Betts Hitting 2nd in Batting Order

[dgalehouse]

Mookie seems to like leading off and it did work very well last year . I see no reason to change it . Whether you value speed , base running / stealing , batting average or on base percentage ; Mookie is better than Benintendi in every area . I do agree that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference though .

[notin]

Mookie seems to like leading off and it did work very well last year . I see no reason to change it . Whether you value speed , base running / stealing , batting average or on base percentage ; Mookie is better than Benintendi in every area . I do agree that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference though .

 

As long as Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts and Martinez are the top four in almost any order, I’m good...

[jad]

Mookie seems to like leading off and it did work very well last year . I see no reason to change it . Whether you value speed , base running / stealing , batting average or on base percentage ; Mookie is better than Benintendi in every area . I do agree that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference though .

 

Exactly. If a player likes it or feels it helps, good. Baseball players are deeply suspicious; if Boggs thinks eating chicken every day is essential, then give him all the chicken he wants.

[cp176]

As long as Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts and Martinez are the top four in almost any order, I’m good...

 

me too !!! I still think that there is significance to batting third in the lineup.

[Kimmi]

Mookie seems to like leading off and it did work very well last year . I see no reason to change it . Whether you value speed , base running / stealing , batting average or on base percentage ; Mookie is better than Benintendi in every area . I do agree that it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference though .

 

I had no problem with Mookie leading off last year. He did very well in that spot. Like you, I see no reason to change it.

 

However, I also trust that Cora knows what he is doing in terms of placing batters where they feel comfortable.

[Kimmi]

As long as Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts and Martinez are the top four in almost any order, I’m good...

 

Betts, Beni, Bogaerts, and Martinez in the top 5, with Devers in the #3 spot.

[S5Dewey]

If you're looking for a reason to have Mookie leading off, here's one.

 

He had 32 HR'S out of the leadoff spot, staking the Sox to an early lead. Since pitchers like pitching with a lead...

[dgalehouse]

If you're looking for a reason to have Mookie leading off, here's one.

 

He had 32 HR'S out of the leadoff spot, staking the Sox to an early lead. Since pitchers like pitching with a lead...

 

The home runs didn't all come when he was actually leading off . And they didn't all stake the Sox to an early lead . You could make a case that the homers would be better with men on base . Just throwing that out there. I am fine with him leading off .

[Kimmi]

Red Sox Stats‏ @redsoxstats 18

 

2nd spot in the batting order has reached the tipping point. As recent as 2013 the league had a 99 wRC+ from the 2nd spot, awaiting it this season is... Betts, Bregman, Judge, Trout, Chapman, Donaldson, Bryant, Votto, Arenado, Yelich, Harper (soon), etc.

 

 

Long live the stat geeks!

[dgalehouse]

I think when MLB managers report to work these days , there is a paper on their desk with a note saying , " This is what the analytics people think you should do today . It's up to you . Do whatever you think is best , but this is highly recommended . "

[notin]

I think when MLB managers report to work these days , there is a paper on their desk with a note saying , " This is what the analytics people think you should do today . It's up to you . Do whatever you think is best , but this is highly recommended . "

 

 

Actually a lot of players and managers are deep into analytics, far more so than most fans...

[Kimmi]

I think when MLB managers report to work these days , there is a paper on their desk with a note saying , " This is what the analytics people think you should do today . It's up to you . Do whatever you think is best , but this is highly recommended . "

 

I think you're right. I don't think that GMs or owners want to dictate what their managers are to do as far as managing the team day in and day out. At the same time, I think most managers these days are on board with analytics.

[vegasbob]

I think when MLB managers report to work these days , there is a paper on their desk with a note saying , " This is what the analytics people think you should do today . It's up to you . Do whatever you think is best , but this is highly recommended . "

 

"P.S. Ignore at your own peril. " Great article in the WSJ about the total failure of the Orioles, under Dan Duquette and Showalter, to develop any analytic abilities until GM Mike Elias took over last year . He is now trying to build an data base and systems via Sig Mejdal as his ass't GM. The O's also had no int'l scouting capacity. The aging Peter Angelos, 90, finally turned things over to his sons, who brought Elias , who now will try to mimic his success with the Astros developing their high level model of analytics. Of course, Showalter had to go and current manager, Brandon Hyde , formerly with Theo's Cubs, believes in using the available data.

[oldtimer]

If Mookie gets the same amount of ABs in 2019 as last season, he will be paid the equivalent of $38,500 for each AB not counting benefits. Sounds like a living wage to me. I prefer him betting 2nd in our iineup but don't see an enormous benefit either for 1st or 2nd.

[moonslav59]

I think Beni is about to bust out. He gets on base a lot, so Betts should get more rbi chances.

 

I trust the studies that show best hitter up 2nd in the way to go.

 

I'm more concerned about batting JD 4th not 3rd.

 

I'd bat Bogey 3rd vs RHPs and Pearce 3rd vs LHPs.

[Kimmi]

I think Beni is about to bust out. He gets on base a lot, so Betts should get more rbi chances.

 

I trust the studies that show best hitter up 2nd in the way to go.

 

I'm more concerned about batting JD 4th not 3rd.

 

I'd bat Bogey 3rd vs RHPs and Pearce 3rd vs LHPs.

 

I believe that Devers is now our #3 hitter, JD 4th, and Bogaerts 5th until Cora decides that this line up is not working.

[oldtimer]

I believe that Devers is now our #3 hitter, JD 4th, and Bogaerts 5th until Cora decides that this line up is not working.

