Mike Fontenot Slays Aaron Miles
Piniella said Mike Fontenot would be his everyday second baseman, at least againist right-handed pitching, and would bat sixth in the lineup. That would give the Cubs lefties in the second (Kosuke Fukudome), fourth (Milton Bradley) and sixth (Fontenot) spots. Bradley is a switch-hitter.
“I don’t want to get caught with two left-handers sixth and seventh or sixth and eighth,” Piniella said. [This] is a real nice way to break them up.” Hardball.
I am, of course, thrilled about this news, but I wouldn’t be a Chicago Cubs blogger if I didn’t find something to complain about.
There is the primary complaint: why bat Fukudome second and Fontenot sixth instead of the other way around? But even aside from that obvious flaw, I have to take issue with the lefties going 2-4-6.
I am not a Ryan Theriot apologist by any stretch of the imagination, but the guy was great in the 2-hole last year. If it’s not going to be Fontenot batting second, Theriot makes some sense there. And it makes possible the most important move in the lineup: batting Milton Bradley third. Aramis Ramirez could bat fourth, Fontenot fifth, Derrek Lee sixth (where he should be), Soto seventh (very low, but it’s where he’s going to be regardless), and Fukudome eighth.
Again, this is all assuming Fontenot isn’t going to be batting second (where he makes a ton of sense).
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- Lou Piniella Hoping Mike Fontenot Can Backup Shortstop With far more options to join the Chicago Cubs bench...
- First Spring Training Lineup Holds Clues for the Season The Chicago Cubs will play their first Spring Training game...
I totally agree that Boardgame should be batting third. In fact, this is the order I would send out there on opening day.
1. Theriot
2. Lee
3. Bradley
4. Aramis
5. Soriano
6. Font
7. Soto
8. Fukudome
9. Big Z
I think Lee would be great in the 2 slot. He could focus on getting on base instead of hitting warning track fly balls.
Oh yeah, we got Font in the Sosa trade to Baltimore. That one worked out alright.
Lee drives the ball into the ground too much for my taste in the 2 hole. Love the OBP, though.
It would be much better for Mike Fontenot to follow right behind Lee. Lee is a foot taller than Fontenot, and that would really drive pitchers nuts. Mike is hard enough to pitch to. Imagine having to face him right after Lee!
I had never really thought about the impact of height changing that much. It actually makes some sense.