Time to switch up the batting order

[DaveW]

-Buxton needs to be out of the 9 spot, he needs as many MLB at bats as he can get at this stage.

-Dozier needs to be moved down in the lineup, if he is going to be a 40 HR guy moving forward, we need him hittnig plenty of 2 and 3 run bombs.

 

Here is what I would go with:

 

Buxton

Mauer

Dozier

Sano

Kepler

Rosario

Plouffe

Whoeever

Whoever

 

 

Thoughts?

[Mike Sixel]

In general, I agree, I'd like Buxton at the top. But, man, I just wonder about his psyche.....and wonder if 9th is best right now. We are probably talking 10 ABs difference, aren't we?

 

[DaveW]

 

In general, I agree, I'd like Buxton at the top. But, man, I just wonder about his psyche.....and wonder if 9th is best right now. We are probably talking 10 ABs difference, aren't we?

His pysche only is messed up if you moved him back to the 9 spot if he struggles for a couple games. Go tell him: You are the lead-off hitter the rest of the season, and we are counting on you to be the lead-off hitter in 2017.

[DaveW]

Also I think the difference in plate appearances would be closer to 20 (rather than 10)

 

In 75%+ of games, the #1 hitter gets one more plate appearance then the #9 hitter.

[Rosterman]

I'm not sure if Dozier followed by Sano is the best bet. The joy of batting leadoff is that no one has done anything yet. So you do get to set the stage. Mauer batting behind you is better than Mauer batting in front of you, and not sure, yet, if Dozier is the guy who can work a pitcher for 5-8 pitches in the opening salvo. But if you do bat Dozier third or fourth, who bats behind him. Plouffe is still a better candidate for now as cleanup with Sano 5th. I do wonder what Kepler would do in the leadoff spot.

 

Yes, Buxton could use the extra at bat a game, if he keeps on his current tear. 

 

Or maybe the dinosaur in all of this is still Mauer. Should he continue to bat second or third, or give him a rest for September and let's have Vargas in the lineup more.

[DocBauer]

Ultimately, I really like Kepler in the #3 spot. I like how he looked there earlier in the year. He should provide AVG, OB, and a fair amount of power with decent speed.

 

Then I like some bombination of Sano and Dozier in the 4 and 5 spots.

 

The only thing I'm not crazy about is a pair of LHRP hitters followed by a pair of RH hitters. But again, I think Kepler is the perfect #3 hitter...eventually at least.

[DaveW]

Ultimately, I really like Kepler in the #3 spot. I like how he looked there earlier in the year. He should provide AVG, OB, and a fair amount of power with decent speed.

 

Then I like some bombination of Sano and Dozier in the 4 and 5 spots.

 

The only thing I'm not crazy about is a pair of LHRP hitters followed by a pair of RH hitters. But again, I think Kepler is the perfect #3 hitter...eventually at least.

Not sure I like batting one of Sano or Dozier that low in the 5 spot.

 

What about this for

Opening day:

 

Buxton

Kepler

Sano

Dozier

Mauer

Park??

Rosario

Etc

Etc

Etc

[Riverbrian]

If I could only use one lineup for the rest of the year. 

 

Mauer... Plouffe and Suzuki would not be in the lineup in that scenario.

 

If I'm allowed to create different lineups... I would mix Mauer and Plouffe in. 

 

Polanco would be my leadoff guy. 

 

Dozier 3

Sano 4

Vargas 5

 

Buxton would stay 9.. I'm not worried about the few extra swings he would get. I'll just patiently wait for continued signs of improvement and not change anything.  

 

2 6 7 and 8... I'll draw out of a hat

 

 

[Kwak]

Dozier feasts on the pitcher in that very first AB of the game. As the game progresses if the bottom of the order reaches base, Dozier is a power-hitting threat. Toronto puts Bautista in the #1 spot--and he is effective there! In short, NO! Leave Dozier at the #1 position!

[Physics Guy]

Vs RHP

 

SS Polanco

1B/DH Mauer

2B Dozier

DH/1B Vargas

3B Sano

RF Kepler

LF Rosario

C Murphy

CF Buxton

 

vs. LHP

 

Buxton

Polanco

Dozier

Sano

Vargas

Kepler

Plouffe

Rosario

Murphy

 

Sprinkle Esco in occasionally.  Play the kids!

[bluechipper]

I want Buxton to bat leadoff as well.

 

Opening Day next year/rest of this year:

 

Buxton

Mauer

Dozier

Sano

Kepler

Vargas

Polanco

catcher

Rosario

[jimmer]

 

I want Buxton to bat leadoff as well.

