Time to Change the Batting Order

[TheKilo]

Pedroia

Youks

Ortiz

Manny

Lowell

Drew

Tek

Lugo

Crisp

[Thumper]

Pedroia

Youks

Ortiz

Manny

Lowell

Drew

Tek

Lugo

Crisp

 

I'd switch Lowell and Drew but other than that it seems reasonable.

[yankeessuck013]

We should defintely change it. 36-16 is such a bad record.

 

You know the saying. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[TheKilo]

We should defintely change it. 36-16 is such a bad record.

 

You know the saying. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

You know the saying "Put the best lineup out there so we score the most runs and win more games"?

 

No?

 

Baseball Musings's Lineup

 

The best lineup, according to this formula with this year's stats, is

 

Pedroia

Papi

Tek

Youkilis

Lowell

Lugo

Crisp

Manny

Drew

 

Career stats:

 

Youkilis

Manny

Tek

Papi

Drew

Lowell

Crisp

Pedroia

Lugo

 

 

 

Worst lineups both have Crisp and Lugo at the top of the order, coincidentally where Francona has placed them frequently.

[Beckett95]

Pedroia

Youk

Ortiz

Manny

Drew

Lowell

V-tek

Cora

Crisp (for now)

[TheKilo]

The only thing against putting Lugo and Crisp at the bottom of the order is that it essentially makes it an NL lineup with two easy outs down there.

[jacksonianmarch]

20 games over 52 games in. Dont press your luck.

[BSN07]

If it aint broke dont fix it!

[Cityofchampions33]

It doesn't really need any change, as it's helped Pedroia, Youkilis, Tek, and Lowell all have great years up to this point for the most part. Lugo, Manny, and Drew will obviously break out of their slumps,we just ahve to be patient. After that we are solid everywhere but Crisp.

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

Pedroia should not be hitting leadoff. The lineup is fine as it is.

[techsoldaten]

On a related note, even though it wasn't a win, it was cool seeing the bottom of the order load the bases against the Guardians last night. I think the point of having so the guys at the bottom who are there is to grind it out against starting pitchers. Tek, Pedroia and Crisp are getting some long at bats, this is a very patient team.

 

M

[ANiMAL]

It doesn't really need any change' date=' as it's helped Pedroia, Youkilis, Tek, and Lowell all have great years up to this point for the most part. [b']Lugo[/b], Manny, and Drew will obviously break out of their slumps,we just ahve to be patient. After that we are solid everywhere but Crisp.

 

 

I disagree about Lugo breaking out of this slump. He performed poorly last year. He is just like Crisp. Lugo will hit .250 this year in my oppinion.

[See Red]

The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" train of thought is nice, and sure, what we've done up to this point has gotten us to 36-16... but why be content with that? What's wrong with trying to improve our team?

 

If there's a better order for our lineup that improves our offense, then I'm all for it.

[Ray10]

Id put Drew fourth that's it.

[yeszir]

Id put Drew fourth that's it.

 

We're all going to assume this is a cleverly sarcastic attempt to ridicule everyone who wants to meddle with our superb lineup.

[EvilDonut]

I'd put Youk 5th, and Dudders 2nd. Manny needs more protection then Drew is giving, and then Lowell can give some to Youkilis.

 

Lugo

Pedroia

Ortiz

Manny

Youk

Lowell

Tek

Drew

Crisp

 

2-7 would be ridiculous, and, Drew should get closer to his career numbers, and when they do he can move back up the order.

[redsoxrules]

as much as i hate lugo leading off at the moment , i think we should leave the lineup as it is . lugo is gonna get better and its nice to have pedroia in the 9 hole getting on base for the top of the order.

[TedWilliams101]

I'd let Pedroia leadoff and drop Lugo to 8th. Pedroia is doing a great job so far, .308AVG, .394OBP, .433 slugging. He has pop, works the count and takes walks, and he has driven up his average past .300.

 

Lugo, on the other hand, is just terrible. .230AVG, .291OBP, .340SLG.

 

You want a leadoff hitter who works the count, gets on base, and has a little bit of pop and some speed. Lugo only has speed. You can't steal or get driven in if you don't get on base. It's a simple as that. A sub .300 OBP simply isn't cutting it as a leadoff hitter. He needs to be dropped in the lineup. Same with Crisp leading off.

 

A good example was last night. Bases loaded no outs. Crisp was at the top of the lineup, and on an 2-0 count pops out. A leadoff hitter is the table setter. That isn't setting the table... (just an example of his overall performance)

 

And I'd move Lowell to the 5 spot. Manny needs better protection. Lowell has been great all year while Drew has sucked. It's time to make the move.

[Thumper]

I'd let Pedroia leadoff and drop Lugo to 8th. Pedroia is doing a great job so far, .308AVG, .394OBP, .433 slugging. He has pop, works the count and takes walks, and he has driven up his average past .300.

 

Lugo, on the other hand, is just terrible. .230AVG, .291OBP, .340SLG.

 

You want a leadoff hitter who works the count, gets on base, and has a little bit of pop and some speed. Lugo only has speed. You can't steal or get driven in if you don't get on base. It's a simple as that. A sub .300 OBP simply isn't cutting it as a leadoff hitter. He needs to be dropped in the lineup. Same with Crisp leading off.

