I was just watching Around the Horn and Jay Mariotti said that the Milwaukee Brewers have a better bullpen and batting lineup than our Chicago Cubs. I agree with him on the bullpen. After what happened last night, you can’t think we have a “good” or even “decent” bullpen; but the batting lineup is, in my eyes, a more proven lineup.
If you take the top three batters from each team, you have Derrick Lee, Alfonso Soriano, and Aramis Ramirez on the north side. As for Milwaukee you can try and make a comparison with Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, and Bill Hall.
Fielder and Hardy have only been in the league for three years, both having a career year here in 2007 . Fielder has come close to his home run total last year at 28, and Hardy has been having knee and hip problems lately. It doesn’t seem like he will hold up the whole, grueling, season. The only one of these three who has 5 or more years under his belt is Bill Hall. His only good season came last year with 35 HR, 85 RBI, and a .270 BA. Currently he is on pace to have a similar season. None of the Brewers compared here are batting over .300, with Hall having the lowest average at .268.
As for our Cubbies; Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez are all well-known sluggers. Each player has been in the league 9+ years and is currently batting no less than .298 (Ramirez). The only Cub who seems prone to injury is Ramirez, who has dealt with sporadic quad and groin injuries over the last couple years. Ramirez has over 34 HR his last 3 years and is currently on pace do to about the same. Soriano is certainly heating up this time of year. Last night he had a game winning 2 RBI hit in the bottom of the ninth after the bullpen blowup; oh and not to mention the 3 HR in 3 games against the White Sox. Let’s not forget Derrick Lee, batting a solid .350 with 26 2B and 39 RBI. Keep an eye on D.Lee, I have a feeling his home run stroke is about to come back.
So Mariotti, next time you say the Milwaukee Brewers have a better lineup than our Chicago Cubs, THINK AGAIN!!!
July 19th, 2007 at 8:58 am
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July 19th, 2007 at 9:09 am
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