Cubs' Lineup is For the Byrds

Mike Quade's lineup card for today's game has Marlon Byrd batting third for the 22nd time this season. Your third spot is traditionally used for your best hitter. How am I supposed to get excited for the Cubs, when Marlon Byrd is their #3 hitter? /takes a pause... eight, nine, ten... Ok, better.

The Cubs would be great if this was their 4th Outfielder.

Let's not get too worked up over this. Batting order is overrated. Aside from having the right person in the leadoff spot, there's little the manager can control. I do find it keenly discouraging that over the course of his ten year career, Marlon Byrd's lowest Onbase Percentage has been in the #3 spot, per Baseball-Reference:

I	Split	G	PA	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	tOPS+
	Batting 3rd	102	416	20	82	.249	.296	.358	72
	Batting 9th	70	115	3	22	.271	.304	.402	84
	Batting 8th	98	349	23	67	.248	.307	.354	74
	Batting 7th	41	134	9	24	.254	.316	.377	82
	Batting 5th	176	719	43	124	.269	.321	.382	85
	Batting 2nd	38	156	8	28	.273	.329	.378	86
	Batting 1st	145	661	52	103	.289	.352	.418	102
	Batting 6th	155	594	50	99	.314	.377	.473	123
	Batting 4th	143	586	43	86	.317	.382	.539	140

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/7/2011.

Go Cubs! I'll be going to the old Polo Grounds today.