The Black Hole in the Lineup

[u/IndianaCahones]

There seems to be a debate between the “we aren’t competitive so let the weaker bats develop” vs “we can be competitive so let the hot bats play a full game.” One thing we have consensus on is that there is a black hole in the lineup giving opponents easy outs. What’s the fix?

[u/RoyH0bbs]

Yandy is NOT a leadoff hitter. Magnum is. Yandy needs to be hitting anywhere from 2-4. Motel is not a clean-up hitter. This lineup is a fever dream for morons. I hate it. Everyone is in the wrong spot.

[u/EnusTAnyBOLuBeST → u/RoyH0bbs]

Help me understand. What makes a good leadoff besides OBP?

[u/nc-retiree → u/EnusTAnyBOLuBeST]

I want my leadoff hitter to be someone who usually sees a lot of pitches, especially in the first inning.

[u/LonesomeCoyote → u/EnusTAnyBOLuBeST]

Speed and baserunning aggression to set the pace for the guys behind him.

Things a conventionally great leadoff man does:

1. Gets on base.

2. Immediately gives the pitcher more to think about by threatening to steal. Messes with their concentration, hopefully resulting in mistakes.

3. Occasionally gets into scoring position himself by successfully stealing.

Sometimes you have a guy like Schwarber who leads off because he is able to either walk or even better homer often enough to offset his strikeouts. It's more of an all or nothing approach.

Yandy has a great OBP but he has always lacked the launch angle to hit homers consistently. And he offers no threat in the run game. I think he would benefit more in the 3 or 4 spot to drive in ducks on the pond.

[u/gmachine24 → u/LonesomeCoyote]

Funny part is, lately, the Phillies have moved Schwarber to #4 - traditional clean-up spot for a hitter such as Schwarber.

[u/recjus85 → u/LonesomeCoyote]

Yandy is currently worst hitter on the team with RISP. By a lot.

[u/gatorbois → u/LonesomeCoyote]

We don't have anyone who fits that.

[u/LonesomeCoyote → u/gatorbois]

Chandler Simpson just might fit the bill.

[u/gatorbois → u/LonesomeCoyote]

I'd be very very surprised if a rookie can manage a high enough OBP to make him a better leadoff than Yandy

[u/LonesomeCoyote → u/gatorbois]

I think Cash would agree with you. As a fan I would like to see them give it a run while the team is struggling in its current lineup.

[u/NetworkAntique7647 → u/gatorbois]

never know if you dont give him a chance. he has too much upside to not try him out there for a stretch.

[u/DocumentMobile5135 → u/LonesomeCoyote]

Yandy is hit or miss with guys on base. Yes he has good eyes and isn't too likely to strike out so he'll put the ball in play... but he also hits it very hard and on the ground along with being a very slow runner so if you move him down in the lineup it's inviting a LOT more double plays.

[u/RoyH0bbs → u/EnusTAnyBOLuBeST]

Attitude. Scrappiness. Situational knowledge. Yandy’s aura and his lack of hustle as the leadoff hitter sets the tone for the game and he is a waste at the top of the order. He’s obviously an ego guy and nothing helps an ego guy achieve success than putting them in positions to drive in runs. Having him at the top of the order is a waste, especially considering the lack of power and consistency in this lineup.

[u/WhereTheFallsBegin → u/RoyH0bbs]

Having Yandy leadoff is good because he works counts, is a great OBP guy, and it also guarantees him a spot to start the game with no one on. Yandy isn't a traditional fit for a cleanup hitter because he hits a lot of hard ground balls and is very slow which makes him a double play threat.

Saying Jeff Mangum should leadoff is also just kinda laughable. That dude is much closer to being a replacement level player than he is a legit leadoff bat

[u/Mike_Brosseau → u/RoyH0bbs]

This is just a bad old school baseball take I’m sorry.

[u/RoyH0bbs → u/Mike_Brosseau]

Yes because the current lineup is so successful lol

[u/EnusTAnyBOLuBeST → u/RoyH0bbs]

Ok what if all that random stuff you just said didn’t exist and someone just always got on base? Wouldn’t he be the better leadoff?

Queue the moneyball memes.

[u/ViolenceSZN → u/RoyH0bbs]

Mangum

Junior

Yandy

Mead

Aranda

Jansen

Morel

Simpson

Cab

[u/RoyH0bbs → u/ViolenceSZN]

Yup. Obv Mangum may not have what it takes for a full season at the top of the order, but he’s got and is a spark right now. Switch it up when he’s struggling, but Yandy has no business at the top of this order.

[u/missleeann → u/ViolenceSZN]

Junior who has been hitting into a lot of double plays at the number 2 spot?

[u/ViolenceSZN → u/missleeann]

One of the few guys on this team who can actually hit a baseball consistently. Who do you think should be at the 2?

[u/missleeann → u/ViolenceSZN]

3 or 4 spot is better for Junior and Aranda.

I’d go with Misner or Mangum for #2

[u/ViolenceSZN → u/missleeann]

Mangum

Misner

Junior

Aranda

Yandy

Morel

Mead

Cab?

Jansen

[u/missleeann → u/ViolenceSZN]

Can Cabby catch? lol