Drew Stubbs Leading Off

A lot of the sabermetric crowd believe that Drew Stubbs strikes out too much and walks too much to leadoff.

Dusty Baker pointed out that one of the best leadoff hitters, Bobby Bonds, struck out a bunch..At the age of 23 and 24 Bonds struck out 187 and 189 times respectively  His strike outs became fewer as he aged.

Stubbs struck out 168 times his first full season in the major leagues.

"Our offense works better with Stubbs leading off," Baker said.

"Bonds or Ricky Henderson had the record for home runs leading off a game," Baker said.  Henderson holds the record with 81 but Bonds hit 11 of them in one season.

Stubbs has that kind of power.

"Bonds had trouble with the breaking ball," Baker said.  "He used a big 36-38 ounce bat.  It is hard to stop that big ole bat and you had to start it sooner.  That's why he hurt his hands."

"Stubbs has a better idea of how to hit the breaking ball," Baker said

Baker gives everyone the green light to run unless they prove they can't be trusted.

Stubbs was thrown out stealing third in the first inning last night.

"We had a conversation about it," Baker said.  "Stealing bases is a feel kind of thing.  But with the pitcher struggling like Marcum was last night.  You want to make him pitch out of trouble rather than us running him out of trouble."