Lead off hitter?

[SAAviour]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/162988546/toronto-blue-jays-have-options-at-leadoff-spot?partnerId=as_mlb_20160129_57738486&adbid=692907723281809409&adbpl=tw&adbpr=18479513

 

For the first month of the season who should bat lead off until Travis gets back. Maybe Devon Travis is or isn't the best option, but I get the feeling he'd start the year there if he wasn't injured. So, in the meantime let's vote who bats lead off and see if this boards opinion matches Gibby's.

[SAAviour]

I'm going Martin, and when Dickey pitches I let Pompey have a shot while Thole bats 9th.

[Stangstag]

Tulo

[AdamGreenwood]

It's Gibbons guys. He's old school Got to have someone fast leading off. That's smrt baseball.

 

It's between Saunders, Goins, Pompey and Pillar. I'm going to guess Pillar.

[o2cui2i]

It's Gibbons guys. He's old school Got to have someone fast leading off. That's smrt baseball.

 

It's between Saunders, Goins, Pompey and Pillar. I'm going to guess Pillar.

 

the question was not who will, but who should....

[Laika]

Bautista

[o2cui2i]

Bautista

 

JD and Jose are the best hitters. so one of those 2.

[AdamGreenwood]

the question was not who will, but who should....

 

Oh, Then I say Colabello.

[o2cui2i]

Oh, Then I say Colabello.

 

lol... makes a big difference doesn't it.

[Laika]

JD and Jose are the best hitters. so one of those 2.

 

EE is as good as them. The three are pretty hard to pick apart, offensively. I'd probably rank them EE-JB-JD just on pure hitting skill (expected wOBA). But, hairs apart.

[G-Snarls]

Is the Goins vote serious

[o2cui2i]

EE is as good as them. The three are pretty hard to pick apart, offensively. I'd probably rank them EE-JB-JD just on pure hitting skill (expected wOBA). But, hairs apart.

 

so that is our first 3 and the order they are in is not that important.

[Laika]

so that is our first 3 and the order they are in is not that important.

 

Actually by the book you would plug them in the 1, 2, and 4 slots. Then Martin/Colabello in the 3 hole (5th best hitter) and Tulo 5th (4th best hitter).

 

#3 is where the 5th best hitter goes because they come up a lot with 2 outs, nobody on. Not ideal for a high walk bopper like Jose.

 

Bautista

Donaldson

Martin/Cola

EE

Tulo

(then 6-9 in order of talent)

[TRM]

Bautista

Donaldson

Martin

EE

Tulo

Cola

Travis

Saunders/Pompey

Pillar

 

Would be nice

[Cyborg]

Actually by the book you would plug them in the 1, 2, and 4 slots. Then Martin/Colabello in the 3 hole (5th best hitter) and Tulo 5th (4th best hitter).

 

#3 is where the 5th best hitter goes because they come up a lot with 2 outs, nobody on. Not ideal for a high walk bopper like Jose.

 

Bautista

Donaldson

Martin/Cola

EE

Tulo

(then 6-9 in order of talent)

 

Flip 8 and 9 when large talent disparity.

[Cyborg]

3 best hitters 1 2 and 4. Most SLG 4th, most OBP 1st and other guy 2nd. 4th best 5th and 5th best 3rd.

[o2cui2i]

Actually by the book you would plug them in the 1, 2, and 4 slots. Then Martin/Colabello in the 3 hole (5th best hitter) and Tulo 5th (4th best hitter).

 

#3 is where the 5th best hitter goes because they come up a lot with 2 outs, nobody on. Not ideal for a high walk bopper like Jose.

 

Bautista

Donaldson

Martin/Cola

EE

Tulo

(then 6-9 in order of talent)

 

less than 20 days until spring training. need a baseball fix!

[burlingtonbandit]

Actually by the book you would plug them in the 1, 2, and 4 slots. Then Martin/Colabello in the 3 hole (5th best hitter) and Tulo 5th (4th best hitter).

 

#3 is where the 5th best hitter goes because they come up a lot with 2 outs, nobody on. Not ideal for a high walk bopper like Jose.

 

Bautista

Donaldson

Martin/Cola

EE

Tulo

(then 6-9 in order of talent)

 

You could make the case on having Saunders hit 3rd vs RHP. Also a good way to protect him from Lefties as you have mashers in JD and EE around him.

[Spanky99]

I'll try and be realistic, Tulo. Should be Bats.

[Angrioter]

Tulo

Donaldson

Bautista

Edwin

Saunders

Colabello

Martin

Pillar

Goins

[KingKat]

Subscribing to the old Bill James theory that keeping your players happy is worth more to your team than a statistically optimized lineup, I'd just put Tulo in the leadoff spot and leave everything else more or less the same as it's been in the past. If Bautista didn't take as much pride in hitting 3rd as he seems to than I would move him and Donaldson up to 1 & 2 and slot Tulo or Martin in the third spot ahead of Encarnacion. It doesn't matter.

[Krylian]

Tulo or Goins for me... Depending if I'm trying to be serious or fully retarded.

[Jimcanuck]

as for who hits 9th, want to see Pompey get lots of reps there, and get used to hitting in front of the big boys.... groom him to be leadoff for many years to come

[BigCecil]

One of the most discussed and yet least important decisions Gibby will make this coming season. I'd be happy with Tulo. Once we see more of Travis he might fit the bill. I'd like it to be Jose with his OBP but not happening.

[The Cats Ass]

Actually he hit Tulo leadoff and Revere 9th for like a month. But whatever. f*** Gibbons amirite?

 

Has there ever been a manager that people haven't bitched about? I don't think so..

[Olerud363]

Bautista

 

I absolutely agree assuming it doesn't effect Bautista's performance.

 

Statistically - Bautista

 

Psychologically?? - Is there any evidence that pissing off players decreases their performance??? Is there any evidence that giving them a cushy line up spot increases their performance.

 

I mean you say to Pillar, Bautista -- Bautista is lead-off, Pillar you 9th, deal with it -- (Bautista sad, Pillar sad)

 

Bautista - .230 .340 .480, Pillar .260 .290 ..350

 

Or you say - Pillar, you lead off, you great, just don't swing at so many bad pitches, Bautista, you 3rd as ussual (Bautista and Pillar "we studs")

 

Bautista - 260 .370 .520, Pillar .275 .320 .400

 

-- I'm phrasing this all in my usual silly way, but it is a serious question... would hitting everyone in their "happy" spots, increase their performance just slightly??? Or is that ********. Hit them where it makes sense statistically.

[saskjayfan]

I like the idea of Pillar. I think Pillar could be a very good hitter if he learned a bit of patience. Putting him at lead off would re-enforce the need for him to take a few more pitches and take a few more walks.

[BigCecil]

I like the idea of Pillar. I think Pillar could be a very good hitter if he learned a bit of patience. Putting him at lead off would re-enforce the need for him to take a few more pitches and take a few more walks.

 

Putting someone in that spot doesn't miraculously infuse them with improved pitch selection. This skill is something that doesn't necessarily ever improve. Which is why Pillar's primary value is always going to come from his D. I don't care that much about who hits LO...but no thanks on Pillar at this point with what we have seen in his career.

[intentional wok]

I like the idea of Pillar. I think Pillar could be a very good hitter if he learned a bit of patience. Putting him at lead off would re-enforce the need for him to take a few more pitches and take a few more walks.

 

I disagree. If you want the most PAs on the team you need to earn it. The most frequent hitter on a major league contender is not lesson time. That's what every level of the minors is for.

[Orgfiller]

"Pillar could be a very good hitter if he learned a bit of patience"

 

So would JP Arencibia.