2k7 vs 2k8

So let's take a look at why this postseason will (Hopefully) be different.

A. The opponent - Dodgers or Mets - Not nearly the pitching Arizona boasted last year. The Mets in particular will go down in fart flames with the Cubs lineup.

B. Home field advantage. Unlike last year, when the Cubs and 'Brewers both insisted on holding the door open for the other, the Cubs this year as soon as the Brewers tripped, snapped up the crown and ran with it all season, winning at least 10 more games than their less-than-impressive effort of 07.

C. The Lineup.

Lineup for Oct 3, 2007

Soriano - While not having nearly as dominating September as last year, has 3 less HR's and 9 more walks than last year, and that's with 27 fewer games. BA is down a bit.
Jones - Gone
Lee - Less of a power, but more consistent season this year. Seems to have remembered where the strike zone is this year.
Ramirez - Has been a clutch player both years, but check out these numbers - Games +16 Runs +24 Hits +1, 2B +9, HR +1, RBI +10, BB - and this is the big one - +31, OBP +.013.
Floyd - Gone
DeRosa - Career Year in HR and RBI, but potentially hurt.
Soto - MVP. Nuff Said
Theriot - Didn't slump during September, most offensive stats up, BA +.040.
Zambrano - Not starting. Instead it will be Dempster, the winningest pitcher on the staff. Solid performer al year. Did get slapped around a bit just before the break, but a .296 ERA. Dang.

Not convinced yet? Take a look at the team numbers -
G -3, AB -120, H +7, HR +31, RBI +98, OBP +.022, SLG +.022 AVG +.007.

Lovin' them minutes...

Make it official...

I have never said it in print, but aloud many many times, so let's make it official -

Soriano is the only choice for leadoff.

Soriano is a leadoff hitter and here's why - he sucks donkey a-holes anywhere else in the lineup. I dont have, nor do I know where to get, his splits for batting elsewhere in the lineup, but it's been reported time and again, his numbers really really suck when he bats elsewhere. I'll see if i can find those numbers somewhere... Is he a baby? Maybe. Is he being coddled? Maybe. But here's the thing. Everyone in the world says he needs to be moved down in the order to maximize his run production. Ok, fine. Let's examine that argument. So if Soriano bats, say 5th in the order, his production will go up. Really? It was recently reported, the #8 spot in the batting order has an OBP of over .350 or so. The #7 slot has been taken up recently by Fukudome, whose OBP is above .350 as well. The Cubs also have two of the better hitting pitchers in baseball in Zambrano (batting .350) and Marquis.

Whereas Derrek Lee is leading the NL in GIDP, and Ramirez is currently the RBI leader for the Cubs. So if Lee is grounding into more double plays than the entire Marlins Roster (this is not true 0- just an over-dramatization) and Ramirez is driving in all these runs, who's going to be3 left for Soriano to drive in? What was that? Nobody? ok. This is assuming that Soriano keeps his leadoff numbers when he goes to the 5 hole, which history has dictated won't happen.

There's more to be said about this, but I'm over my minute....It'll have to be a roll-over minute...