Posted June 9, 200717 yr So, I have been wondering about the lineup more and more, and after last night, I think the question really needs to be asked. What do we do with Mike Jacobs? Aaron Boone's shown his bat absolutely belongs in the lineup everyday. He's solid defensively at first (something that cannot be said of Jake) and he is one of four players on our team who can work a walk. Also, if we're going to continue to bat Hanley 3rd, Boone suits our lineup better than Jacobs. If Jacobs' return means Miggy goes back to 3 and Hanley leadoff, then this is moot. Thoughts?
June 9, 200717 yr I do think Boones bat needs to be in the lineup.. However, no wya would I give up on Jake.. He'll have to battle back in prove himself but at this point I dont think you can comapre the two... Stick Boone in Center!! :lol
June 9, 200717 yr Boone should be starting everyday in some capacity until that spark in his bat goes away whether it be 1b/3b/2b/lf/rf whatever
June 9, 200717 yr Author Jacobs starts. Boone will still see plenty of ABs. Do you think Jacobs starts in this current lineup (meaning 7th)? Or do you think we see a lineup reshuffle where Jake gets to go back to the heart of the order?
June 9, 200717 yr I'd be curious to try Boone at third, Jacobs at first, and Cabrera/Willingham/Hermida in the outfield somehow.
June 9, 200717 yr Cabrera/Willingham/Hermida in the outfield somehow. stay away from drugs kids :mischief
June 9, 200717 yr Author thats a good question Well, that's the essence of my thought. If Jacobs comes back despite Boone's torrid pace, you're essentially saying "thanks Aaron, our starter's back." The other thing that's important to note is that Jacobs has not been in a lineup in which Hanley hit 3rd (at least I'm 99% sure he hasn't). So, if you're going to tell me that Jacobs is going to come back with a right to be back everyday (which is fine, I think we need that lefty versatility anyway since like 4 guys just kill lefthanded pitching) does that also, by extension, mean he's entitled to his old cleanup spot? I mean, I don't think you can knock his production there...an .845 OPS is not shabby.
June 9, 200717 yr Author Cabrera/Willingham/Hermida in the outfield somehow. What we have may be the worst defensive outfield since Junior Felix. That group would be historically bad.
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both?
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs starts. Boone will still see plenty of ABs. Do you think Jacobs starts in this current lineup (meaning 7th)? Or do you think we see a lineup reshuffle where Jake gets to go back to the heart of the order? I would bat him 6th behind the Hammer with the current lineup, but I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 5th and move Hammer back to 6th. Eventually I would think we're going to have to move Hanley back to leadoff. Amezaga will not be able to keep up his current pace.
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both? Jacobs was a catcher in the minor leagues, yes.
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both? Both. And I wouldnt object to putting Jacobs behind the plate sink or swim. You have to keep Boones bat in the lineup, and getting Jacobs bat in as well is just gravy.
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both? Both. And I wouldnt object to putting Jacobs behind the plate sink or swim. You have to keep Boones bat in the lineup, and getting Jacobs bat in as well is just gravy. Thumb injuries and catching do not mix well.
June 9, 200717 yr My idea on the situation is you don't mess with success. If we keep winning with Boone in the lineup I don't think you just plug Jacobs back in for him, especially if Boone produces. I have no idea what kind of defensive catcher Jacobs was, probably not a good one seeing as how he got moved so I won't say anything about that. I have no problem replacing Olivo as a starter.....but you have to be able to be at least as good as Miguel defensively to do so.
June 9, 200717 yr Author Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both? Both. And I wouldnt object to putting Jacobs behind the plate sink or swim. You have to keep Boones bat in the lineup, and getting Jacobs bat in as well is just gravy. Thumb injuries and catching do not mix well. And Jacobs was moved from behind the plate following shoulder surgery. As enticing as it is to think about Jake as a passable catcher, we're more likely to see Hammer back behind the plate before Jacobs.
June 9, 200717 yr You guys, as well as Boone is doing right now, Jacobs was still putting up better numbers than Aaron. When Jacobs is healthy you put him back in the lineup from day 1, no questions asked. We still find a way to get Boone plenty of ABs though, like Ramp said put him anywhere on the field minus catcher,CF or SS.
