Build Your Own Lineup

by LiveAdam on Feb 8, 2005 8:29 PM PST

Let's assume for a moment that there are no more changes made to the roster (trades/injuries/other). If you were Ken Macha for a day, what lineup would you put out onto the field?

Here's mine:

Kotsay - CF
Hatteberg - 1B
Kendall - C
Chavez - 3B
Durazo - DH
Swisher - RF
Crosby - SS
Ginter - 2B
Byrnes - LF

Kotsay, Hatteberg, and Kendall will crowd the bases, while Chavez on down all provide 20 HR power potential.

Chavez is better suited to be a cleanup hitter, since he provides the most HR potential. People will disagree with Kendall in the 3rd spot, but he hits for average, gets on base, and provides gap power. The Giants put JT Snow in front of Bonds last season and he put up great numbers in the 3 hole (sorry to use a Giants analogy). Byrnes hits best in lower pressure spots (someone else posted his OPS numbers by batting order, its highest in the 9th spot). Hatteberg is the hardest person in the AL to strikeout, and opposing pitchers will be throwing a ton of pitches in the early innings trying to get through these guys.

Anyway, let's see everyone else's optimal lineups.

-Adam

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Comments

well done

That is one of the lineups I would like to see out there. Taking the pressure off Byrnes is important and you have to like him as a table setter for top of line up.

The only change I might suggest is swapping hatteberg with whichever righty we are most comfortable with in the 2 spot...unless that is you plant dan johnson in there against lefties.

by SwisherSweet on Feb 8, 2005 8:59 PM PST reply actions

Hm...

Kendall - C
Swisher - RF
Kotsay - CF
Chavez - 3B
Durazo - DH
Byrnes - LF
Hatteberg - 1B
Crosby - SS
Ginter - 2B

That's my attempt. It took a little bit of head-scratching to get the lefty-righty matchups in order, and they still aren't perfect.

I think Kotsay makes a little more sense in the three hole since he has a more aggressive approach at the plate and a a lot more power.

It's also a gamble to put Swisher that high in the order, but his patience at the plate and switch-hitting bat with a decent amount of power make him a good candidate for that spot.

I think I missed the OPS numbers of Byrnes as a #9 hitter, but they must have been putting emphasis on his 21 at bats there last year - not exactly a huge sample size.

I think most of the rest of the spots speak for themselves. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's lineups.

Go Beach.

by Dirtbag Pride on Feb 8, 2005 9:50 PM PST reply actions

Slight change

1.Kotsay
2.Swisher
3.Kendall
4.Chavez
5.Durazo
6.Ginter
7.Hatteberg
8.Crosby
9.Byrnes.

I don't think Hatteberg is suited for the two hole. Theres a good chance Swishers OBP be higher than hattebergs. Hattebergs good eye and making the pitcher pitch make him better suited where he will get more RBI opportunities. Hatteberg not striking out but still getting out in the two hole useless. Put him in the six or seven, and he can drive in people with productive outs. I think we put Ginter in the six hole because its stupid to have three lefties and then three righties.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Feb 8, 2005 9:54 PM PST reply actions

Ohad

I'm not sure Hatte shld hit 2nd either, but as you state he walks alot, which is perfect for the 2 hole, he's lefty and has great bat control, also perfect for the 2 hole.he's more of a table setter than a run producer. You know, I think we have to hit byrnes high in the order, he and kendall have to be the righties we count on, we still dont wanna presure crosby too much. I wanted to hit kotsay,chavy,durazo and kendall back to back in some order, but it leaves us with 2 many lefties hitting in a row, so i thought we cld possibly do it this way...but byrnes wld have to stay consistent...anyway justa different idea.

Byrnes
Hatteberg
Kotsay
Chavez
Kendall
Durazo
Ginter/Crosby
Crosby/Ellis
Swisher

by oakwin2004 on Feb 9, 2005 8:51 AM PST up reply actions

also

with that lineup kendall and durazo wont get as many ab's if byrnes and hatteberg dont get on

by oakwin2004 on Feb 9, 2005 8:52 AM PST up reply actions

Your lineup looks about right vs RH

and Thomas, when he starts, slots in for Byrnes #9 without changing anything else.

vs LH I'd consider something like this:

Kotsay
Swisher
Kendall
Chavez
Durazo
Crosby
Byrnes
Hatteberg
Ginter/Ellis

Frankly, in my vs LH lineup, you can put the 7-9 in any order and I don't think it makes a huge difference--they are all luxuries in different ways and will either get RBI chances (#7) or table-setting chances (#9) that make good use of their OBP and/or power.

For those wondering: One reason I don't think it's too much pressure for Swisher to bat at the top is that it's only 1/3 to 1/4 of the time and it's his strong side.

