Cheddar Tom wrote:The more I think about Matheny's odd lineup decisions....the more I think his hands are tied by baseball's weird rule where aging vets have to be appeased. TLR kept McGwire batting 3rd, Pujols is still batting 4th, Jeter batted 2nd in 2014.
You're not wrong. Heyward is still batting 2nd for the Cubs. Makes no sense.
One of the things I said in the predictions thread (aside from Leake being our best pitcher) is that Holliday will deserve to move down in the order, but Matheny won't do it till Memorial Day. We shall see.
Cubs are on course to have a historic regular season. If they play like this in October then the Billy Goat can finally be laid to rest and Bartman can come out of hiding.
Having the league's best record hasn't worked out all that great for us in the postseason.
Cards since 1982:
2015 (100) - lost LDS
2013 (97) - lost WS
2005 (100) - lost LCS
2004 (105) - lost WS
2001 (93/tied w HOU) - lost LDS
1987 (95) - lost WS
1985 (100) - lost WS
1982 (92) - won WS
Cubs over that same stretch:
2008 (97) - lost LDS
1989 (93) - lost LCS
1984 (96) - lost LCS
Cheddar Tom wrote:The more I think about Matheny's odd lineup decisions....the more I think his hands are tied by baseball's weird rule where aging vets have to be appeased. TLR kept McGwire batting 3rd, Pujols is still batting 4th, Jeter batted 2nd in 2014.
Or Matheny just doesn't have any 3-4-5 hitters on his roster.
I think Carpenter and Piscotty would be more than adequate in the middle of the lineup
Sure, they could bat Carp third and Piscotty fourth. Then they won't have a very good 1-2 at the top. I don't see what difference it makes.
Cheddar Tom wrote:They could move Diaz to leadoff and bat Holliday 2nd.
I don't think that's better. Ideally, you'd bat Piscotty 2nd and Carpenter 3rd but there's still no cleanup hitter. The team is just missing a great bat to anchor the lineup. That's the bottom line. Has been for years.
