Chris Volstad left after five innings in a tie game, but the bullpen once again failed the Cubs and they wound up losing 7-5. With Volstad, you pretty much get this kind of performance whenever he goes to the mound. He's usually going to eat more innings than last night, but he is going to give up four or five runs in the process. In other words, major league teams are going to take their hacks at him and he's not going to shut anyone down. I suspect the only real reason he is in the rotation instead of Wells is that he was included in the Zambrano deal and management has to prove they got something for their $15 odd million when really they did not.
I hate to be super-critical of Dale Sveum this early in the season. Maybe he will turn it around. However, the idea that you are feeling your way around a whole new team is rather bogus. These guys have a track record that is plain for anyone to examine.
Shawn Camp has been around for nine seasons and he is what he is, a mop-up guy who will eat up some innings in games you have already lost or are likely to lose. This is how Toronto used him. So to stick him out there in a winnable game and to stick with him while he struggles is just not a winning strategy. I'm OK with giving Castillo a look once the damage has been done, but, honestly, the guy you go to that early has got to be Rodrigo Lopez.
On the subject of having a record upon which to base decisions, I have a lot of problems with that batting order. First off, Castro has the worst career splits batting third than any other spot in the lineup. He is much better off hitting first or second and probably second right now is his natural position. I suspect the reason for this is that he is naturally aggressive in his approach and when he bats third, he just gets into a swing mode and cannot get out of it. You could see this last night when he hit with the bases loaded and struck out to end the game. Axford knew he would go for the first pitch, a ball, and after that he was pretty much at his mercy.
Next, what on earth is the thinking in hitting Soriano clean-up? You know this guy, throughout his career, is a better hitter with no one on base. So I'm curious what the thinking is behind this, if there is any. I know there are limited options, but I rather thought LaHair was the obvious choice here and since he has come back from his minor injury, he has certainly earned it.
On the subject of LaHair, this is one move the new regime has made that is likely to prove out in the long run. This guy looks like he can really hit and hit with power. So it is nice that he has finally got a shot. I also like what I have seen so far from Stewart. He seems to give you a professional at-bat most of the time. I haven't been impressed with DeJesus at all. He just does not look comfortable either at the plate or in the field.
When you think about it, the three players mentioned above are the only real changes to the opening day lineup from last year. Coming into the season, you had to figure that at best it was a wash. So that doesn't bode too well for this season, does it?
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