In the midst of a six game losing streak, Manager Sveum is thinking about mixing up the top three in the lineup because they are not producing runs. The Cubs offense was woeful yesterday, with the wind blowing out at a gale. The White Sox had no trouble taking Maholm's mistakes onto Waveland Avenue. But the timid Cubs rarely got a ball out of the infield.
The top three in the order of managerial ire are DeJesus, Campana and Castro.
It seems an odd choice to single out the top of the order on "run production."
The team only has three .300 hitters: LaHair, Campana and Castro.
The team has only three 20 RBI men: LaHair, Soriano and Castro.
From a statistical standpoint, Castro is doing well batting #3.
Campana is hitting for average in the #2 hole, though his speed and bunting for hits is M.O.
DeJesus is batting .276, 1 HR, 9 RBI and 0 SB.
DeJesus is not a lead off man. However, that is the position he has played in the past and Cubs have continued it on this season. Campana is not a solid contact hitter to be a good #2 hitter, but only has speed to be a lead off guy. But his defense in CF is weak.
What will Sveum do? Flip DeJesus and Campana in the batting order?
Besides LaHair and Soriano (who recently hit his first two homers of the season), the only weak power is Stewart at third, but his .201 average and 13 RBIs has disappointment written all over that Colorado trade.
The injured catching corps has not produced sustained offense. Barney is a total non-factor at the plate.
The pre-season fact that this Cub roster is not a balanced, run producing line up has come home to roost.
Sveum appears to be ready to pull the trigger and start full time platoons (but those never work out in the end): DeJesus-Baker in RF; Barney-Cardenas at 2B; Stewart-Mather at 3B; Campana-Johnson in CF.
Then the glimmer of hope is the anticipation of Iowa sluggers to be called up and provide instant offense. Anthony Rizzo has hit 14 HRs in AAA. However, the team is not going to push him into service time while LaHair is still productive at first base. Brett Jackson could be the solid OF, #3 hitter of the future, but he is scuffling at AAA, batting under .250. There is no rush to call up solid prospects to play part time on a bad Cubs team. This is a rebuilding season; no, more like a a season on hold until next year where the rebuilding process will start.
