The Walker Situation and Etc....

With Mark Grudzielanek coming off the DL shortly talk has centered around whether Grudz should lose his job to Walker. The Cub Reporter has a good article explaining what he would like to do in this situation, that is worth a read.

I have always liked Todd Walker, I was one of the few if not only bloggers saying we should go after Todd Walker instead of Luis Castillo. My idea of salary for Walker was way off base, but I am glad the Cubs got one of my "Top Priority" pickups from my Nov 13th post of last year.

The reality of the situation is we need Walkers bat more than we need Grudz's glove. We need that left handed bat in the lineup if for nothing else than for the pitcher to change his rhythm. The reason teams try and get a balanced lineup of lefthanded and right handed hitters is because your less likely to fall into slumps this way. Right handed dominated lineups tend to get all hot at the same time and then all fall cold at the same time. Right handed hitting lineups are more likely to be shutdown by good RHP teams.

My biggest grip about Grudz is his hitting is mostly shallow. He put up a good batting average and that was about it. Walker atleast as better extra base ability and can drive in runners from the top of the lineup unlike Grudz. For a team that needs offense, then Walker is the clear cut choice.

Having two lefthanded hitters getting on in front of our right handed hitting lineup is perfect in my opinion and has been helping this lineup a ton. I thought Sosa would benefit a lot from Walker and Patterson ahead of him, but in fact Aramis Ramirez has capitalized the most. In fact Walker, Patterson, and Sosa are this teams best hitters against RHP. So I can see why Am-Ram is having a huge year so far. He is getting a ton of people on ahead of him and is driving them in.

I blasted Baker for wanting to put Derek Lee in the 6th slot, but I will give Dusty his props on this one. I think its a shrewd move and has payed off. Derek Lee is supposed to be the better hitter and more feared than Am-Ram ,so what would be better than to sandwich Am-Ram between Sosa and Lee? Seems to be working to me.