2020 Lineup Discussion

[sportscoach]

Sounds like we should expect:

1. Hernandez - 2B
2. Ramirez - 3B
3. Lindor - SS
4. Santana - 1B
5. Reyes - OF/DH

How do we fill out the rest?

- Naquin should be good to go now, so I think it should be a priority to have him AND Luplow in the lineup 4-5 times each week.

- Roberto is down there somewhere.

- Mercado in some capacity (maybe in a timeshare?)

- Domingo fits in somewhere, but I see him as more of a "2-3 starts per week" guy.

Personally, I'd like something like this:

6. Naquin/Luplow - RF/LF
7. Luplow/Naquin - LF/RF
8. Perez - C
9. Mercado - CF

I think you get Domingo in the lineup 2-3x each week by sitting Naquin against a lefty and Luplow against a righty or two.

If they're confident that Zimmer's swing changes are going to produce real results, he should get one of the starts when Luplow or Naquin sits and another to give Mercado a day off each week.

Well with Luplow on the mend at the moment, I am not sure he is in the lineup heavy to start the season. So with that stated, its quite possible to see Zimmer and Naquin in the starting lineup against RH and Domingo and Luplow against the LHP. I actuallly have a hunch Domingo, Naquin will be starting and the other two will pinch hit/run

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

If the gap in bat between Naquin/Luplow and Domingo Santana isn't enormous, there's just not a spot for Domingo to play outside of the spot-start 1B/DH role, and the late inning Giambi pinch hit role. The bonus of moving Franmil out of the OF and upgrading to Luplow/Naquin is just too large to ignore.

 

[LL3]

Sounds like we should expect:

1. Hernandez - 2B
2. Ramirez - 3B
3. Lindor - SS
4. Santana - 1B
5. Reyes - OF/DH

How do we fill out the rest?

- Naquin should be good to go now, so I think it should be a priority to have him AND Luplow in the lineup 4-5 times each week.

- Roberto is down there somewhere.

- Mercado in some capacity (maybe in a timeshare?)

- Domingo fits in somewhere, but I see him as more of a "2-3 starts per week" guy.

Personally, I'd like something like this:

6. Naquin/Luplow - RF/LF
7. Luplow/Naquin - LF/RF
8. Perez - C
9. Mercado - CF

I think you get Domingo in the lineup 2-3x each week by sitting Naquin against a lefty and Luplow against a righty or two.

If they're confident that Zimmer's swing changes are going to produce real results, he should get one of the starts when Luplow or Naquin sits and another to give Mercado a day off each week.

I am most interested in the Domingo usage...I keep thinking Luplow is going to take some at bats vs RHP and it really has to be at D Santana’s expense. I have talked to a fair amount of people who believe he is a regular, but listening to Terry talk, I am not sure that is the case...I was thinking 3-4 times a week. That said, I am guessing he might also get a start in replacement of Reyes every once in a while, too.

Agree - Zimmer looks like he is in line for a start a week in CF, which of course could evolve toward more...otherwise, a replacement on the corners.

 

[LL3]

If the gap in bat between Naquin/Luplow and Domingo Santana isn't enormous, there's just not a spot for Domingo to play outside of the spot-start 1B/DH role, and the late inning Giambi pinch hit role. The bonus of moving Franmil out of the OF and upgrading to Luplow/Naquin is just too large to ignore.

On paper, DSantana never had a clear role, but then, I am a Luplow advocate. Domingo’s power is real, so I am hardly dismissing him, but he may have to wait a bit, or at least impress when he gets his chances...of which, there will still be many.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

On paper, DSantana never had a clear role, but then, I am a Luplow advocate. Domingo’s power is real, so I am hardly dismissing him, but he may have to wait a bit, or at least impress when he gets his chances...of which, there will still be many.

I think he had a role early on in the year when most of our outfielders were hurt. He was likely going to DH with Franmil playing RF.

With the season delayed and players getting healthy, he's not really needed everyday.

 

[LL3]

I think he had a role early on in the year when most of our outfielders were hurt. He was likely going to DH with Franmil playing RF.

