Cubs' OBP on the rise
This is so un-Cubs like.
Entering Monday night's series opener against the New York Mets, the Cubs led the National League in not only batting average (.282) but on-base percentage (.366) as well.
The Cubs were second in walks and second in runs scored.
Could it be that the light is going on with this organization about the importance of OBP? For the past several years, the Cubs have been a free-swinging bunch in an organization that seemed to turn up its nose at OBP.
The Cubs' OBP last year was .333, good for ninth in the NL. The last time the Cubs led the league in OBP was the pennant-winning year of 1945 (.349). They also led five times during the offense-happy 1930s.
"We're second in the league in runs scored to Arizona, and to me, you score runs, you win," manager Lou Piniella said. "On-base percentage, hitting with men in scoring position, left on base -- those are all byproducts of how many runs you score."
The walks and the higher OBP are translating directly to more runs scored.
"No question, I agree totally," Piniella said. "What I'm trying to say is all these things contribute to runs scored. When you look offensively, you look at the amount of runs you score. It gives you a real good picture."
Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome (.442) and catcher Geovany Soto (.437) entered Monday, ninth and 10th, respectively, in OBP for the NL. Overall, it seems the Cubs are heading to the plate with good approaches.
"It's been that way, yes," Piniella said. "We'd love to see it continue. On this homestand, our players have asserted themselves offensively."
Piniella was asked if he stresses on-base percentage.
"We talk about it," he said. "On-base percentage. We've been doing a better job. What can I say? Two of our new additions, (Reed) Johnson and Fukudome, have done a nice job in that regard."
Progress for Soriano: Left fielder Alfonso Soriano took part in stretching drills and did some light jogging Monday, but he did not take batting practice.
Expect him to step up his work beginning Wednesday, when the Cubs open a two-game series at Colorado. Soriano is on the disabled list with a strained right calf. Both he and the Cubs insist Soriano will be able to come off the DL on May 1, as scheduled.
Soriano said he hit off a tee Sunday and felt fine.
"Hitting is not a problem," he said. "My problem is running. I walk normal. Just a little pain. More important today, I jogged a little bit. I hope tomorrow I can jog a little harder and see where we are."
Lou Piniella sidestepped intimations the Cubs are doing fine without Soriano.
"There's a long season, and let's not get too crazy about this thing," Piniella said. "Let's just stay cautionary, and let's just keep playing good baseball. That's all."