This is one I’ll watch

July 15th, 2008 at 04:17pm Wally Haas

I can’t remember the last time I watched an All-Star game, but tonight I will because of the heavy Cubs presence.

If I get home in time. If I don’t, I’ll make sure to catch SportsCenter tonight for the highlights.

It’s great that eight Cubs were named to the team, but I’d rather some of them had the extra day off. Fukudome and Soto for sure.

Soto’s been catching a lot of games and I’m afraid he’ll wear down, like all catchers do, in the second half. Fukudome’s batting average has been dropping steadily and he could use some extra rest or he could use a move back to the No. 5 spot in the Cubs batting order. His average was much better as a 5 hitter than it has been as a 1 or 2. Whether that’s from the grind of the first half, the league figuring out how to pitch him or he’s pressing too much when he’s at the top of the order, the 5 spot seems better for him.

Soriano should return to the leadoff spot and Theriot should bat second. Theriot’s having a great season and has the patience to hit 2. He’s also great at hitting the ball to the right side to advance runners.

With Fukudome back at 5, you take some pressure off Soto by moving him down to 6. Then you have Edmonds to keep the right-left combo going and end up with DeRosa batting 8th. That’s a pretty potent lineup.

Can’t wait for the second half to begin.

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