Buster's best lineups...

[Stangstag]

Attempted blend of stats/tradition:

 

Reyes

Donaldson

Martin

Bautista

Encarnacion

Saunders

Smoak

Travis

Pompey

 

Bau/Donaldson/EE, Smoak/Saunders interchangeable

 

Thats pretty ideal

[NorthOf49]

Saunders and Reyes are similar OBP guys but Reyes is more dependent on hits, which drive guys in. So bat him behind other guys.

 

Saunders

Bautista

Martin

Encarnacion

Donaldson

Reyes

Smoak

Pompey

Travis

[GD]

Saunders and Reyes are similar OBP guys but Reyes is more dependent on hits, which drive guys in. So bat him behind other guys.

 

Saunders

Bautista

Martin

Encarnacion

Donaldson

Reyes

Smoak

Pompey

Travis

 

I tried to keep some traditional aspects to my lineup for plausibility, but if anyone is hitting leadoff aside from Reyes imo it should be Donaldson. Gave some thought to Saunders though. And not really that significant but Travis>Pompey right now with the bat

[NorthOf49]

I tried to keep some traditional aspects to my lineup for plausibility, but if anyone is hitting leadoff aside from Reyes imo it should be Donaldson. Gave some thought to Saunders though. And not really that significant but Travis>Pompey right now with the bat

That's a waste of Donaldson's power. Saunders is primed for a breakout season. Remember, he won MVP for Pool D in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

[TwistedLogic]

I don't really like Martin 3rd. I still think Pompey can quickly develop into a really good leadoff guy but I understand that the chances of that happening paired with the chances of them ever moving Reyes out of that spot are collectively very slim.

 

1 - S - Reyes

2 - R - Donaldson

3 - R - Bautista

4 - R - Encarnacion

5 - L - Saunders

6 - R - Martin

7 - S - Smoak

8 - S - Pompey

9 - S - Izturis

[GD]

I don't really like Martin 3rd. I still think Pompey can quickly develop into a really good leadoff guy but I understand that the chances of that happening paired with the chances of them ever moving Reyes out of that spot are collectively very slim.

 

1 - S - Reyes

2 - R - Donaldson

3 - R - Bautista

4 - R - Encarnacion

5 - L - Saunders

6 - R - Martin

7 - S - Smoak

8 - S - Pompey

9 - S - Izturis

 

Comes up with 2 out, no one on a lot.

[Spanky99]

As terrible of a poster that I think BBBBBB is, this post made me laugh harder than I should have.

 

Knee Slapper...

[Caper]

I think Smoak hits 30 hrs next year.

[Captain Adama]

I think Smoak hits 30 hrs next year.

 

I would be willing to bet with you on that...

 

Seriously.

[GD]

Not gonna hit 30 HR but I think he'll break out.

[NorthOf49]

There's a decent chance Justin Smoak becomes a useful, ~110 wRC+ bat, that can cheaply fill a role for the Jays in 2015. He switch-hits and can control the strike zone.

 

I don't see the ingredients for a true breakout though. He's always been a low-BABIP guy who doesn't have big natural power. He'd need to fundamentally change to break out and it's hard to count on that.

[Jimcanuck]

Attempted blend of stats/tradition:

 

Reyes

Donaldson

Martin

Bautista

Encarnacion

Saunders

Smoak

Travis

Pompey

 

Bau/Donaldson/EE, Smoak/Saunders interchangeable

 

This one I like. With Goins on the bench.... never know when Reyes goes down. And late inning defensive replacement / rest Reyes.

[GD]

This one I like. With Goins on the bench.... never know when Reyes goes down. And late inning defensive replacement / rest Reyes.

 

If you can limit Goins' PAs he'll be an alright bench option

[TwistedLogic]

Comes up with 2 out, no one on a lot.

 

Wouldn't that mean that theoretically the fourth guy in the lineup will lead off a lot of innings with none on as well? I don't get it. His job is to get on base, whether he does that in the fourth spot to start an inning or in the third spot to keep one going. There's a pretty significant drop off in offense from Yosh/Edwin to Martin, I don't see any situational criteria justifying him getting more PA's than either of them.

[GD]

What? Goins is below replacement... you don't want him anywhere near the Blue Jays.

 

Theoretically, wouldn't he be alright if he was receiving more reps in the field than at the plate? There are better options out there for a late inning defense guy but just in isolation.

[NorthOf49]

Theoretically, wouldn't he be alright if he was receiving more reps in the field than at the plate? There are better options out there for a late inning defense guy but just in isolation.

No, because he takes up a whole roster spot and the Blue Jays have a history of deploying a three-man bench for stretches of up to a month. Late inning defense just isn't that valuable either.

