Yay on the win -- change the lineup, though!

A shutout was a good way to end all things bad. Kudos to DiNardo for stepping up today. But the offense still needs a lot of work ...

The lineup today:

T. Buck rf   3   0   0   1   0   0   2   .273
S. Stewart lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .305
J. Cust dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .258
N. Swisher 1b 3 2 1 0 1 0 3 .256
M. Ellis 2b 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .265
M. Kotsay cf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .219
M. Scutaro 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .244
B. Crosby ss 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 .225
K. Suzuki c 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .200

There’s no way Mark Ellis should ever be hitting fifth in a MLB line-up; nor should Kotsay be hitting sixth. They’re terrible hitters: Ellis has a .721 OPS right now, and Kotsay’s number is .589 – while Ellis’ number is acceptable for a second baseman, it is not acceptable for a #5 hitter. And Kotsay shouldn’t even be allowed on the field with a bat that disgraceful.

The first four spots above are alright; the fifth and sixth are not. Scutaro’s .664 OPS hitting 7th is no help, and Crosby? With an OPS at .601, the A’s basically have three hitters in the bottom half of their order who have no business being in the major leagues. There has to be someone better to fill those three positions: third base, shortstop and centerfield. Seriously, this isn’t Double-AA baseball.

Considering they just got rid of a guy with a .542 OPS (Kendall), can you tell me exactly what the A’s are thinking fielding this joke of a lineup? No wonder they haven’t scored any friggin’ runs!

I think Suzuki will be fine at C for now: he has to get playing time somehow for the club to assess his value/potential. Ellis really should be hitting eighth or ninth, depending on Suzuki; if he’s hitting fifth, it’s a statement about the rest of the team’s lack of talent – and that needs to be addressed ASAP by management. This isn’t 1979, after all.

Johnson should be playing first base: his .797 OPS is miles above Kotsay’s, and Swisher can play centerfield. It’s not ideal, but Buck and Stewart need to stay in the lineup. In this season of hell, they’re as good as it gets in the outfield right now. Johnson is equal against lefties and righties this year: no need for a platoon when his OPS one way is .798 and the other way .794 – he needs to be in the lineup EVERY DAY instead of Kotsay.

I realize Scutaro was subbing for Chavez, and with his glove, Chavez is fine with his .764 OPS – this is who he is. We should forget 2001 ever happened and accept the fact he’s a mediocre hitter with a great glove. So getting Kotsay and Scutaro out of the lineup is a start; that just leaves Crosby.

Maybe Scutaro should be starting over Crosby, or they should split time. They’re both equally crappy against lefties (which makes NO sense, but should be understood as a key element in their overall lack-of-talent as right-handed hitters), so you can’t platoon them logically. Go with the hot hand? Find someone else to play shortstop? Trade for A-Rod?

The way I see it, the lineup should be different:

Buck RF – doing fine at the top
Stewart LF – perfect #2
Swisher CF – he’s the best three-hole guy
Cust DH – he’s the best clean-up option
Johnson 1B – Has to be the everyday first baseman
Suzuki C – between these two hitters, he’ll see better pitches.
Chavez 3B – at least he can still draw a walk and hit the occasional HR
Someone SS – this is where I believe the worst hitter should go
Ellis 2B – he’s decent enough to perhaps provide a bottom of the order spark

Even with Crosby/Scutaro hitting 8th, this team has to be better than what they’ve been showing. There is talent there; it just needs to be utilized more effectively. And if there’s any way to get a NEW shortstop, it’s time.

Is Keith Ginter still around? Can he play shortstop?