Strained Hamstring = Great Career Move

Let's face it, the depth chart Lou had to start off the year with just wasn't working. Soriano made an acceptable center fielder, but he wasn't that great. And he was floundering in the lead-off spot in the order. After 12 games with him in the lineup, we were a moderate 5-7 in the W-L column. So he did what every potential Cubs star does and injured himself. In this case, it was a strained hamstring.

Enter Felix Pie. Brought up to fill in for Soriano, in his first game he dazzled us with his defensive abilities. So what if his hitting has been lackluster at best; he has speed, a great arm, and he's a true CF and lead-off man. The hitting will come in time, he was a great hitter in all three of the minor league classes he played in.

Soriano is set to return on Monday. So the question on everyone's minds is, what happens to Pie? It appears that Lou might have the answer.

Manager Lou Piniella said putting Soriano in left would take some of the strain off the hamstring. Soriano, who signed an eight-year, $136 million contract in the offseason, said he was all for the move.

"We're going to put him in left field. We're going to leave him in left field, put him in left field," Piniella said Saturday before the game against the Cardinals. "It will be less running. It will be much better for him. ... He's OK with that, I talked to him about it. He understands."

If Soriano is nursing his hamstring in left, whoever will play center? I just wish we had some young prospect with a terrific arm and great offensive potential that plays center and can lead-off...

Please Lou, keep Felix Pie in the lineup. Put him at the lead-off spot, move Soriano to the cleanup spot where he belongs. Your logic before the season was that he had a great year last year at lead-off. Well that's working out really great so far isn't it?

Move the Murton/Floyd platoon over to right field, and get Hendry to trade Jacque Jones. Either get a pitcher for him, or get a prospect and call back up Angel Guzman. We need that 12th pitcher.

Just try it for a little while Lou, at least until Soriano is out of the danger zone.

Desired Lineup:

1. Felix Pie - CF
   
2. Matt Murton/Cliff Floyd - RF
   
3. Derrek Lee - 1B
   
4. Alfonso Soriano - LF
   
5. Aramis Ramirez - 3B
   
6. Michael Barrett - C
   
7. Mark DeRosa - 2B
   
8. Cesar Izturis - SS
   
9. Pitcher (Preferably Hill, Lilly, or Marquis)

DeRosa, Barrett, and the Platoon are interchangable in the order. The rest should be permanent. Quit screwing with people's scorecards Lou.

I guess if I knew more than Lou I would be managing the Cubs, so maybe I should just shut up. Or maybe he got the job over me cause I'm not very skilled at throwing bases. I really hope it's the first one, cause if I know baseball better than our manager we have some serious problems.

EDIT: I forgot, Ryan Theriot can be mixed in at SS, 2B, or RF. Whoever needs a break. The Riot is as versatile as you can get.