With the season delayed and players getting healthy, he's not really needed everyday.

I think Naquin was always in the plan, sooner, rather than later, but of course he has had a recent history of injury...
as has Santana, but his price was relatively loe ,so still a good get.
I do not so much dislike Santana (always intrigued, actually), but swinging from right side, and being a limited defender, I never saw a clear fit. The price made him a good gambit. On we go...

 

[AZ_]

1. Hernandez - 2B
2. Ramirez - 3B
3. Lindor - SS
4. C. Santana - 1B
5. Reyes - OF/DH
6. D. Santana - LF

7. Naquin/Luplow - RF
8. Perez/Leon - C
9. Mercado/Zimmer - CF

 

[Derek]

I liked the lineup.

I also liked Zimmer getting the nod in the 6th inning over Greg Allen.

Got the first game out of the way. Hopefully, they can light up the rookie tomorrow.

 

[LL3]

I liked the lineup.

I also liked Zimmer getting the nod in the 6th inning over Greg Allen.

Got the first game out of the way. Hopefully, they can light up the rookie tomorrow.

Sort of hoping Allen ends up waaaaayyyyy down on the end of the bench...pinch runner.. Sure....not likely to make it past the next downsizing

 

[Derek]

Seeing Jose get off to a good start is huge. Even though his timing issues were solved in the middle of last year, I'm sure it would have been a lot tougher for him mentally if he started 2-12.

Frankie needs to stop swinging at the first pitch in what seems like EVERY DAMN AT BAT. He's always swung at the first pitch quite a bit, and it's always bothered me. Take a pitch and settle in!

I was on the move today, and was only able to catch an inning here and there, so not much more to say without just being a box score breakdown guy

 

[Otsego Mar]

Seeing Jose get off to a good start is huge. Even though his timing issues were solved in the middle of last year, I'm sure it would have been a lot tougher for him mentally if he started 2-12.

Frankie needs to stop swinging at the first pitch in what seems like EVERY DAMN AT BAT. He's always swung at the first pitch quite a bit, and it's always bothered me. Take a pitch and settle in!

I was on the move today, and was only able to catch an inning here and there, so not much more to say without just being a box score breakdown guy

He took a 94 mph heater down the middle of the plate for pitch #1 in his final AB today.

Regardless, I agree.

 

[Derek]

Words can't express how much I love the early returns of Cesar and Jose batting 1-2.

Even when they don't get on base, they're taking pitchers deep into the count.

 

[Lee]

Words can't express how much I love the early returns of Cesar and Jose batting 1-2.

Even when they don't get on base, they're taking pitchers deep into the count.

So deep, so deep, put her ass to sleep.

 

[Derek]

Here are Lindor's career plate discipline numbers via Fangraphs:


O-Swing% represents the percentage of pitches he chases outside the strike zone.

All numbers are right in line with where they typically are with the exception of contact! He's always been a really aggressive hitter. His approach hasn't changed this year, just his results.

EDIT: Thought I'd put this in here as well, so it doesn't get lost when we move on to a new series.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Here are Lindor's career plate discipline numbers via Fangraphs:
View attachment 3918

O-Swing% represents the percentage of pitches he chases outside the strike zone.

All numbers are right in line with where they typically are with the exception of contact! He's always been a really aggressive hitter. His approach hasn't changed this year, just his results.

EDIT: Thought I'd put this in here as well, so it doesn't get lost when we move on to a new series.

His O-swing% is up 5% over the last four years. You would think that as players gain experience and knowledge of opposing pitchers their pitch recognition and strike zone knowledge would improve, not get significantly worse. Even as an eager rookie with no familiarity with the opposing pitchers he swung at over 4% fewer bad pitches.

The fact that his O-contact rate has dropped an incredible 50% suggests he's swinging at pitches that are even further out of the zone, IOW, unhittable pitches vice pitches just off the edge that are easier to foul off.

The better hitters excel at fouling off bad pitches they swing at and stay alive. Votto is a guy that comes to mind. So far this year Lindor has really fallen off a cliff in that respect. Whether it's because he's chasing more unhittable pitches or something else I don't know.