June 9, 200717 yr Jacobs for catcher lol (Im just kidding in case anyone takes me seriously) Wasn't he a catcher at one point? Or was that Willingham? Or both? Both. And I wouldnt object to putting Jacobs behind the plate sink or swim. You have to keep Boones bat in the lineup, and getting Jacobs bat in as well is just gravy. Thumb injuries and catching do not mix well. And Jacobs was moved from behind the plate following shoulder surgery. As enticing as it is to think about Jake as a passable catcher, we're more likely to see Hammer back behind the plate before Jacobs. Hammer behind the plate and Boone in left......(I'm allowed to wish)
June 9, 200717 yr Author You guys, as well as Boone is doing right now, Jacobs was still putting up better numbers than Aaron. When Jacobs is healthy you put him back in the lineup from day 1, no questions asked. We still find a way to get Boone plenty of ABs though, like Ramp said put him anywhere on the field minus catcher,CF or SS. Now slow down there. Jacobs' 2006 numbers suggest he's not likely to keep hitting .281, or OBP'ing .355. Just like Hanley couldn't hit .340 forever, I'd say Jacobs is likely to take a step back than a step forward. FWIW, Aaron's had a ridiculous .385 OBP as a starter, crazy when you think he's hit .250 in that stretch. If you can take a walk, you'll always have value to the lineup. So, while you can't argue with Jacobs' production, his .281/.355/.490 line isn't that overly impressive over Boone's .270/.389/.432. Just to fan the flames.
June 9, 200717 yr You guys, as well as Boone is doing right now, Jacobs was still putting up better numbers than Aaron. When Jacobs is healthy you put him back in the lineup from day 1, no questions asked. We still find a way to get Boone plenty of ABs though, like Ramp said put him anywhere on the field minus catcher,CF or SS. Now slow down there. Jacobs' 2006 numbers suggest he's not likely to keep hitting .281, or OBP'ing .355. Just like Hanley couldn't hit .340 forever, I'd say Jacobs is likely to take a step back than a step forward. FWIW, Aaron's had a ridiculous .385 OBP as a starter, crazy when you think he's hit .250 in that stretch. If you can take a walk, you'll always have value to the lineup. Well if you want to bring 2006 stats into the argument, last year Boone had an OBP .314 and the year before that his OBP was a horrid .299. Jacobs when healthy can and should produce a decent OBP with much more power than Boone. If anything Boone so far this year is the fluke, not Jacobs.
June 9, 200717 yr Author You guys, as well as Boone is doing right now, Jacobs was still putting up better numbers than Aaron. When Jacobs is healthy you put him back in the lineup from day 1, no questions asked. We still find a way to get Boone plenty of ABs though, like Ramp said put him anywhere on the field minus catcher,CF or SS. Now slow down there. Jacobs' 2006 numbers suggest he's not likely to keep hitting .281, or OBP'ing .355. Just like Hanley couldn't hit .340 forever, I'd say Jacobs is likely to take a step back than a step forward. FWIW, Aaron's had a ridiculous .385 OBP as a starter, crazy when you think he's hit .250 in that stretch. If you can take a walk, you'll always have value to the lineup. Well if you want to bring 2006 stats into the argument, last year Boone had an OBP .314 and the year before that his OBP was a horrid .299. Jacobs when healthy can and should produce a decent OBP with much more power than Boone. If anything Boone so far this year is the fluke, not Jacobs. Power, no doubt. OBP, not necessarily. He struggled mightily in his 2 1/2 seasons in the AL, the last 2 as a part time player, yet his career OBP is still .328, not incredibly impressive until you see his career average of .264...so Boone can absolutely take a walk. Jacobs' sample size is limited to essentially what we've seen as an incredible slugger with little plate discipline. I think we're getting away from the point of my initial thought which is essentially, if Jacobs returns to the lineup do you see him carrying bottom of the order value, or do we look at 7-8-9 as a collection of guys that could give pitchers 5 pitch innings consistently. If you think Jacobs is coming back and we go back to the old lineup, fantastic.
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