 

Opening Day next year/rest of this year:

 

Buxton

Mauer

Dozier

Sano

Kepler

Vargas

Polanco

catcher

Rosario

I like this batting order. 

 

On a side note, Kepler has really dropped off.  Still a fan, of course, been one for a long time, but his struggled are concerning. I hope his struggles can be chalked up to him wearing down.

[adjacent]

At this point, I don't know what the rationale is to play Mauer. The guy, is obviously hurting, can't even run to first base, and these would be precious at bats for Vargas.

 

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

Let's see if Buxton can continue his hot streak beyond this past weekend's series with the White Sox. So far against the Royals he's back to his old inept ways.

 

That said, I would have Polanco bat leadoff with Mauer in the 2-hole.

 

I am all for dropping Dozier to 3rd in the order. The fact that Mauer continues to bat behind him despite his HR tear is unbelievable and another glaring example of why Molitor and company need to go.

 

No "scholarships" except of course Mauer seems to have a permanent reservation to the #3 spot in the lineup.

[DocBauer]

Not sure I like batting one of Sano or Dozier that low in the 5 spot.

 

What about this for

Opening day:

 

Buxton

Kepler

Sano

Dozier

Mauer

Park??

Rosario

Etc

Etc

Etc

Ultimately, if he can play SS, would be awesome to see a combination of Polanco and Buxton in the top 2 spots.

 

I understand your thoughts on some combination of Dozier/Sano hitting that low. I've thought about that also. My thought process is Mauer may be of more value in the 2 hole rather than new the bottom. I also feel Dozier/Sano in the 4-5 spots should provide...pretty regularly...runner (s) on base when they hit. Other than poor clutch hitting, one thing that has hindered the offense is a lack of runners on base when the Twins hit dangers.

 

Dozier/Sano also do a pretty good job of getting OB themselves. This means some opportunity for the next DH and Rosario. Just my thoughts. Not sure if they are right or not. Lol

[Doomtints]

Ideally you would put Dozier further down where his bat can do more damage.  Unfortunately he doesn't perform as well further down the lineup.

 

Buxton can't be the leadoff guy until he can get on base consistently.

 

Grossman still has the best OBP on the team with Mauer close behind.  But Mauer did not perform well as the leadoff hitter, and the Twins (and Twins fans too) keep finding reasons to justify keeping Grossman's bat out of the lineup.  This means you have to keep Dozier batting first as he's next on the OBP list.

 

So:

 

1 Dozier

2 Mauer/Grossman

3 Kepler/Sano

4 Kepler/Sano

5 Plouffe/Rosario

6 Plouffe/Rosario

7 Suzuki/Escobar

8 Escobar/Murphy

9 Buxton

 

I don't keep up with the lineup cards but this looks fairly similar to what the Twins are already doing.  This also doesn't address the September call ups at all.  Vargas, for example, should be in the middle of the lineup on days he plays.

[Doomtints]

 

At this point, I don't know what the rationale is to play Mauer. The guy, is obviously hurting, can't even run to first base, and these would be precious at bats for Vargas.

 

August was Mauer's best month since May of 2013.  Benching him now seems ridiculous.

 

If he is injured as you say then he needs to be on the DL.  I haven't heard about him being injured, however.  

[DJL44]

There is nothing left to play for except the 2B HR record. Bat Dozier leadoff so he gets as many chances as possible to beat that record.

[Seth Stohs]

my opinion:

 

For now:

 

Dozier 4

Polanco 6

Mauer 3/DH

Sano 5

Kepler 9

Plouffe (if he were healthy) 5/3/DH (if not, Vargas at 3/DH)

Rosario 7

Catcher 2 

Buxton 8

 

I like Buxton hitting 9 this year and go to spring training with the hope he can be leadoff next year. 

 

Next year, I'd like to see:

 

Buxton 8

Mauer 3

Kepler 9

Dozier 4 (can flip-flop 3-4-5 depending on LHP or RHP, type of pitcher, matchups, etc.)

Sano 5

Vargas/Park DH

Catcher 2

Polanco 6

Rosario 7

 

I would want Rosario/Polanco on base in front of Buxton, so that when Buxton gets his Buxton doubles or hits a triple, he isn't slowed by a catcher. 

 

[Mike Sixel]

I don't know, Polanco strikes me as a high OBP guy, and I'd probably like him in the two hole, Seth. OTOH, Mauer is clearly that, so I wouldn't be all the annoyed one way or the other if that was the lineup next year.

