gobigred203

Even though some good things have been done with the lineups lately, I have a couple of things I could suggest to Piniella while Alfonso Soriano is out..

We could have a lineup like this.

SS Ryan Theriot
CF Reed Johnson
1B Derrek Lee
3B Aramis Ramirez
RF Kosuke Fukudome
C   Geovany Soto
LF Mark DeRosa
2B Eric Patterson
Pitcher's spot

Now, I know, E-Pat in the lineup?  What are you thinking?  Here's my reasoning, I say give the kid some chances first.  He has just been called, and we might as well play him while he's up here.  I think The Riot can still have a chance to do some good in the leadoff spot while Reed Johnson is a formidable 2-spot batter.

Here's another one:

2B Mike Fontenot
SS Ryan Theriot
1B Derrek Lee
RF Kosuke Fukudome
3B Aramis Ramirez
C   Geovany Soto
LF Mark DeRosa
CF Felix Pie
Pitcher's spot

With Fontenot swinging a good bat (even though he went 0-for-5 earlier today w/ 7 men left on base), he could get on base in front of the red-hot Derrek Lee.  Meanwhile, with Am-Ram still struggling, Fukudome could move up to the cleanup spot and give Am-Ram some time to heat up.  Felix Pie has struggled and could be replaced w/ Reed Johnson at some point.

By the way, the rotation really isn't that great.  Ted Lilly has been pitching like a 50 year old Dave Bush and is proving more and more that he was a fluke last year.  Rich Hill can still get it going though and Ryan Dempster has been a pleasant surprise.  We could possibly think about giving Sean Marshall a chance to start if Lilly continues pitching like this (he was a little better today though).  Sean Gallagher is a possibility also..

Just some things to think about..

I've been thinking about how the Cubs have been labeled losers of the past century only because we have failed to win a WS title since 1908 (not to mention not winning the NL Pennant since 1945).  It got me to thinking though...are we the ultimate losers?  I don't really think so.  Sure, it's been a little miserable not seeing a WS title hoisted in Chicago's north side since for 99 season, but technically, I don't think we should be labeled "losers."  It got me to thinking, remember last year when the Philadelphia Phillies became the first team to reach 10,000 losses?  Sure, they've been successful in recent years, but yet, they still only have 1 World Series title (compared to the Cubs' two) and have won the pennant only 5 times compared to the Cubs' 16 (granted, the Cubs have been a team for 7 years longer).  Do you think the label of "losers" should be planted onto the Phillies?  Maybe, maybe not, the choice is yours.  Just some food for thought..

...about Kerry Wood?  He pitches one bad inning and people have the guts to say, "the same old" Kerry Wood???  The same old Kerry Wood was the pitcher that had the most electrifying stuff in baseball.  He was able to lead the Cubs and be the strikeout pitcher that he is.  Be patient.  Kerry Wood has the veteran presence and he's adjusting.  He's used to being a starter, but has learned how to pitch out of the bullpen.  This is a learning experience and everyone just has to be patient.  Same thing goes for Eric Gagne.  He isn't learning, but he was at once the best closer in the game.  I can't believe how unbelievably patient some people are...One game doesn't mean a season..

..Just like this loss doesn't mean a season...

I was thinking..what if Georgia and Illinois does win? I have 3 more sets of predictions if they happen to win their respective tourneys. You'll figure out which is which.

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America East (1) - MARYLAND-BALTIMORE COUNTY
Atlantic Ten (4) - Xavier, Saint Joseph's, Massachusetts, TEMPLE
Atlantic Coast (4) - NORTH CAROLINA, Duke, Miami (FL), Clemson
Atlantic Sun (1) - BELMONT
Big XII (6) - Kansas,