis ESPN
We’re way behind on recaps, we know. But the Blackhawks playoffs have taken ownership of our sports television viewing. We have a new schedule during the week now so we should be able to resume watching both. The way they’ve played lately though, it’s hard to watch.
The Cubs offensively are one of the worst teams in all of baseball after two weeks. They’re 15th in runs scored, 10th in team average, 11th in team slugging and first in strikeouts. Not exactly lighting up the scoreboard right now. There’s lots of fingers being pointed at new hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo, but let’s be fair… it’s going to take at least a month or two for his instruction to really have an effect.
What’s most concerning to us right is the the lack of a consistent lineup. If you remember, last season the White Sox ran with something like 126 different lineups over the course of the season. The Cubs seems to be following that model this season. We understand the five outfielder problem, but there is a complete lack of a leadoff hitter in the Cubs lineup and 6-8 isn’t producing anything. The only concrete slots are the 2-3-4 with Fukudome, Lee and Ramirez.
While it’s highly unlikely until at the very least the first week of May, we’d like to see Lou sit Soriano down for an entire three game set. It’s no secret he’s dogging it out of the box and we all know his defense is horrendous. At the same time, Soriano is necessary for offensive production because when his bat gets hot, he carries the Cubs. This all boils down to one problem for the Cubs.
There isn’t a roster move or a trade out there right now to improve the offense. This team is constructed as it is and will need to hit as it is. We can complain all we want about the bullpen blowing games, but we can’t win if we can’t score. Do the Cubs need to turn into a running team and start playing the steal or hit and run game? Do they even have the personnel? Or are they strictly built to win via the home run? Because they haven’t won a game without one yet.
SouvenirCity