[wsnydes]

 

I don't know, Polanco strikes me as a high OBP guy, and I'd probably like him in the two hole, Seth. OTOH, Mauer is clearly that, so I wouldn't be all the annoyed one way or the other if that was the lineup next year.

This would be my preference too, but then there's the issue of where Mauer bats.  Even at this point in his career, he's wasted in the 7/8 hole.  Push Vargas/Park down?

[Doomtints]

 

my opinion:

 

 

I would want Rosario/Polanco on base in front of Buxton, so that when Buxton gets his Buxton doubles or hits a triple, he isn't slowed by a catcher. 

 

The problem there is that ANY player is going to be slowing down Buxton.  It may be better to have a guy who hits doubles regularly ahead of him.  But you also don't want that guy batting 9th.  Thus, it's probably best not making this a concern.

[Winston Smith]

Will changing the batting order make the pitching better?

 

They are scoring enough runs (most of the time) they aren't losing because of lineup construction but because of the worst pitching in baseball.

[wsnydes]

 

Will changing the batting order make the pitching better?

 

They are scoring enough runs (most of the time) they aren't losing because of lineup construction but because of the worst pitching in baseball.

So we can't have a preferred batting order because the pitching sucks?  

 

I agree that the pitching is the bigger issue, but I still see questionable lineup construction and have a preferred construction of said lineup.

[DaveW]

I don't know, Polanco strikes me as a high OBP guy, and I'd probably like him in the two hole, Seth. OTOH, Mauer is clearly that, so I wouldn't be all the annoyed one way or the other if that was the lineup next year.

Polanco in the 9 hole could be appealing.

 

Him and Buxton could do some double steals from time to time.

[Winston Smith]

 

So we can't have a preferred batting order because the pitching sucks?  

 

I agree that the pitching is the bigger issue, but I still see questionable lineup construction and have a preferred construction of said lineup.

The thing is the research the stat guys have done, that I have seen anyway, says the batting order order doesn't really make a big difference. Maybe from absolute best to absolute worst is only worth one or two wins over the entire season. But I understand fans want something to talk about and I'm not trying to stop your discussion just think it's futile. 

[bluechipper]

 

my opinion:

 

For now:

 

Dozier 4

Polanco 6

Mauer 3/DH

Sano 5

Kepler 9

Plouffe (if he were healthy) 5/3/DH (if not, Vargas at 3/DH)

Rosario 7

Catcher 2 

Buxton 8

 

I like Buxton hitting 9 this year and go to spring training with the hope he can be leadoff next year. 

 

Next year, I'd like to see:

 

Buxton 8

Mauer 3

Kepler 9

Dozier 4 (can flip-flop 3-4-5 depending on LHP or RHP, type of pitcher, matchups, etc.)

Sano 5

Vargas/Park DH

Catcher 2

Polanco 6

Rosario 7

 

I would want Rosario/Polanco on base in front of Buxton, so that when Buxton gets his Buxton doubles or hits a triple, he isn't slowed by a catcher. 

I think slotting Dozier in between the two left handed hitters would be  better for late game matchup situations.

 

I'd also rather switch whoever's at catcher and Polanco because of the increased RBI opportunities in the 7th spot.

[wsnydes]

 

The thing is the research the stat guys have done, that I have seen anyway, says the batting order order doesn't really make a big difference. Maybe from absolute best to absolute worst is only worth one or two wins over the entire season. But I understand fans want something to talk about and I'm not trying to stop your discussion just think it's futile. 

Of course it's futile, this is an internet message board.  We don't fill out the lineup cards.  

 

I've seen the research that you mentioned, and I still find it difficult to believe that hitting your worst hitters first and your would be cleanup hitter 9th wouldn't make a difference.  I'm not suggesting that it's a 40 game difference, but two games is hard for me to believe when one run a game difference is a noticeable difference.

[bluechipper]

 

Not sure I like batting one of Sano or Dozier that low in the 5 spot.

What about this for
Opening day:

Buxton
Kepler
Sano
Dozier
Mauer
Park??
Rosario
Etc
Etc
Etc

Switching Kepler and Mauer makes more sense to me. I want an RBI guy in the 5th spot.

[Platoon]

-Buxton needs to be out of the 9 spot, he needs as many MLB at bats as he can get at this stage.

-Dozier needs to be moved down in the lineup, if he is going to be a 40 HR guy moving forward, we need him hittnig plenty of 2 and 3 run bombs.

 

Here is what I would go with:

 

Buxton

Mauer

Dozier

Sano

Kepler

Rosario

Plouffe

Whoeever

Whoever

 

 

Thoughts?

I would switch 8 and 9 around if it was me!