According to the Chicago Tribune, Alfonso Soriano has the second-worst on-base percentage of any playing leading off in the National League. On the Cubs alone, Soriano has the third worst percentage. But that means nothing to GM Jim Hendry.
On Wednesday he publicly defended Lou Piniella’s decision to keep Soriano in the lead off spot:
Some guys are slow starters, and he’s one of them. Once he starts hitting, he doesn’t regress. … Lou is going to write the lineup, and I have no problem with him hitting [first].
Hendry has a point, Once Soriano gets going, he’s tough to beat. But rather than looking at his batting average, maybe Piniella should consider putting Soriano in a spot that will give him more base runners to drive in. My suggestion would be to bat him sixth behind Fukudome. He’d get less at bats, but he’d probably do more damage. Fukudome won’t hit too many home runs this season, but having someone in front of Soriano who is constantly getting on base may be the best thing for Soriano and the team.
Soriano may claim he’s most comfortable in the lead off spot, but that’s the same thing he said about playing the infield and he’s made that change without the world coming to an end.
Another interesting note from this Tribune story. According to Hendry, the Cubs will not keep 13 pitchers when Scott Eyre rejoins the team in Chicago. So the possibility of Felix Pie, or some other position player, being sent to Triple-A is nil.
