August 21, 200817 yr I would have probably preferred LoDuca at 1st base for the slumping Jacobs and also because Baker is HOT and fired up playing in front of his home town. So I like LoDuca in the lineup batting second, but not catching. That "fired up playing in front of his hometown" cracks me up. How did that work out for DTrain?? DTrain was immature. That's what made him such a great ballplayer. Played all out and careless. Only when people tried to refine his delivery was he unable to adapt.
August 21, 200817 yr Thank god for Lo Duca. Fredi, I think it is a great idea to leave Jeremy down at the bottom of the order. Way to disregard the start Hermida got off to after the ASB. That is all BS anyways. Hermida is a bum and deserves to be at the bottom of the order. Well done, sir. Well done. Great, the fat, used-up, double-play prone loser is out #2 hitter? Ugh yea, why dont you come up with another great lineup then? :| Baker is OPSing .927 in August. Anything else?
August 23, 200817 yr 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
August 23, 200817 yr 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.
August 23, 200817 yr 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.
August 23, 200817 yr I would have probably preferred LoDuca at 1st base for the slumping Jacobs and also because Baker is HOT and fired up playing in front of his home town. So I like LoDuca in the lineup batting second, but not catching. That "fired up playing in front of his hometown" cracks me up. How did that work out for DTrain?? DTrain was immature. That's what made him such a great ballplayer. Played all out and careless. Only when people tried to refine his delivery was he unable to adapt. Evidently you missed or ignored the point. DTrain NEVER played well in front of his hometown crowd.
August 23, 200817 yr 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 beer me strength have you ever watched the Marlins play? Have you ever seen Jacobs at 3B? Better question: have you ever seen Jacobs at 1B??? Baseball is played on a field, not on paper
August 23, 200817 yr 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 Honestly man I lost interest when I saw Cantu wasn't even in the lineup against RHP. Cantu has been one of our most consistent hitters this whole year and has deffinately proved he can hit in the 3 Hole. Jacobs should be the one riding the bench if anything, he really hasnt had a streak where he has caught fire. He had about 2 good games about 2 weeks ago. Then promptly goes on a 0 - 26 drought? Wow, when I heard that really had me questioning why the heck he was playing so much and still batting 4th or 5th in the lineup.
August 23, 200817 yr I would have probably preferred LoDuca at 1st base for the slumping Jacobs and also because Baker is HOT and fired up playing in front of his home town. So I like LoDuca in the lineup batting second, but not catching. That "fired up playing in front of his hometown" cracks me up. How did that work out for DTrain?? DTrain was immature. That's what made him such a great ballplayer. Played all out and careless. Only when people tried to refine his delivery was he unable to adapt. Evidently you missed or ignored the point. DTrain NEVER played well in front of his hometown crowd. Ignored the point. Couldn't care less either - all of 5 games. Just shocked by Willis' career path.
August 23, 200817 yr I would have probably preferred LoDuca at 1st base for the slumping Jacobs and also because Baker is HOT and fired up playing in front of his home town. So I like LoDuca in the lineup batting second, but not catching. That "fired up playing in front of his hometown" cracks me up. How did that work out for DTrain?? DTrain was immature. That's what made him such a great ballplayer. Played all out and careless. Only when people tried to refine his delivery was he unable to adapt. Evidently you missed or ignored the point. DTrain NEVER played well in front of his hometown crowd. Ignored the point. Couldn't care less either - all of 5 games. Just shocked by Willis' career path. LOL...yeah, I IGNORED it too. What D Train DID is IRRELEVANT to what Baker is DOING. Sure sounded good, though; all that hip sarcasm and all.
August 23, 200817 yr It would be better if instead of guys trying their best to be sarcastic they just debated and discussed things like men.
August 24, 200817 yr 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
August 24, 200817 yr 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 You're basing way too much on one month worth of data. That's way too quick to do such a massive lineup change.
August 24, 200817 yr I would have probably preferred LoDuca at 1st base for the slumping Jacobs and also because Baker is HOT and fired up playing in front of his home town. So I like LoDuca in the lineup batting second, but not catching. That "fired up playing in front of his hometown" cracks me up. How did that work out for DTrain?? DTrain was immature. That's what made him such a great ballplayer. Played all out and careless. Only when people tried to refine his delivery was he unable to adapt. Evidently you missed or ignored the point. DTrain NEVER played well in front of his hometown crowd. Ignored the point. Couldn't care less either - all of 5 games. Just shocked by Willis' career path. At least you're honest about it. But 5 terrible games. And 2 games, one pretty good offensively, the other was a defensive disaster. Keep in mind Paulie did just fine in that other game in SF. Kinda hard to argue the move. Playing in front of your home town means very little. Except to your friends and family, of course. BTW in today's PBP is a little clip on DTrain. He's up to AAA and is regaining his form, apparently rather slowly. Not expected to be back in the majors this year.
August 24, 200817 yr It would be better if instead of guys trying their best to be sarcastic they just debated and discussed things like men. We have a new rule. Spell things out entirely so we can all be men.
August 25, 200817 yr 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.
August 25, 200817 yr 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. With that philosophy I doubt you will ever get to see time in the dugout...
August 25, 200817 yr 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. You saying you wouldn't tolerate Jacobs in your line up going 0-29 in a PENNANT RACE? And then when he finally does get a hit, you wouldn't bench him against a pitcher he's batting .750 against, 6-8 with 2 HRs? LOL....
August 25, 200817 yr 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. With that philosophy I doubt you will ever get to see time in the dugout... True, he wouldn't. But there is something to be said for managing differently when you're in a pennant race!
August 25, 200817 yr 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. With that philosophy I doubt you will ever get to see time in the dugout... True, he wouldn't. But there is something to be said for managing differently when you're in a pennant race! True. But he's talking about over managing a team. Moving players around in the line up as often as he is suggesting isn't the answer. A player will see different pitches at different spots in the line up. It dosen't mean he will come out of his slump. He may hit fairly well, then get moved back to his original slot and slump. Hammer is a proven hitter that goes into slumps. Long ones. Keep him around the middle of the line up, keep the cortisone shots at the ready, and hope he gets more BP to break out of things.
August 25, 200817 yr We're a team that strikes out way too much and is notorious for not scoring runners from third base when there's less than 2 outs. So, you put in a guy that through his career does not strike out much and has been good at making contact even with two strikes. As manager its definitely worth a shot to chnage things up when the offense has been terrible since the break and we are slowly falling out of contention. I rather have lo duca hit to the rigth side and move hanley to third with cantu coming up than have hermida strike out. Hermida is a decent on base guy, so lets say bottom of the ninth, tie game, hanley gets on and steals second. Lo Duca can make contact and move the runner to third with 1 out. Cantu hits a moderately deep fly ball, we win the game. Hermida is in the 2, he walks. 1st and 2nd with no outs. Cantu hits the same fly ball, its 1st and 2nd with 1 out and the game goes on. My point is there are certain things that don't come out in the statsheets, and I'm not talking about intangibles. I'm talking about smart baseball. Being able to lay down a bunt, which Hermida can't do, or hitting to the right side to advance a runner. Sure Hermida can hit a homerun, but its a lot easier to ground out to the right side than it is to hit a home run, and in certain situations the former is nearly as useful as the latter.
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