The Cubs Chronicle

Grudzielanek to open as Cubs’ leadoff man (Mike Kiley, Chicago Sun-Times, 3/28/2003)

Mike Kiley reports what the opening day lineup will look like:

2B Mark Grudzielanek

SS Alex Gonzalez

RF Sammy Sosa

LF Moises Alou

1B Hee Seop Choi

CF Corey Patterson

3B Mark Bellhorn

C Damian Miller

P Kerry Wood

As I noted on Wednesday, the first two batters in the lineup are projected to put up poor on-base-percentages, stemming from their history and their age.

Here’s what Dusty Baker had to say about putting a poor on-base guy (Grudzielanek) at the top of the lineup:

“There have been a lot of guys batting leadoff who weren’t true leadoff hitters. There are probably only a handful of real good leadoff men in the game. Sure, you want a guy that walks, that steals, that has a high on-base percentage. But some guys’ on-base percentage is what they hit. I hope they hit .350.

So we’re left hoping that Grudzielanek hits .350.

For what it’s worth, given the above starters, I’d hit Bellhorn and Choi 1-2 in the lineup. I don’t expect to see that anytime soon, though.

In other news, as expected Alan Benes and Rod Beck were sent to Iowa, and Charles Gipson to minor league camp.