Lineup Discussions

[Maxbialystock]

Let's not forget that when Betts was batting leadoff he was second behind Ortiz in rbi's. He has also led the team in runs scored all season long.

 

I think his ideal slot is 3d, but batting Ortiz 3d clearly has benefits. Against righty pitchers, which are the norm, it gets a lefty bat in there to break up the righty-righty-righty we have been using. It also puts a high OBP in front of Betts, who lately is our best rbi man.

 

However, this also puts a slow guy in front of a very fast one, and it gives Betts a little less protection because Bradley or HanRAm batting 5th ain't as good as Ortiz batting 4th and behind Betts batting 3d.

 

Very good observations about next year without Ortiz.

[bosoxmal]

Hey, fellas! Hoe's this working out? Or is it too "small a sample"? And why was it considered "goofy" when I proposed it last April? And, why have I not come across any posts that said, "well, the old fart was right after all!"

[Slasher9]

Hey, fellas! Hoe's this working out? Or is it too "small a sample"? And why was it considered "goofy" when I proposed it last April? And, why have I not come across any posts that said, "well, the old fart was right after all!"

 

all good questions bosoxmal. i have no idea what the "acceptable" sample size is for some of the folks here.

i have posted on more than one occasion that the old WWII vet was dead on correct.

[SoxnCycles]

Hey, fellas! Hoe's this working out? Or is it too "small a sample"? And why was it considered "goofy" when I proposed it last April? And, why have I not come across any posts that said, "well, the old fart was right after all!"

 

Betts looks like an elite hitter, no matter where he is in the lineup!

Feel free to pat yourself on the back. No one else will.

[sk7326]

Hey, fellas! Hoe's this working out? Or is it too "small a sample"? And why was it considered "goofy" when I proposed it last April? And, why have I not come across any posts that said, "well, the old fart was right after all!"

 

It's not that it was goofy or not goofy - it's just that it simply didn't matter (as long as he was not batting 9th). And for the most part it hasn't. Betts is really f'in good - and that was true in April also.

[SoxnCycles]

Let's not forget that when Betts was batting leadoff he was second behind Ortiz in rbi's. He has also led the team in runs scored all season long.

 

I think his ideal slot is 3d, but batting Ortiz 3d clearly has benefits. Against righty pitchers, which are the norm, it gets a lefty bat in there to break up the righty-righty-righty we have been using. It also puts a high OBP in front of Betts, who lately is our best rbi man.

 

However, this also puts a slow guy in front of a very fast one, and it gives Betts a little less protection because Bradley or HanRAm batting 5th ain't as good as Ortiz batting 4th and behind Betts batting 3d.

 

Very good observations about next year without Ortiz.

 

I don't think having a slow Ortiz in front of Mookie is that big of a deal.

With the OPS numbers the both of them are putting up, it just as likely they'll get extra base hits.

If Mookie were simply a singles hitter, it might be an issue.

[Station 13]

Mookie last 157 games: .322/.364/.572 36 HR, 50 2B, 5 3B, 218 H

 

This in MVP player and he is 23.

[sk7326]

Mookie last 157 games: .322/.364/.572 36 HR, 50 2B, 5 3B, 218 H

 

This in MVP player and he is 23.

 

Just a phenomenal athlete figuring out his superpowers before us. Teams draft guys like him in the 4th and 5th round (multi-sport ath-a-letes, who play baseball, but who have not played a lot of baseball) and hope that moving full time to baseball unlocks magic - it is nice to see it happen here.

[Slasher9]

Mookie last 157 games: .322/.364/.572 36 HR, 50 2B, 5 3B, 218 H

 

This in MVP player and he is 23.

 

sick. just sick.

#MVP

[Maxbialystock]

Hey, fellas! Hoe's this working out? Or is it too "small a sample"? And why was it considered "goofy" when I proposed it last April? And, why have I not come across any posts that said, "well, the old fart was right after all!"

 

Sample size is small, but I think most people agree that moving Betts to 3d, now clean-up, has worked well.

 

My disagreement is that the offense was terrific in April, May, and June when Mookie was leading off and Bogaerts was hitting well in the 3 slot. I don't think the offense would have been much better--if at all-with the current lineup. Two things have happened for the current lineup to make sense: Betts is getting better and better, and Bogaerts is in a slump.

[greenwell]

I don't think having a slow Ortiz in front of Mookie is that big of a deal.

With the OPS numbers the both of them are putting up, it just as likely they'll get extra base hits.

If Mookie were simply a singles hitter, it might be an issue.

 

I think Papi's feet might be slowing him down so to speak. His numbers aren't that good since the all star break. I would like to see him get considerable time off the next two months so he's ready to rip if/when the postseason gets here.

[Wade Boggs]

I was wrong. I would have left Mookie in the lead off spot. I was wrong. But no way he ever leads off again.. Plus to get H.R back soon to hit behind Ortiz will be a plus as well. Mookie has gone off. He's the next face of the team. The thing that caught my eye , was when the O's third base coach held a runner up , because of MB's cannon arm, that was on rep. It wasn't a great throw. But him being Mookie helped him out.

[Wade Boggs]

sick. just sick.

#MVP

 

It's beyond crazy.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Papi's feet might be slowing him down so to speak. His numbers aren't that good since the all star break. I would like to see him get considerable time off the next two months so he's ready to rip if/when the postseason gets here.

 

Papi's last 6 games: 421/542/789 How's that for some sweet cherry-pickin'?

