sandiegosoxfan

There seem to be a number of catchers who will be free agents in 2012. I'd like to see Theo make this is next investment assuming Salty doesn't surprise by being significantly above average and stay healthy for a full season. I'd like to hear the group's thoughts on Kelly Shoppach, Chris Snyder and Yadier Molina.

Any evidence Lowrie could hit well from the left side in the minors?

fifth would be an even worse option than third, for several reasons: 1) It's an RBI spot. Crawford is a slap hitter. 2) There's a reason why lineups have been used the way they have been used for years, and part of that has to do with lineup protection. Notice Albert Pujols' IBB%, which has been significantly lower since the Cards got Holliday, it works in your softball team, but in real baseball the manager will put on whoever's ahead of Crawford ten times out of ten on base so they can face Crawford (who can't hit lefties) and even worse if he has Ortiz behind him (who can't hit lefties either) rendering the thought of hitting Crawford ahead of Ortiz worse than injecting your penis with cocaine. Dipre, I disagree that Crawford is a slap hitter--he had over 90 RBI's last year and 19 homers. I concede the lefty split point but I do not think in the "Crawford bats 5th" scenario I would have Ortiz in the lineup against lefties--more like Lowrie or Cameron.

I think BSN07 has a more eloquent explanation of the lineup I've been advocating. One of the best things is that we don't "waste" too many stolen bases in front of guys that are going to double or homer a lot anyway and we distract the pitcher for the batters that can most benefit from it.

I think they should try to get Beltran this year--he crushes lefties and could slide over to the full-time DH job next year unless Ortiz wanted to take a big pay cut and platoon.

I agree about keeping Darnell absent a trade, but his OPS vs. lefthanders last year was .821 vs. 1.015 for Beltran his last full year (which happens to be he same as his injury shortened 2010 number). I know it doesn't work this way, but if if ad his 10 homers against lefties to Ortiz' homers against righties, you'd get 40 homers out of the DH slot if they platooned. As to the trade I suggested, Mets might be willing to eat some money. As to losing our 5th starter--I'd take my chances with Wakefield and Doubront as a mid-season plan B unless they could deal for one. Truthfully, I'm quitting on DiceK.

Let's go ahead and flip Dice K for Beltran.

This is why I think it's worth considering alternating speed-power, speed-power through the batting order.

I'm OK with them keeping Pap another year. However I do think they need two lefties in the pen. I love Doubront but think his long term growth would benefit from at least starting the year in Pawtucket. They should sign Arthur Rhodes and another FA lefty so they can have both a LOOGY and a guy who can occasionally take the 6th or 7th inning and force some of the left-handed hitters out of the game. Our 80% right-handed starting corps is going to give rise to a lot of lefty-heavy starting lineups from our opponents. Might be especially key against the Yankees. On that note, I have a hunch Theo may be looking for a seasoned #5 starter who throws from the south. This would help offset aforementioned right-handedness in the bullpen, especially in the 6th-7th innings. I realize Jenks, Bard and Papelbon do fine with lefties. For the right deal, I could see Pap, DiceK or even Kalish or Ellsbury being moved.

I'm all for giving Lowrie a shot, but he can't hit right-handers based on his major league numbers. Anyone seeing it differently?

Is anyone else worried that Lowrie has such a poor track record batting left-handed?

Dipre, I'm new at this. Can you say more about the second point in your last post?

Four principles: 1. Spread out the speedsters. 2. Conceive of the lineup as having a lead-off man batting first and one batting fifth 3. Platoon everyone who has significant drop-off in production against the other-hand pitcher--even switch-hitters. 4. Altertnate l-r hitters through your top 5 hitters who won't be pinch-hit for against reliever. Averages are career unless last year seemed more indicative of the future decline--eg, Papi and Drew. Against right-handers Ellsbury .285 Pedroia .309 Gonzalez .295 Youkilis .292 Crawford .308 Scutaro .273 Ortiz .294 Drew .277 Saltimachia .273 • Team average is .290 • Crawford hitting 5th 1. serves as a second lead-off man which 2. makes the relatively weaker hitters at the bottom of the order more dangerous 3. opens up the possibility of a hit-and-run or a sacrifice bunt with Scutaro or a sac fly for Ortiz 4. Doesn't waste a stolen base or an extra base advancement by having 3rd or 4th hitter clear the bases with a double or homer 5. complicates the shift against Ortiz. Against left-handers Ellsbury .285 Pedroia .294 Gonzalez .262 (.337 in 2010) Youkilis .299 Crawford .272 Lowrie (SS) .324 MacDonald (DH) .296 Cameron (RF) .272 Varitek .231 • Team average is .282