agredon

You're basing way too much on one month worth of data. That's way too quick to do such a massive lineup change. If I were managing the team, the lineups would change based regularly based on the current splits. If a player goes into a slump, he has no business batting 1-4. Move someone up whose getting hot until he breaks his slump. Keeping someone in an important spot in the lineup when he's not hitting is a detriment to the team. Now, if you're sub-.500 and have no hope of playing in October, then you can let a cold bat stay. But, when you're fighting for the division, you chave to always play your hottest hitters in those important spots. Let the slumping hitter bat 6-7 or sub him in later in the game when you have a lead...and if he breaks out of his slump, let him start/move up the line up. But, he absolutely has to earn his spot...no free spots in a pennant race.

Honestly man I lost interest when I saw Cantu wasn't even in the lineup against RHP. The numbers don't lie (except for pinch hitters, who sometimes hit much better when they start - e.g. Gonzo). Jake gets on base 10% more often, gets a base hit 12.4% more often, and when he hits, he averages an extra 1/2 base over Cantu against Righties. Cantu hits better with RISP (Runners in Scoring Position) than Jake, but there are others much better than either one in that situation. Hanley, LoDuca, and Baker (my 1-3 hitters) all have OPS over 1.000 with RISP. Cantu has the 5th Best OPS RISP, which means there are 4 guys more deserving of the 3 hole. Your 1-2 guys need to be able to get on base and hit RISP (for drive in the runner after a sacrafice bunt by the Pitcher). The 3 spot is all about Power (ISO) and Average (BA) RISP. You need to balance the two. A hitter whose all power (Good ISO, but near the bottom in BA/OBP) might get that big hit once in a while, but will strand more than his share of runners. I'd lean more towards Average, since even a single with runners in scoring position will create runs. Just ask the Cardinals and Giants. That 3-run HR looks mighty nice [and is great to have when rallying], but a few singles strung together will create the same number of runs. The bottom of your order should be guys who can get on consistently and keep the inning alive, give the pitcher someone to sacrafice over, and the leadoff man someone to drive in. Cantu isn't the best option for the 3-4 spots and not consistent enough to hit 1-2. That leaves him to compete for the 5-8 spots...which are all about getting on-base, a category Cantu ranks near the bottom in. August OBP (RISP) .667 LoDuca .600 Treanor .529 Baker .529 Ramirez .500 Helms .400 Hammer .391 Hermida .368 Ross .348 Cantu .250 Amezaga .227 Jacobs August ISO (RISP) 2.50 Cantu 2.00 Jacobs 1.75 Ramirez 1.75 Hammer 1.66 Uggla 1.60 Baker 1.34 Ross 1.00 LoDuca 1.00 Treanor 1.00 Helms 1.00 Amezaga 1.00 Hermida

8. (3B) Jacobs .208/.269/.479/.748 (Can Jake Play 3B ???) This was a joke, right? Everyone knows Grandma can't move at 1B...much less 3B. They could play Cantu with Jake as the 1st Pinch Hit option...Downsides: Jake has better splits against righties and not starting him against righties would mean he'd be relegated to the bench which might hurt morale.

LoDuca is a great contact/single hitter, just what we need in the #2 spot...a guy who can move up/score Hanley. Here's my ideal Lineups based on their Splits for the month of August, and the fact that Hanley can't seem to hit other than leadoff (see failed experiment in #3 spot). vs. Righties (BA / OBP / SLG / OPS) 1. (SS) Ramirez .216/.414/.391/.805 2. (1B) LoDuca .400/.500/.500/1.000 (If Jake Can Play 3B, Lo Duca can Play 1B) 3. ? Baker .343/.452/.514/.966 4. (CF) Ross .268/.348/.561/.909 5. (RF) Gonzo .296/.345/.481/.826 6. (LF) Hammer .256/.343/.442/.785 7. (2B) Uggla .224/.356/.327/.683 8. (3B) Jacobs .208/.269/.479/.748 (Can Jake Play 3B ???) 9. (SP) B1. Cantu .185/.241/.333/.574 B2. Hermida .133/.231/.200/.431 B3. Amezaga .167/.200/.167/.367 B4. Helms .167/.167/.167/.333 B5. Treanor .167/.167/.286/.453 vs. Lefties (BA / OBP / SLG / OPS) 1. (SS) Ramirez .455/.632/.909/1.541 2. (LF) LoDuca .500/.500/.600/1.100 3. (CF) Ross .389/.450/.556/1.006 4. (3B) Helms .400/.455/.500/.955 5. ? Baker .231/.375/.462/.837 6. (1B) Cantu .269/.286/.462/.748 7. (RF) Hermida .278/.435/.278/.713 8. (2B) Amezaga .313/.353/.313/.666 9. (SP) B1. Uggla .143/.250/.238/.488 B2. Hammer .111/.227/.167/.394 B3. Jacobs .063/.158/.250/.408 B4. Gonzo .000/.000/.000/.000 (2 AB, 1 RBI) B5. Treanor .200/.200/.200/.400

i think thats to much to ask for for this marlin team. especially when your what, 3-12 in your last 15 games? if we pitch like we have been with the exception of pinto and 1 time gregg we can win 8 games this trip. all we need is for the dumbwads in the middle of our order to freakin hit the ball and we'll be fine If not for Gregg and Pinto's meltdowns, we'd have swept the Cubs. The starting pitching handed the bullpen a lead in all 3 games (5-3, 2-1, 2-0) of the Cubs series, and the bullpen was only able to hold that lead 1 time. I believe the Marlins are fully capable of sweeping the Giants, taking 2 of 3 (maybe even sweeping) the DBacks, and taking 2 of 3 from the Braves. That works out to 7-2, maybe 8-1. Any less [losing games we should win] is unacceptable. While 6-3 sounds good, its not going to advance us in the standings, because the Phillies and Mets have an easy schedule during that same period (Nationals, Dodgers, Braves, Astros). We need to do better than the Mets and Phillies, which means better than 6-2. We also have to win the series against the Mets.

Baker should be the starting catcher. Lo Duca is there should Treanor's injury end his season prematurely. He has his pluses, like being able to hit and run and play other positions.