Nico

by Nico on Feb 8, 2005 9:55 PM PST reply actions

As I was writing my post

two people posted lineups with Swisher #2, making mine seem far less original and causing me to contact a copyright attorney (who, don't worry, said there's nothing I can do about it--but only because ohad is a minor and Dirtbag is protected by the Americans with Weird Screen Names Act).

Nico

by Nico on Feb 8, 2005 9:57 PM PST reply actions

Hey!

It's not that weird! :(

http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/dirtbagmeaning.html

Go Beach.

by Dirtbag Pride on Feb 8, 2005 11:30 PM PST up reply actions

Just for fun...

BATS BA HR RBI OBP SLG OPS

C Jason Kendall (R) .319 3 51 .399 .390 .789
CF Mark Kotsay (L) .314 15 63 .370 .459 .829
LF Eric Byrnes (R) .283 20 73 .347 .467 .814
3B Eric Chavez (L) .276 29 77 .397 .501 .898
1B Dan Johnson (L) .299 29 111 .399 .534 .933
SS Bobby Crosby (R) .239 22 64 .319 .426 .745
DH Ruby Durazo (L) .321 22 88 .396 .523 .919
2B Keith Ginter (R) .262 19 60 .333 .479 .812
RF Nick Swisher (S) .269 29 92 .407 .537 .944

2005 Totals (dream-on) .287 188 679 .374 .480 .854

Of course, Johnson's and Swisher's AAA stats won't translate into the Bigs in such a dramatic fashion. And, of course, Hatty is gonna start the season at 1st base. And, I know ya'll hate Byrnsie in the 3 hole, but I think he'll shine there (especially versus lefties). Anyway, it's fun to fantasize.

by FoolshGame22 on Feb 9, 2005 9:37 AM PST reply actions

"Macha/Washington/Geren for a day"

Kendall
Kotsay
Chavez
Durazo
Hatteberg
Crosby
Swisher
Ginter
Byrnes

"When I went to church that same Sunday, I picked up a 2x4. I went up to the pulpit and clubbed the preacher in the head..."--Wesley Willis

by Cutthemullet on Feb 9, 2005 9:42 AM PST reply actions

That's probably...

exactly how it will look on opening day.

by FoolshGame22 on Feb 9, 2005 9:43 AM PST up reply actions

heh

I hope that's the case

"When I went to church that same Sunday, I picked up a 2x4. I went up to the pulpit and clubbed the preacher in the head..."--Wesley Willis

by Cutthemullet on Feb 9, 2005 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

Actually

I doubt we ever use that, unless we're facing the Angels who only have righty pitchers, no lefties in the Pen even. I mean, four lefties in a row? Then 3 righties later?

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Feb 9, 2005 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

the thing that matters most to me is...

...put your best 4 hitters in the first 4 spots...none of this Swisher/Hatteberg in the 2-hole idea

"When I went to church that same Sunday, I picked up a 2x4. I went up to the pulpit and clubbed the preacher in the head..."--Wesley Willis

by Cutthemullet on Feb 9, 2005 9:43 AM PST up reply actions

I agree

but we cant have 4 lefties in a row...

by oakwin2004 on Feb 9, 2005 10:08 AM PST up reply actions

where's Nate

when I need him...I don't think the splits are severe enough to justify breaking that up. If they are, well, switch Crosby and Hatteberg vs. righties...that's as far as I'll bend

"When I went to church that same Sunday, I picked up a 2x4. I went up to the pulpit and clubbed the preacher in the head..."--Wesley Willis

by Cutthemullet on Feb 9, 2005 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

i'm just

concerned that ate in the game are lefties will be exposed by lefty specialists coming out of the pen. thats why every year macha and howe wld alternate the lineups by lefty/righty to keep other teams from being able to throw one guy at us for several batters.

by oakwin2004 on Feb 9, 2005 2:06 PM PST up reply actions

8th spot in the lineup

Assuming the weakest hitter will be 9th in the lineup, that seems to put a lot of pressure on the guy in the 8th hole. It seem the 8 hole is the worst spot to hit in MLB (ok, especially in the NL, but i think the argument works for the AL too, just not as strongly). Therefore, I don't like putting a guy who strikes out a lot in that position. I think Hatty would be the best in the 8 hole, given his plate discipline and ability to put a ball into play. I'd go with this:

1 Kendall
2 Byrnes
3 Kotsay
4 Chavez
5 Durazo
6 Swisher
7 Crosby
8 Hatty
9 Ellis/Ginter

Consider Byrnes/Swish a bucket that includes Kielty/Thomas/Ginter(rarely). And maybe mix Ginter/Swish or Ginter/Crosby around some, when Ginter is starting.

by Eric in Atlanta on Feb 9, 2005 11:20 AM PST reply actions