Time to make some changes

It has been less than a month of baseball and it is already time to make some changes to the team. The poor offense is wasting the great efforts by the starting pitching. Their are multiple games that went to the loss column in the standings that should have been a win. Their are too many runners left stranded on the base paths and it is just embarrassing to watch the offense strike out at the plate.

First off, we can point our finger to the obvious. Our offense from first base has been horrendous. Starter Brad Hawpe has looked lost at the plate. He is batting less that .100, only has 2 RBI on the season and only has one extra base hit. He is a HUGE hole in the lineup and it allows pitchers to pitch around anyone that is batting in front of him. It’s time to try something new and it might be time to call up Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A. CUT Brad Hawpe and bring up the Rizzman.

Everyone wants to give Rizzo more time to develop, but the big league club is in desperate need for a bopper in the lineup. One big bat will allow other hitters to settle into their roles better. He could immediately make an impact in the lineup and it would make the other players better. Hudson would have someone hitting behind him and Ludwick could bat behind Rizzo to give him more protection in the lineup. LETS GIVE THE KID HIS CHANCE!

Cameron Maybin needs to continue with the leadoff duties. He has looked good in that role and just needs to see consistent at bats with that role and let him develop into our lead off man. Will Venable just was not getting the job done and should be pushed down later in the lineup.

Will Venable needs to start hitting OR we play no-fielding Chris Denorfia and use Venable as a defensive replacement. At least Norf gives good at bats and can hit for some decent power. Norf is a mess in the field, but we need his bat in the lineup right now.

Our starting pitching is going to waste and a little offense could start a winning streak that could bring us back. It is not much offense that is needed, just a few runs a night would get us a “W”. Time to make things start happening!

Here is the how the lineup could look:

CF Cameron Maybin
SS Jason Bartlett
2B Orlando Hudson
1B Anthony Rizzo
LF Ryan Ludwick
C Nick Hundley
3B Chase Headley
RF Chris Denorfia
P Pitcher’s spot

And keep it like this for a few games to allow them to settle into their roles. Enough of pulling names out of a hat to make a lineup.