[Redhook]

Originally Posted by SpringfieldFan

I think that playing musical chairs gives the manager a sense of being part of the game, more than he would have otherwise. This manager has had lineups that successfully scored 7-9-11 runs and one would think that those would be considered successful hitting orders or having the right players in the lineup, but he will invariably change the next day regardless of production or the win column.

There is one guy in the Reds organization that has proof that he knows hitting, and that would be Griffey with his career numbers, and Griffey clearly believes in playing everyday and batting in the same spot in the order. So perhaps what Griffey believes should be applied to the other batters, Dunn, Encarcion, Ross etc.

I'm a firm believer that a consistent lineup would provide more consistent results. I think the goal of a lineup should be to provide the best chance to score as many runs per game every night. I just don't see how changing the lineup, dramatically, every game provides any sort of consistency. It just doesn't make any sense. Coming to the ballpark, besides Griffey, no one on the team knows where they'll be batting that day. How can that be a good thing? It can't. The last think a player needs is constant change because it could eventually lead to doubt on whether he's doing things correctly or not.

I would prefer that Griffey's name is cemented in either the 4th or 5th spot. But, since it's obvious Narron isn't going to go that rout, keeping Griffey in the 3-spot is fine if he would just leave the guys around him in the same spot. It is almost impossible to have an exact set lineup every night for this team, due to the fact that we have too many players for too few spots and left-handers vs. right-handers. But a consistent lineup with the core players needs to be enforced. Dunn needs to bat ahead of JR. no matter what. If JR. is 3rd, then Dunn bats 2nd. If JR. is 4th, then Dunn bats 3rd. It's as simple as that. The rest of the lineup should be based around these two players.