This afternoon the Cubs play their first spring training game.
The lineup?
K-Fuk
Starlin
Byrd
Ramirez
Pena
Soriano
Geo
DeWittless
Z
Here's the truth...this is likely to be the Cubs regular starting lineup this season. Yeah, Colvin will be rotated in. Baker and Barney may take some turns at second, but this is it.
I wish there was something to be excited about with it...but there really isn't. Fukudome is not a good leadoff hitter. Byrd is probably a better #2 hitter. Castro didn't do as well when he was near the top of the lineup last year. He's young, so that can change quickly. Soriano will have to have a pretty dramatic turnaround for me to believe he should be higher in the order than Soto.
As of right now, the Cubs don't have much of any talent appropriate to bat leadoff. That might change, though, if Castro continues to improve. The Cubs need to decide what direction the kid is going to take, though, and do that soon. Part of the problems they've had with young talent is that they never quite know what to do with it.
One thing is for sure about this lineup...it is slow...very slow.
Fukudome is notorious for getting thrown out stealing. Castro might be a good baserunner in the future. Byrd, Ramirez, Soto, and Pena are boulders out on the base pads. DeWitt isn't any good as a runner as well, and Soriano forgot the craft thanks to Lou Piniella.
Personally, this is the lineup I'd be going with right now:
Castro
Byrd
Pena
Ramirez
Fukudome
Soto
Soriano
2nd baseman de jure
Pitcher
But I don't know anything.
So...let's sit back and see what these guys have to offer!