 

But seriously, an occasional day off is appropriate but we still need him in the lineup.

[Bellhorn04]

It's beyond crazy.

 

July 368/415/653

Aug 390/419/847

 

Sheer madness and mayhem.

[User Name]

I still like the best hitter on the team in the leadoff spot. Everyone can think whatever they want, but my opinion stands: Mookie's skill combination works great out of the #1 hole.

[oldtimer]

With Rameriz out for bereavement and Brentz back down we have temporarily added Hernandez and Marrero. Hernandez is a good defensive infielder capable at least at SS and 2nd base. Next year it may come down to keeping two of the three utility infielders that are currently on the roster. Hill, Hernandez and Holt(listed as an outfielder but flexible). I hope they stick with Hernandez going forward this season after Hanley gets back. Hernandez is over 10 years younger than Hill and appears to have an upside as a hitter. Getting reps at the major league level should give management a chance to assess next years decision.

 

For the short term that would leave us with 5 right hand bats in Bogaerts, Betts, Pedroia, Rameriz, Hill and Leon who switches. Pretty good balance as we have Ortiz, Bradley, Shaw, Benintendi and Hernandez from the left side. This is not to dis Marrero, but I haven't seen the kind of performance from him that would make me think he can make the team next year.

[mvp 78]

I don't think Hill will be back next year.

[bosoxmal]

I guess that's because his OBP is .355? And his OPS is . And he has more home runs than Ortiz? Wow, those are all great reasons! 926?

Just think how dumb the managers were who batted William, Ruth, Musial and ivery other (best hitter on the team in the 3 or 4 hole? Wow, I wonder how manu runs Gehrig would have driven in had he been leading off?

[oldtimer]

Question:

 

To be called up in September, don't the players need to be on the 40 man roster by August 31st, midnight? If so, Moncada needs to be added to the 40 man roster in the next 2 weeks or not be included. That may also apply to some on the DL if they are on the 60 day list.

[sk7326]

Question:

 

To be called up in September, don't the players need to be on the 40 man roster by August 31st, midnight? If so, Moncada needs to be added to the 40 man roster in the next 2 weeks or not be included. That may also apply to some on the DL if they are on the 60 day list.

 

You can replace guys on the DL provided they did not get on the 60-day DL after September. It's how Francisco Rodriguez was added prior to the 2002 playoffs for the Angels.

[Station 13]

Question:

 

To be called up in September, don't the players need to be on the 40 man roster by August 31st, midnight? If so, Moncada needs to be added to the 40 man roster in the next 2 weeks or not be included. That may also apply to some on the DL if they are on the 60 day list.

 

No, players can be added to the roster at any time.

[sk7326]

No, players can be added to the roster at any time.

 

This question I think is in regard to postseason eligibility

[oldtimer]

No, players can be added to the roster at any time.

 

Here is what Wikpedia says about that:

 

"On September 1, the Major League team's roster expands from the 25-man active roster to the entire 40-man roster. At this point, any player on the expanded roster on August 31 may play for the Major League team. September call-ups are players from the minors who are playing in September to get Major League experience and, especially for teams in contention, to provide reinforcements down the stretch."

[Slasher9]

i believe any guy within your organization can be added to the postseason roster. there is a cutoff to acquiring someone via waiver wire and having them play on your postseason roster. 15-sep? not sure.

[Maxbialystock]

I was wrong. I would have left Mookie in the lead off spot. I was wrong. But no way he ever leads off again.. Plus to get H.R back soon to hit behind Ortiz will be a plus as well. Mookie has gone off. He's the next face of the team. The thing that caught my eye , was when the O's third base coach held a runner up , because of MB's cannon arm, that was on rep. It wasn't a great throw. But him being Mookie helped him out.

 

I noticed that hold up too and think it was justified. Mookie Betts is a five tool player, and you don't see many of them.

[Station 13]

Yes, anybody in the organization as of the last day of August is eligible. Not all players are added to the roster as there are limits.

[mvp 78]

i believe any guy within your organization can be added to the postseason roster. there is a cutoff to acquiring someone via waiver wire and having them play on your postseason roster. 15-sep? not sure.

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/109921/full-primer-on-playoff-roster-eligibility

[Spudboy]

With Rameriz out for bereavement and Brentz back down we have temporarily added Hernandez and Marrero. Hernandez is a good defensive infielder capable at least at SS and 2nd base. Next year it may come down to keeping two of the three utility infielders that are currently on the roster. Hill, Hernandez and Holt(listed as an outfielder but flexible). I hope they stick with Hernandez going forward this season after Hanley gets back. Hernandez is over 10 years younger than Hill and appears to have an upside as a hitter. Getting reps at the major league level should give management a chance to assess next years decision.

 

For the short term that would leave us with 5 right hand bats in Bogaerts, Betts, Pedroia, Rameriz, Hill and Leon who switches. Pretty good balance as we have Ortiz, Bradley, Shaw, Benintendi and Hernandez from the left side. This is not to dis Marrero, but I haven't seen the kind of performance from him that would make me think he can make the team next year.

 

I like Hernandez too. But he is currently redundant. Merrero still has not show much hitting but remains glovey at SS and can play second or 3rd in a pinch.

[Spudboy]

I still like the best hitter on the team in the leadoff spot. Everyone can think whatever they want, but my opinion stands: Mookie's skill combination works great out of the #1 hole.

 

I'm with you on this but our votes don't count. Maybe things would be different if Bogey were hitting.