Article: Piniella will stick with Fukudome in leadoff spot

On second thought -- or third or fourth -- Reed Johnson won't be the Cubs' regular leadoff hitter while Alfonso Soriano is on the disabled list for the next month or so. Kosuke Fukudome will be.

So says the man of a thousand lineups, Lou Piniella, who installed his seasonlong No. 5 hitter in the top spot Wednesday for the first time in Fukudome's inaugural major-league season.

A gimpy Johnson got the day off after colliding with Rays first baseman Willy Aybar on the final play of Tuesday's game, but the reasons for the change had little to do with that.

Cubs leadoff hitters had gone 6-for-25 (.240) since Soriano went on the DL with a broken hand a week ago, though Johnson was

5-for-15 ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!