 

A good example was last night. Bases loaded no outs. Crisp was at the top of the lineup, and on an 2-0 count pops out. A leadoff hitter is the table setter. That isn't setting the table... (just an example of his overall performance)

 

And I'd move Lowell to the 5 spot. Manny needs better protection. Lowell has been great all year while Drew has sucked. It's time to make the move.

 

Yeah, Lugo isn't much. I wish Cora would get more playing time.

[redsoxrules]

Yeah' date=' Lugo isn't much. I wish Cora would get more playing time.[/quote']

 

cora is a career 246 average , 312 OBP , lugo is gonna get better as the season goes on

[TedWilliams101]

But he isn't getting on base. Drop him in the lineup. The leadoff spot is essential.

[yeszir]

But he isn't getting on base. Drop him in the lineup. The leadoff spot is essential.

This team isn't falling apart quite yet, it must not be entirely essential. We're managing with the lineup we have. I wouldn't tinker until things need to be tinkered with.

[TGov]

If theres gonna be changes in the lineup it should be Lowell and Pedroia up a spot or two... Coco bat 9th and Drew 6th...

[TedWilliams101]

Yep. I agree we shouldn't make any huge changes (big trades, etc), but its common sense to try and put the best lineup on the field. Right now, I think the lineup could be stronger.

[Cocos Disciples]

Youkilis

Drew

Ortiz

Ramirez

Lowell

Varitek

Pena

Pedroia

Lugo

[EvilDonut]

But he isn't getting on base. Drop him in the lineup. The leadoff spot is essential.

 

Is the leadoff spot really that important? Assuming you played everyday you'd only have 162 guarenteed at-bats leading off. After that no one knows who leads off. I guess the leadoff hitter could help "set the tempo" for a game but personally, I think it's weighed with to much importance

[TedWilliams101]

The point of the leadoff hitter is to set the tempo of the game, but just as important, is to get on base for the big hitters (in our case, 2-3-4-6). Lugo isn't getting on base for the big guys to drive him in. Thats one of the biggest needs of a leadoff hitter (and 2 spot too). Thats why I would like to see Pedroia leadoff. He is getting on base (.394OBP) and that gives Youk, Ortiz, and Manny a chance to drive in runs. Thats what its all about.

[ORS]

Is the leadoff spot really that important? Assuming you played everyday you'd only have 162 guarenteed at-bats leading off. After that no one knows who leads off. I guess the leadoff hitter could help "set the tempo" for a game but personally' date=' I think it's weighed with to much importance[/quote']

All that tempo stuff is crap, IMO.

 

Here's what matters. Leadoff hitters get the most plate appearances per season. Guys who make outs with greater frequency should not be rewarded with more plate appearances.

[schillingouttheks]

What we can not do is place Lugo and Crisp as the 8 and 9 hitters. That makes our lineup at the bottom as weak as an NL lineup. I like Pedroia at the bottom because he keeps the lineup alive throughout. An 8/9 of Lugo and Crisp would kill anything we had going. However, the only reason that I haven't completely lost my patience with Lugo is because when he gets on base, he doesn't get thrown out (even if he doesn't get on as much as we want him to). He's also driven in some runs from the leadoff position and he can work counts. If he works counts and doesn't get on, it's not the end of the world. As the leadoff hitter he's supposed to be a tough out, and at times he really can be. You can't tell me you liked seeing Crisp instead of Lugo up there in the 7th last night. I think Lugo will get better if we just stick with him. Crisp isn't meant to sniff the top of our lineup.

 

I want Pena in the lineup in CF, but Crisp has kept us in games because of his glove and we can't drop that. He's saved 2 or 3 games for us with his speed out there.

 

Lugo

Drew

Ortiz

Ramirez

Youkilis

Lowell

Varitek

Crisp

Pedroia

 

The only thing that should be changed is Drew hitting second and Youkilis to 5th. Despite his average, Drew is still getting on base through walks. Youk has been getting on as well, but he's better suited as a 5 hitter than Drew is at the moment. Like Youk said last night, your position in the order shouldn't matter. You have to go to the plate and hit. If you can't do that, you're not meant to be in the lineup.

[TedWilliams101]

Don't put Drew in the 2 spot. Please. You don't strengthen a lineup by moving up a slumping hitter. It just doesn't make sense.

 

I also don't like the idea of having a weaker hitter leading off just because you don't want the bottom of the lineup weaker. You should always put the best hitters at the top of the lineup. You want your best guys getting the most at bats.

 

I agree that a 8-9 of Lugo and Coco would suck, but I think it's worse to have Lugo leading off. Lugo simple doesn't get on base enough to worrent a spot at the top of the lineup. You want your best hitters (average wise) and guys would get on base a lot in the top of the lineup so that your big boys can knock them in.

 

And Lugo in the bottom of the lineup does give it a bit of pop. He has driven in runs, so maybe that would be good for the bottom of the lineup. But I don't like giving guys who are struggling to hit and get on base a spot at the top of the lineup. Thats not how you drive in runs.