9/19 Cubs lineup
Chris Rusin will make his fifth big league start on Wednesday when the Cubs play host to the Reds in the second game of this three-game series. The left-hander is coming off a win over the Pirates in which he gave up two runs over five innings. Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Mike Leake. Here’s the Cubs lineup:
DeJesus RF
Barney 2B
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
Castro SS
Valbuena 3B
Castillo C
Jackson CF
Rusin P
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
Hasn’t Valbuena lowered his ba enough to now be considered as “good” an option at 3B as Vitters? I know his defense is better than Vitters but it seems more good would come from playing Vitters the remaining games rather than the slightly more productive Valbuena. Too bad LaHair is a lefty they might have thrown him out there at 3B. Sveum sure is saddled with a bunch of low level options. I still think he could have done just a little better as manger his first year however.
Several observations about Sveum. Somehow he got through to Soriano to hustle in every aspect of his game. He stuck with Barney and a really good ballplayer has emerged. He gave LaHair a great opportunity to stick but that is over. He suffered through Marmol and Castillo and they have benefited. He put DeJesus in the right spots for success and sees Jackson as a regular. He recognizes Camp and gave him a chance to succeed beyond expectations. He has handled Rizzo and Castro with kid gloves yet never overlooking their growing pains. He has endured a horrible amount of losses but seems to have kept his composure with players, coaches, and the press. Yep, I can second guess several things and have all year but thank goodness for those positives.
I don’t think Soriano is hustling in EVERY aspect of his game but do believe Sveum had a much more positive influence on him than Quade or Piniella. No doubt you can’t pin the horrendous season on Sveum but I think he should have been able to squeak out a few more victories if he was a better manager. But he too is learning and will be a better manager next season just by
the fact he knows his players more than ever, their limits and strengths. This year, pretty much all involved gets a pass.
I think Sveum is just grasping at straws… sure he has made some mistakes but for how bad this team is you can’t blame the losses on him… I expect big things from Sveum when we continue to improve this team with better quality guys. I hope the offseason is a busy one for the FO because we need it
Is that based on fact and stats or opinion?
Nice one. The words “I think” speak volumes.
A Funkhouser family problem has just emerged concerning our Sept 27th Wrigley picnic. Our dear uncle purchased 18 tickets from a young man in the parking lot of the Hummingbird Jamaica Resturant on S. Halsted two months ago. The tickets are for section 538 upper deck outfield box seats. As being passed out this afternoon we note that each seat number is the same–7–on every ticket. This is worrisome.
hahahahaah GOTCHA!!!!
Way to go Soriano. Hit another homerun and turned another double play. You keep this up I might actually like seeing you in left field next year.