I don't usually play around with lineup construction (because it matters so little) but I heard one suggested on WFAN last night that I really liked. The show's host, who was a woman I had never heard before (usually listen during the day) had some really smart suggestions and had strong rationale for all of it. Here's how the order went.
1. Reyes
2. Pagan
3. Bay
4. Davis
5. Wright
6. Barajas
7. Francoeur/Carter
8. Pitcher
9. Castillo
She didn't seem to care whether Castillo was 8 or 9. In general, I like this idea. The question the Mets face now really seems to be what to do with Anegl Pagan if Reyes is back to leading off. Last night he batted seventh, which is a waste. He's been playing too well recently to bury down there.
I like the idea of leading off with Reyes AND Pagan, who are both dynamic speedsters with some pop, before getting to the heart of the order. I'd also bat Davis between Bay and Wright because of handedness. Barajas 6th is interesting but not crazy, not while he's hot. And then Castillo at the end of the lineup turns the lineup over -- he can bunt, he get get on base, and he can take pitches. As she mentioned, facing the Mets 7-8-9 when it was Barajas-Francoeur-Pitcher could end up in a lot of 5 or 6 pitch innings for the opposing team.
Anyway, that was her idea and I liked it. Not that it makes a huge difference.
Showing posts with label lineup construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lineup construction. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, April 02, 2010
Guest Post: The Case For Batting Reyes Second
We are proud to feature yet another guest post this Friday morning at Fonzie Forever. Our good friend Sergio, an avid Mets fan and ballplayer, advocates below for something I've never even considered. I like that outside the box thinking. Anyway, enjoy.
Lineuping is one of my favorite end-of-spring-training things to do. The roster is set and now the serious part of the discussion turns from who should be on the team to where in the lineup the player should bat. I guess the idea in lineuping is to come up with a way to maximize the strengths of players, minimize weaknesses, and when there is a choice between two competing schemes that would each maximize two different players, to ask which one gives you a larger net gain in offense. It is an inexact science and all, which is part of the fun.
When it comes to the Mets, all offseason and spring training the question has been where to bat Reyes – and really the rest of the lineup falls into place when that question is answered. Most threads have argued for or against Reyes batting leadoff or Jerry Manuel’s idea of batting him third. And yet, surprisingly, hardly anyone has suggested batting Luis Castillo leadoff and Jose Reyes second. So after a winter and early spring of hearing a million lineup schemes – and I spent a lot of time on these threads – I say batting Reyes second is the way to go, but let’s look at all the arguments anyway.
Lineuping is one of my favorite end-of-spring-training things to do. The roster is set and now the serious part of the discussion turns from who should be on the team to where in the lineup the player should bat. I guess the idea in lineuping is to come up with a way to maximize the strengths of players, minimize weaknesses, and when there is a choice between two competing schemes that would each maximize two different players, to ask which one gives you a larger net gain in offense. It is an inexact science and all, which is part of the fun.
When it comes to the Mets, all offseason and spring training the question has been where to bat Reyes – and really the rest of the lineup falls into place when that question is answered. Most threads have argued for or against Reyes batting leadoff or Jerry Manuel’s idea of batting him third. And yet, surprisingly, hardly anyone has suggested batting Luis Castillo leadoff and Jose Reyes second. So after a winter and early spring of hearing a million lineup schemes – and I spent a lot of time on these threads – I say batting Reyes second is the way to go, but let’s look at all the arguments anyway.
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