Soriano is not a leadoff hitter, his on-base percentage is awful. So Lou had DeRosa, arguably the team's most consistent hitter, in the 7 slot, and his only .300 hitter, Theriot, in 8.

This was to accomodate two overpaid babies: Soriano, who begs to hit leadoff even though he refuses to do what leadoff hitters are supposed to do -- get walks, steal bases, NOT SWING AT BAD PITCHES -- and Fukudome, who apparently has been homesick for months. They should have given him a one-way ticket in August and told him to grow up.

Fukudome is, as far as I can tell, the only player ever to go from .335 to .259 within 3 months. He should not have even been on the playoff roster, and the Game 3 lineup was a vast improvement.

Let's not forget that Lou Piniella had some really great teams on paper in Seattle, but he never managed to take them over the top. He's a good regular-season manager, patient and not apt to over-react, but in the playoffs he is far too loyal when the hook is in order. Dempster couldn't find the plate in Game 1, and yet Lou left him in even after he WALKED THE BASES LOADED.

Lastly, Aramis Ramirez. Has he actually been in the lineup in the Cubs' playoff appearances the last few years? I don't seem to remember him doing anything.

The Cubs sucked, and they deserved to lose. I used to be a die-hard Cubs fan, but I think some tough love is in order for this team.

...King Kaufman, and sometimes you even elucidate things for me, but Soriano being a "mistake hitter" is one way to say it -- another way is "he's too aggressive and susceptible to chasing breaking pitches that finish out of the zone." As far as scouting, Verducci basically meant not that the Dodgers were afraid to make a mistake to him, rather they weren't willing to pitch Soriano a strike until he proved he would take 4 and walk. In this case, pitching him a strike would be a mistake. Most MLB hitters are "mistake" hitters; few can hit million-dollar pitches into the seats like Manny.

And, scouting is everything, never to be underestimated. Sure, players have to execute but you heard it here first: Jason Werth was a Dodger for several years and LA will know how to pitch to him.

Go blue!