Random Ramblings: the batting order
i started thinking about the lineup today and what it should look like. so what should it look like? here is my projected lineup:
Eckstien
Spivey/Bigbie
Pujols
Edmonds/Rolen
Rolen/Edmonds
Encarnacion
Bigbie/Molina
Molina/Bigbie
Pitcher
eck is lock as the leadoff hitter. i like spivey as the second hitter because he gets on base and has some pop in his bat (not much, but decent). maybe you would consider bigbie because he is a lefty and its good to mix the lineup in a right/left/right/left pattern. the problem is we dont know how bigbie will hit. also, i have read scouting reports that say he hits better in the bottom of the lineup because there is no/little pressure on him to perform. the third spot is obvious, Great Prince Albert. the cleanup spot, i cant make my mind on. either edmonds or rolen. if edmonds is hitting (.290/.300), he is better in the cleanup spot, but if he is average (around .270/.280) i like him in the fifth spot. Over at viva el birdos, lboros has done research and it shows that edmonds is at his best offensively when hitting in the fifth spot. so, i guess just flip a coin to decide who to hit cleanup and 5th. i like encarnacion in the 6th spot, i think he is going to do will there, just a gut feeling. one can make an argument for molina hitting 7th because whenever he gets on, he is too slow for pitchers to bunt over, and he cannot score from second on a single by a pitcher if he hits a double. so i could go with an experimental lineup and have molina bat 7th and bigbie bat 8th, because bigbie can hit for extra bases. the pitcher spot should obviously be 9th, unless its jason marquis pitching that day, in this case, you can bat marquis where ever you want. those are all of my thoughts about the batting order.