 

Something to be said for maintaing a consistent batting order as starting pitchers these days often only go 5 innings anyway.

[moonslav59]

I believe that Devers is now our #3 hitter, JD 4th, and Bogaerts 5th until Cora decides that this line up is not working.

 

Well, the stats show the better hitter should bat 5th over 3rd, so I'm okay with this, but vs LHPs, I'd put Pearce up 3rd and Devers 6th behind Bogey.

[Bellhorn04]

Well, the stats show the better hitter should bat 5th over 3rd, so I'm okay with this, but vs LHPs, I'd put Pearce up 3rd and Devers 6th behind Bogey.

 

We could see that.

[Kimmi]

Something to be said for maintaing a consistent batting order as starting pitchers these days often only go 5 innings anyway.

 

I agree Oldtimer. I personally don't see the need for a lot of line up tweaking from one game to the next.

[Kimmi]

Well, the stats show the better hitter should bat 5th over 3rd, so I'm okay with this, but vs LHPs, I'd put Pearce up 3rd and Devers 6th behind Bogey.

 

I like having Devers batting 3rd. I just hope he doesn't feel too much pressure batting higher in the order. I'm sure Cora has a handle on it though.

[moonslav59]

I don't think Devers is affected by pressure.

[SCM33]

I recall that he walked a lot. (what I say pertains more to the NL, of course)

 

As in Pete Rose.

 

It is literally impossible to "walk alot" and still get 4256 hits.

 

Pete Rose had 1566 career walks because he played until he was 45 years old when he retired. He averaged about 71 walks a year. Bill Mueller averaged 72 walks a year.

[Larry Cook]

Last year betts came up to bat with the bases empty about a 100 more times than benintendi.

 

If benintendi has the year we think he can have, then Betts should be coming up to bat more with runners on base, and hopefully driving in a lot more runs from the two hole than benintendi did last year.

 

Potentially one area of improvement over last year.

[oldtimer]

Last year betts came up to bat with the bases empty about a 100 more times than benintendi.

 

If benintendi has the year we think he can have, then Betts should be coming up to bat more with runners on base, and hopefully driving in a lot more runs from the two hole than benintendi did last year.

 

Potentially one area of improvement over last year.

 

I am hopeful that Beni will hit to all fields more often than last season. Maybe it's the wall, but I thought he tried to hit to left much of the time and that he took away a significant amount of his power by doing so. I don't see him as a power hitter, but do believe if he can spray the ball he will get more hits. He could go from a good hitter to a top of the line average hitter.

[moonslav59]

I am hopeful that Beni will hit to all fields more often than last season. Maybe it's the wall, but I thought he tried to hit to left much of the time and that he took away a significant amount of his power by doing so. I don't see him as a power hitter, but do believe if he can spray the ball he will get more hits. He could go from a good hitter to a top of the line average hitter.

 

Maybe batting Beni first will help that mindset to get on base more than hit HRs.

 

We might also hope that the bottom of the order gets on base more for Beni & Betts. We were not horrible last year, but the OBP's of our bottom 4 slots was:

 

.308 6th

.298 7th

.267 8th

.312 9th

 

Pedey and Pearce might help "lengthen" the line-up.

OBP in 2018

.325 Moreland & .313 HRam vs Pearce .394 w BOS

.289 Nunez & .294 Kinsler vs Pedroia ??? (.371 OBP 2016-2018)

 

Swihart (.285) and Vaz (.257 in 2018 but .333 in 2017) getting more PAs to replace Leon's .232 OBP could help.

 

JBJ having a consistent year from start to finish. Last year he had his longest stretch of consistency after starting off slow.

.261 OBP his first 38 games

.333 OBP last 106 games

 

Nunez improving on his 2018 OBP.

.289 in 2018

.341 in 2017 (.353 w BOS)

.325 in 2016

.327 in 2015

 

We don't need a whole lot to go right for our bottom of the order to improve, at least in the OBP category.

Edited March 25, 2019 by moonslav59

[Slasher9]

i dont know...does Beni look...fat...to anyone else?

looks like he chunked up.

[mvp 78]

i dont know...does Beni look...fat...to anyone else?

looks like he chunked up.

 

Maybe thicker lower half? Could be good for power.

[Larry Cook]

i dont know...does Beni look...fat...to anyone else?

looks like he chunked up.

 

I have not noticed any additional thickness arounfmd his middle, but I have noticed his swing is slower than last year and that does concern me.

 

This spring he has been worse than delta airlines and late on everything!

[moonslav59]

Leon 2009:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS826&biw=1366&bih=641&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=5FOZXOXsNYugjwT9qqu4Ag&q=sandy+leon+2009&oq=sandy+leon+2009&gs_l=img.12...5369.5369..8445...0.0..0.63.63.1......1....1..gws-wiz-img._zMUjyvq92g#imgrc=rJMMojKAtOcnVM:

 

Leon 2014:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS826&biw=1366&bih=641&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=5FOZXOXsNYugjwT9qqu4Ag&q=sandy+leon+2009&oq=sandy+leon+2009&gs_l=img.12...5369.5369..8445...0.0..0.63.63.1......1....1..gws-wiz-img._zMUjyvq92g#imgrc=rJMMojKAtOcnVM:

 

Leon 2019:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS826&biw=1366&bih=641&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=MVSZXMj7DcfIjwSbpZOgDw&q=sandy+leon+2019&oq=sandy+leon+2019&gs_l=img.3...1158.3298..5215...0.0..0.61.169.3......1....1..gws-wiz-img.qj60SbrIpK8#imgrc=t-ljwfsCo3uNUM: