Fundamentals discovered in Florida, Chicago

In developing news regarding things every baseball team should do, the Florida Marlins continue to encourage their pitchers to learn the changeup while the Cubs realize the benefits of a balanced lineup. Seriously? We're just figuring this stuff out in 2009? Way to go.

One note, however, from the Cubs story. If Alfonso Soriano, in fact, doesn't end up hitting leadoff for the Cubs this year, Ryan Theriot won't be fighting for the role.

"I hate leadoff," Theriot said. "I just want to hit third. I think 'D-Lee' should hit leadoff."

D-Lee, a.k.a. Derrek Lee, who has primarily batted third his entire career, was sitting in the middle of the Fitch Park clubhouse, calmly reading the newspaper when Theriot tried to oust him from his spot.

"No," Lee said, shaking his head.

Lee's home run numbers have dropped the last two seasons -- he hit 46 in 2005 and 20 last year -- but Theriot doesn't seem a likely fill-in. The shortstop hit one home run last year. One.

"How about fourth?" Theriot said, knowing better than to argue with the 6-foot-5 Lee.

I think the Cubs are in trouble with their leadoff spot. Soriano's on-base average was just .344 last year and only .329 for his career. If Theriot's not interested in the job, he's really the only good option with an OBP that reached .387 last year. Mike Fontenot would be the left-handed choice, but he's never had a starting spot, let alone hit from the top of the order. The Cubs still might need to acquire a table-setter late in the year.