The View From Down Here - This is the Year?

On the eve of the second Cubs/Cardinals series (this time at Busch Stadium) I thought I would take a cue from Solly, and give my take on the state of the Cubs as well as the NL Central in general.


First of all, let’s take a look at the NL Central standings 16 games in:

You’re reading that right.  Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are ahead of the Cubs.  I never doubted that St. Louis would be up there.  They always find a way to stay competitive.  As much as I hate Tony LaRussa, you have to give him credit for that.  But the Reds and the Pirates?  I realize it’s early, but no one thought things would be taking shape like this.


To say the Cubs offense is sputtering would be an understatement.  For the most part, they have looked lethargic and uninspired so far.  They are getting on base, but they are being stranded out there.  This is a team that had a +184 run differential last year.  So far into this season, they have a +6.  And that’s with adding Milton Bradley.


OK, that last part isn’t entirely true.  They have sort of added Milton Bradley.  “The Game” (he of the three year, $30 million contract) has played in all of 9 games while nursing a groin injury.  And in those 9 games, he’s barey batting above my 4 year old daughter’s weight (.043).  And what does last year’s AL leader in on-base percentage bring to the Cubs so far?  A “stellar” .267 OBP.  To put that into perspective, he’s just barley above Barry Zito.  Let that sink in for a second.  Barry Zito.  A pitcher.  A pitcher that spent most of his career on an AL team.  A pitcher with a career .103 OBP is barely below Milton Bradley.  This is all coming from a guy who said this at the beginning of the season, “I’m on a personal mission to win a championship. The Cubs have been in a long drought. Hopefully, we can help each other.” Well,  he better step it up, or it won’t just be the boos of the fans Bradley will have to worry about.


In his defense, though, he’s not the only one scuffling.  Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, Geovany Soto, is batting a paltry .103 with 3 total bases in 29 at bats.  You read that right.  THREE total bases.  Derrek Lee, a Triple Crown contender just a few seasons ago, is batting just .207 and 1 home run.  Mike “Little Lord” Fontenot, or “The Player Mark DeRosa was Traded for to Give him More Playing Time” is barely above the Mendoza Line at .209 as well.  These three need to start producing or the Cubs could be in big trouble.


There are some bright spots, however.  Alfonso Soriano is tied for the league lead in home runs and has, get this, a .407 OBP.  He’s actually taking walks this season….sometimes 2 or 3 a game.  He finally has the numbers of a true leadoff hitter.  Plus, the power numbers don’t hurt.


Micah Hoffpauir may be proving that last year was no fluke.  He’s currently batting .350 (.364 OBP) with a HR and 5 RBI in limited playing time, filling in for Milton Bradley.  If he continues to hit (and that’s a big IF, considering he is pushing 30 and is a career minor leaguer), I would definitely consider moving DLee to a contender needing a 1B, for a top notch prospect.  It could really help stock a depleted farm system.  It could also help with a trade deadline deal later in the season.  Then, next year, you move ARam over to 1B and open up 3B for the Cubs stud prospect, Josh Vitters.  But that’s a story for another blog…..


Koskue Fukudome, “Mr. April”, looks like he could be having a bounce back year.  He’s currently batting .347 with a .476 OBP.  He is also tied with Aramis Ramirez for second on the team with 3 HR.  His 10 RBI is second, just behind Ramirez’s 14.  Of course, he looked just as good at the beginning of last season.  The fact that he made adjustments this season, even after the pitchers started pitching to him differently, does bode well, however.


Speaking of Aramis Ramirez, he continues to be “Mr. Clutch”.  He’s batting .353 with 3 HR and 14 RBI.  So far this season, with runners on, he’s batting 1.000 with a 1.000 SLG.  Not to mention, he’s absolutely killing the ball with the bases loaded, slugging 1.333.  He even comes through in what are normally considered “pressure situations”:

Personally, I think the jury is still out on Hoffpauir, Fontenot, and (to an extent) Soto.  The good news is that Bradley and Lee have a decent history to suggest that they will bounce back.  In the meantime, however, “Sweet” Lou needs to do something to light a fire under this team, or it’s going to be a long season, stuck behind Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Oh, and I’ll be gone this weekend with the wife, so if any of you have my cell number and want to send me text updates on the games, it would really be appreciated…..by me anyway.