My official lineup

by grimsleyfan on Apr 5, 2009 10:10 AM EDT

It's really alot easier this season compared to years past.

LF Dejesus

SS Aviles

3B Gordon

RF Guillen

1B Jacobs

DH Butler

2B Teahen

C Olivo

CF Crisp

I don't get the idea of batting Gordon and Aviles low in the lineup. Aviles was our best overall hitter last season and Gordon had a great OPS against RHPs and teams face RHPs more often. No reason for those two to bat behind anyone else in the lineup.

I don't take great stock in Spring Training numbers. Most pitchers are trying to get their stuff together. I'm happy Teahen and Crisp had great springs, but it shouldn't make Hillman forget about last season. If Seitzer can work wonders with Teahen, why not with Gordon?

Overall, I don't mind the 9 guys starting and the 4 backups, assuming TPJ is waived and sent to Omaha. I don't mind the 4th and 5th starters as well. But I would do the lineup differently. That's just me.

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all things considered,

this isn’t a bad lineup. I’d switch Butler and Guillen, and for tough LH starters, I’d take Gordon out of the 3-hole and Jacobs out of the lineup altogether.

by DarthYoshi on Apr 5, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

If I had a chance to set the lineup...

1. Crisp CF – S
2. Dejesus LF – L
3. Aviles SS – R
4. Jacobs 1B – L
5. Guillen RF – R
6. Gordon 3B – L
7. Butler DH – R
8. Teahen 2B – L
9. Olivo C – R

Starting Pitching:
1. Meche – RHP
2. Grienke – RHP
3. Davies – RHP
4. Soria – RHP
5. Hochevar – RHP

Long Relief:
1. Ho Ramirez – LHP
2. Bale – LHP
3. Wright – RHP

Short Relief:
1. Waetcher – RHP
2. Mahay – LHP
3. Farnsworth – RHP

Closer:
1. Cruz – RHP
2. Soria – RHP

a. This maximizes the Left / Right order in the lineup, as well as stacking the first three spots with high on base percentages
b. Aviles needs to get as many at bats as possible, so batting him 9th is foolish.
c. Crisp needs to lead off and use his speed, just like Willie Wilson in the glory days.
d. Batting Teahen third may look good now after a big spring, but I don’t think he can continue it into the regular season.
e. Is there a better 6-7-8-9 in baseball than Gordon, Butler, Teahen, Olivo?
f. Soria should be a starter to maximize his impact; he could also close on off days if necessary. Juan Cruz is capable of being a closer.

by david.lowe on Apr 5, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

solid

by Freneau on Apr 5, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm all for Soria in the rotation

but to expect him to do both start and occasionally close is totally unrealistic.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Apr 5, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

he can close on his throw days, right?

by Freneau on Apr 5, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

He could do it,

but to be safe, I’d say rest him the day after starting both games of a double-header.

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Apr 5, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes! I like complete games.

The question is, what would Nolan Ryan do?

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Apr 5, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

One problem

no lefty in the rotation!!1

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary to Driveline Mechanics and elsewhere since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Apr 5, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Best Linups

I used the Baseball Musings tool with CHONE projections, and here is what it came up with for the best lineups (assuming we use the nine guys that you’ve used and have been announced as opening day starters).

These all give 4.854 runs per game:

DH Butler
3B Gordon
CF Crisp
1B Jacobs
2B Teahen
RF Guillen
SS Aviles
C Olivo
LF Dejesus

DH Butler
3B Gordon
CF Crisp
1B Jacobs
2B Teahen
SS Aviles
RF Guillen
C Olivo
LF Dejesus

LF Dejesus
DH Butler
2B Teahen
1B Jacobs
3B Gordon
RF Guillen
SS Aviles
C Olivo
CF Crisp

LF Dejesus
DH Butler
2B Teahen
1B Jacobs
3B Gordon
SS Aviles
RF Guillen
C Olivo
CF Crisp

Personally, I like the following order. It is worth one one-thousandth of run per game less, but it feels a little better:

LF Dejesus
3B Gordon
2B Teahen
1B Jacobs
DH Butler
SS Aviles
RF Guillen
C Olivo
CF Crisp

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Apr 5, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

For comparison,

it says that grimsley’s lineup is worth 4.778 runs per game and the announced opening day lineup is worth 4.739 runs per game. So that’s what, roughly two wins difference over the course of the whole season? I’d say it is worth getting right.

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Apr 5, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions