17/4/2016: Saunders leadoff, Pillar 8th

[Angrioter]

Richard Griffin

Big move in #bluejays lineup this morning. Saunders hitting leadoff and Pillar batting 8th ahead of Goins.

[jays4life19]

Hells Yes. It's about time.

[burlingtonbandit]

Wow. Credit to Gibby for actually pulling the trigger.

[BlueJayWay]

Good.

[CultofShatkins]

"No, wait, Pillar needs more time, give it a chance, professional pride...."

 

Said no-one but Wilner.

[Boxcar]

Lolwut

 

Holy f***, that was quick

[Angrioter]

Shi Davidi

Michael Saunders says "my approach isn't going to change," at leadoff. Says key is understanding what pitcher does regardless of lineup spot

[glory]

Stupid move to begin with, but good for Gibby for realizing it early and not continuing to do it.

 

I guess batting your worst hitter lead-off only works for Ned Yost. Gibby tried to recreate that magic and it failed.

[Maahfaace]

Yay to this!

[nextyear]

Good move to put Saunders first in the battle order. I think Pillar will eventually get hot but I would still prefer to see him bat # 8 or #7 when Thole is catching.

[WryNGinger]

Pleasantly surprised they made the change as quick as they did. Wonder if it was all Gibby making the decision...

[HazelsGoogleEye]

good move and if it was anyone but 20 million dollar-always-about-to-get-hot-but never does-Tulowitzki in the 5th spot, he'd be batting 7th or 8th as well.

[nextyear]

good move and if it was anyone but 20 million dollar-always-about-to-get-hot-but never does-Tulowitzki in the 5th spot, he'd be batting 7th or 8th as well.

 

Unfortunately, the choices for batting 5th are Tulowitzki then Martin, Collabello/Smoak or Pillar - there isn't really a better alternative at this point.

[Angrioter]

Unfortunately, the choices for batting 5th are Tulowitzki then Martin, Collabello/Smoak or Pillar - there isn't really a better alternative at this point.

 

1-Tulo

2-Donaldson

3-Bautista

4-Edwin

5-Saunders

6-Martin

7-Smoak

8-Pillar

9-Goins

[nextyear]

1-Tulo

2-Donaldson

3-Bautista

4-Edwin

5-Saunders

6-Martin

7-Smoak

8-Pillar

9-Goins

 

 

But Tulowitzki is cold, batting him number 1 means he will usually have an extra at bat each game. I much prefer have Saunders with an extra at bat some games.

[Angrioter]

But Tulowitzki is cold, batting him number 1 means he will usually have an extra at bat each game. I much prefer have Saunders with an extra at bat some games.

 

That's the reason. Tulo will see alota good pitches to hit

[Maahfaace]

That's the reason. Tulo will see alota good pitches to hit

 

Tulo's seen a ton of good pitches to hit, especially with Edwin and bats on base all the time, he just can't pull the trigger

[Atothe]

Lets at least give him until the all star break to see if he's a bust here.

[Swervin81]

Lets at least give him until the all star break to see if he's a bust here.

 

Seriously. The guy completely overhauled his swing and added a leg kick. And his slump last year was just a continuation of a pretty bad July he was having with the Rockies. Hell, he was 0 for his last 20 with Colorado. It's just a timing issue.

 

That said, a little concerning that Tulo has only had one stretch of games where he was hitting the ball well - the ALCS.

[Jimcanuck]

tulo will be fine, just not the 5 WAR guy some were hoping

[G-Snarls]

Stupid move to begin with, but good for Gibby for realizing it early and not continuing to do it.

 

I guess batting your worst hitter lead-off only works for Ned Yost. Gibby tried to recreate that magic and it failed.

 

He might have gotten away with it too if the bullpen had been better

 

LOL

[intentional wok]

Stupid move to begin with, but good for Gibby for realizing it early and not continuing to do it.

 

I guess batting your worst hitter lead-off only works for Ned Yost. Gibby tried to recreate that magic and it failed.

 

I don't know if I'd say he was trying to "recreate" anything. Probably more that the team was still in high spirits from 2015 and he got wrapped up in obliging them.

 

Agree that Gibby deserves a pinch of credit for not dying on the Pillar hill though.

Edited April 18, 2016 by intentional wok

[intentional wok]

He might have gotten away with it too if the bullpen had been better

 

LOL

 

I'm willing to bet that if Jose didn't get busted for that slide and Brock Holt didn't hit that slam we'd still be sitting through another week or two of Pillar leading off.

[Brownie19]

Seriously. The guy completely overhauled his swing and added a leg kick. And his slump last year was just a continuation of a pretty bad July he was having with the Rockies. Hell, he was 0 for his last 20 with Colorado. It's just a timing issue.

 

That said, a little concerning that Tulo has only had one stretch of games where he was hitting the ball well - the ALCS.

 

Apparently he ditched the leg kick at the end of spring training. Wish he'd bring it back. His toe tap looks awkward.

[Brownie19]

FFS - my 5 year old just learned the lineup...

[Stangstag]

Apparently he ditched the leg kick at the end of spring training. Wish he'd bring it back. His toe tap looks awkward.

 

Yeah I just don't understand why he stopped the leg kick on day 1... It was working great in spring training