From ORG:Dusty Baker continues to confuse me

In regards to batting Votto and Bruce 3 and 4 . From John Fay: "I'd rather not bat two lefties in a row", Baker said."Unless you have lefties like Utley and Howard who don't have as much trouble hitting lefties."
The statement loses validity because Howard has more trouble with lefties than either Bruce or Votto.In Baker's defense though,Utley hits left-handers better than righties. Bruce's differences in splits last year were negligible,no excuse for not batting 4th,unless Rolen is hitting better.

Filling out the lineup card has never been Dusty's strength as a manager. That said as long as he's putting the right guys in the lineup on an everyday basis, I'm willing to cut him slack when it comes to determining the batting order.

I think the theory is that a pitcher has a harder time getting a groove when he faces alternating RH / LH hitters. Whether this is true I don't know. But it if it is true that would have nothing to do with batter's splits or whether they do better or worse on an individual basis. It has more to do with affecting the pitcher.

Left/Right makes zero difference whatsoever when it comes to who bats 3rd and 4th.

Your best batter bats 3rd....period.

Your best RBI producer (or 2nd best if your best one is your best hitter) bats 4th.

And for Dusty Baker (everyone in the world but Dusty Baker knows this), you put your best On-Base-Percentage players (from who's left after your #3 and #4 hitters) bat 1st and 2nd.

I like Rolen hitting cleanup. So many players get mentally wrapped around the axle when put into the four-hole that having a veteran with ice water in his veins who won't change his approach. Also, Rolen gives the Reds the most professional at-bats on the roster.

I don't mind Bruce in the leadoff spot if Alonso starts off hot in AAA and proves he can provide even slightly below average defense in left.

Let's say Alonso is just tearing apart AAA in mid May, and comes up.

Bruce
Phillips
Votto
Rolen
Alonso
Stubbs
Hanigan
Janish


That would be pretty damn sweet.

Also, outside of Votto or Rolen I think Bruce is the best bet to have an OBP over .360 this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilHamburger

I don't mind Bruce in the leadoff spot if Alonso starts off hot in AAA and proves he can provide even slightly below average defense in left.

Let's say Alonso is just tearing apart AAA in mid May, and comes up.

Bruce
Phillips
Votto
Rolen
Alonso
Stubbs
Hanigan
Janish


That would be pretty damn sweet.

Also, outside of Votto or Rolen I think Bruce is the best bet to have an OBP over .360 this year.

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Eh? We need people on base when Bruce hits 30 home runs this year.

As for 4 vs. 5, it really wouldn't make much of a difference in overall production. The advantage gained by splitting up the lefties would be greater than that gained by putting Bruce behind Votto, unless Bruce's play changes for some weird reason when he changes his spot in the batting order.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingspoint

Your best batter bats 3rd....period..

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I don't know. There is a whole lot of data to support putting your best hitter either 2nd or 4th.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigKlu

I don't know. There is a whole lot of data to support putting your best hitter either 2nd or 4th.

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None that makes sense to me.

Only two points of data matter regarding your best hitter.

1. Give him as many opportunities to score runs as possible.
2. Give him as many opportunities to drive in runs as possible.

That makes him the #3 hitter in the National League because on any team not managed by Dusty Baker, the two players ahead of him will give him the most opportunities to drive in runs, as it's likely that there will be at least one player in scoring position (needing only a single to drive him in), where for a #2 hitter, there a lot fewer chances with RISP. Also, at #3, he's going to have a greater chance to score more runs than a #4 hitter because of the players batting behind him will be better than the players behind the #4 hitter.

The #3 spot has a better opportunity for Runs Created per Nine Innings than the #2 or #4 spot.