It was the Travis Wood show last night. Wood pitched seven innings of one-run ball and drove in four runs with a three-run homer and an RBI double. The rest of the team? Meh.
Some of my friends think I am too critical of Renteria's lineups and that I am being too hard on him in general, but I really think that after eighteen games and all of spring training, some conclusions are possible beyond the platoons and bunts and that it is time to make them.
Last night's lineup is a case in point. Strictly platoons and matchups. What did it produce? Nothing. The whole game hinged on the performance of a single player, Travis Wood.
Last night the lefties were 4 for 22 with two walks; the righties were 5 for 9 with one walk. Great production from that platoon system, eh? The point is that platoons are great with players of relatively equal ability and potential.
The problem with the Cubs platoons is the left-handed side of them is generally, with the exception of Anthony Rizzo, inferior in talent and ability. So playing these guys to the detriment of establishing a regular everyday lineup that promotes the development of players who may have a higher ceiling is counter-productive.
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