[Jimcanuck]

What? Goins is below replacement... you don't want him anywhere near the Blue Jays.

 

If a better option comes around I agree. Between Izturis or Goins on the bench, if Travis is starting, I'll take Goins. Don't want Izturis anywhere near SS.

[Captain Adama]

There's a decent chance Justin Smoak becomes a useful, ~110 wRC+ bat, that can cheaply fill a role for the Jays in 2015. He switch-hits and can control the strike zone.

 

I don't see the ingredients for a true breakout though. He's always been a low-BABIP guy who doesn't have big natural power. He'd need to fundamentally change to break out and it's hard to count on that.

 

Considering he's been a 110 wRC+ bat in the past in Safeico, I wouldn't be shocked to see him do it again.

[Orgfiller]

There's a decent chance Justin Smoak becomes a useful, ~110 wRC+ bat, that can cheaply fill a role for the Jays in 2015. He switch-hits and can control the strike zone.

 

I don't see the ingredients for a true breakout though. He's always been a low-BABIP guy who doesn't have big natural power. He'd need to fundamentally change to break out and it's hard to count on that.

 

Maybe he can become a Lyle Overbay type. The similarities are there: good defense, lots of walks, below average power for a 1B but still enough to hit 20+ homers.

[gruber92]

Saunders and Reyes are similar OBP guys but Reyes is more dependent on hits, which drive guys in. So bat him behind other guys.

 

Saunders

Bautista

Martin

Encarnacion

Donaldson

Reyes

Smoak

Pompey

Travis

 

Reyes is a former batting champion and has a proven track record. Saunders is one season removed from being barely mediocre. Saunders is destined to hitting sixth or lower unless he proves otherwise. With Reyes' running game on the decline, he would be great hitting second. May as well bat Martin and his 400 OBP lead off until Pompey develops into a MLB lead off hitter. Reyes is the best option in the top five to pull the ball through the right side with a runner on first, or advancing a runner to third with less than two out. I prefer Donaldson batting clean up for two reasons.. Bautista is just flat out a better overall hitter and should bat third and Donaldson is more athletic than EE, thus innings have much better chances at being extended with Donaldson's legs. EE is way more dangerous with men on and batting fifth gives you a better shot at that.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Does not the sixth batter have great opportunity do effect or drive in runs too?

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Does not the sixth batter have great opportunity to effect or drive in runs too?

[CrackerJack]

Best hitter should NOT hit third. 1st, 2nd, or 4th.

 

yeah, there's some tension between the optimizing the batting order gurus vs. conventional lineup thinking which has the team's most dangerous hitter usually hitting third (take George Brett, prime Mattingly, Molitor on the '93 Jays, Big Papi etc.)

 

funny, when I played high school ball, our manager asked me where I wanted to bat in the order and (for probably the same old school reasons as Bautista) I said 3rd.

[Governator]

At this very moment Navarro is still part of this line up, no?...

 

Also, why are the holes in our line up apparently only 2B when Justin Smoak is penciled in as 1B/DH? #overvalued

[Stangstag]

Just a side comment, Ned Yost's lineup contruction last year was f***ing atrocious. Gordon and Perez batting 6/7 while ESCOBAR and AOKI bat 1/2????

 

Terrible

[Stangstag]

At this very moment Navarro is still part of this line up, no?...

 

Also, why are the holes in our line up apparently only 2B when Justin Smoak is penciled in as 1B/DH? #overvalued

 

Steamer projects him to have a decent offensive season. He should be at least league average with the bat, which is fine considering we have several other positions of strength.

[Governator]

Steamer projects him to have a decent offensive season. He should be at least league average with the bat, which is fine considering we have several other positions of strength.

 

Swapping Adam Lind for Justin Smoak is a real steamer alright.

[CrackerJack]

If the hitter can take pitches (to give the leadoff guy a chance to steal) and if they can consistently hit the ball through the hole between 1st and second (for hit and run purposes) is pretty much the criteria for an ideal #2 hitter, historically speaking of course.

 

yeah, the 2-hole traditionally has been occupied by the Tim Foli (bat control) types whereas these days that's where you'll find Mike Trout.

[Stangstag]

Swapping Adam Lind for Justin Smoak is a real steamer alright.

 

Yes but we are also swapping Brett Lawrie/Juan Francisco for JOSH DONALDSON

[JaysAllMighty]

For shits and giggles, plus I like the balance of it!

 

Pompey S

Batz R

Saunders L

Edwin R

Smoak S

DonaldsonR

Goins L

Martin R

Reyes S

 

 

http://www.10-78.com/smf/Smileys/oldsmilies/Laughintears.gif