It's time for the leadoff man
Soriano injury gives Theriot shot at proving he's worthy of top spot
The Cubs should start to learn within a week how good their chances are of staying in contention through August with an injury-compromised lineup.
And whether that happens is likely to start at the top.
And whether that happens is likely to start at the top.
That's where shortstop Ryan Theriot has made himself at home since leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano went on the disabled list last week with a tear in his right quadriceps. And that's where the Cubs might yet discover that they've actually been without the roster's best leadoff hitter most of the season.
That's where shortstop Ryan Theriot has made himself at home since leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano went on the disabled list last week with a tear in his right quadriceps. And that's where the Cubs might yet discover that they've actually been without the roster's best leadoff hitter most of the season.
Theriot was one of the offensive bright spots during an often-ugly road trip for the Cubs last week, hitting .344 as Soriano's replacement in the leadoff spot and scoring five runs in the seven games.
''I've always hit at the top of the order, one or two,'' said Theriot, a leadoff hitter since before his College World Series championship at LSU. ''It's really where I feel most comfortable, and I think that's where I help the team the most.''
He's more patient at the plate than Soriano, runs the bases well and is closer to the kind of prototypical leadoff hitter that's built for October, when everybody pitches well and runs are harder to come by.
That might make Theriot the right man for that job down the road for the Cubs, and it especially might make him the right man for the job now -- with Soriano out, cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez nursing a sore right wrist as he likely rejoins the lineup tonight, All-Star Derrek Lee mired in his deepest slump of the season and Cliff Floyd out for at least a few days on bereavement leave.
Talk about runs being hard to come by.
This monthlong stretch at the top of the order may not be a true audition -- manager Lou Piniella has made it clear he's not considering a switch in roles when Soriano returns from the DL -- but Theriot welcomes the idea of eventually getting a shot at the leadoff spot.
''I would hope it would be something in the future -- next year, the following year, whatever it may be,'' he said. ''I would definitely love to be able to go out there and play shortstop and hit leadoff, of course. That's a wonderful spot to be in.''
If he's going to change any minds about his ability to do it, this might be the week for it. The Cubs open a seven-game homestand tonight against the Cincinnati Reds, against whom Theriot has gone 12-for-23 (.522) with five runs scored and three stolen bases in six starts. They finish with four against the rising St. Louis Cardinals, just four games behind the second-place Cubs in the National League Central.
In less than a year, Theriot already has gone from a part-time second baseman overlooked by previous manager Dusty Baker to a valued early-season utility man this year to starting shortstop by midseason.
It might take beating even bigger odds to become the Cubs' eventual regular leadoff hitter, considering the big-swinging Soriano has an eight-year, $136 million contract and Piniella doesn't seem open to moving Soriano -- especially after brief, failed stretches in the Nos. 3 and 5 spots earlier this season.
Not even down the road.
''I don't know,'' Piniella said. ''I'm not going to be around for eight years, so somebody else might be looking at it down the road.''
For now, he said, ''We basically signed Soriano to lead off here, and that's what he's going to do.''
And Theriot isn't lobbying for anything. He said he's just trying to get to the playoffs, whether from the leadoff spot, second or ninth -- or even the bench if general manager Jim Hendry can trade for a better player to help get the team there.
In the meantime, he's doing what comes naturally, in the top spot, and trying to bridge the offensive gap until Soriano returns.
''Those are some big shoes to fill,'' he said. ''So I'm realistic, knowing what Sori's capable of and what I'm capable of, too.''