For now, Lou has 1 spot for Soriano
Manager Lou Piniella did as promised Tuesday, putting Alfonso Soriano back in the leadoff spot and moving Ryan Theriot from No.1 to 2 in the order. With five weeks left and the Cubs clinging to a slim lead in their division, there seemed little choice but to stick with Soriano's comfort level through the end of the season.
But don't be surprised if the roles get revisited after this season, maybe next spring. Piniella seemed to leave the possibility open.
''That's where [Soriano] likes to hit,'' Piniella said. ''Why try to invent the wheel in August?''
But here's why they might try to reinvent it in February: Theriot demonstrated over the last three weeks that he can be a prototype, reach-base, see-pitches, run-well leadoff man. He has a .314 average and .358 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot this season, including a .321 average with six walks in 19 games while Soriano was on the disabled list.
The more powerful, aggressive-swinging Soriano doesn't see nearly as many pitches, strikes out a lot and doesn't walk nearly as much as an ideal leadoff man. And 14 of his 18 home runs are solo shots.
But while that suggests an eventual move toward the middle of the order for Soriano -- who's locked up for seven more years -- he's 0-for-8 in two starts in the No. 5 spot and 5-for-28 (.179) with one RBI while filling in for injured Derrek Lee in the No. 3 spot in May.
''I thought about where to put him in the lineup, and it always came back to the No.1 hole,'' Piniella said.
Soriano has said repeatedly he's willing to bat wherever Piniella wants him to bat.
And Theriot, while coveting the leadoff role, also is willing to bat and play anywhere -- regardless of what he might have proved over the last three weeks.
''As long as I'm in it,'' Theriot said. ''It's always been that way. The most potent and dangerous leadoff hitter in the game is on our team. Why would I want to mess with that?
''To be honest, it really doesn't matter where I hit or where I play as long as at the end of the day, our flag's flying ahead of everybody else's and our 'W' flag is up there.''
''I have to play smart and not try to do too much,'' said Soriano, who had an MRI exam Monday as part of the process of clearing him to play. ''The team needs me, and I need the team, too.''
• • Piniella on whether the Cubs were bringing Soriano back too soon: ''In Arizona and San Francisco [last week], we asked Alfonso to do everything that a baseball player needs to on a field -- from hitting to running, fielding, stopping, throwing -- and he's ready to go. By us holding him back a week or 10 days, it's not going to make it any safer for his return.''
• • To make room on the roster for Soriano, the Cubs optioned rookie pitcher Carmen Pignatiello to Class AAA Iowa with the intention of recalling him after rosters expand in three days.
• • Catcher Koyie Hill cleared waivers, and the Cubs outrighted him to Iowa.
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