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2020 Lineup Discussion

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I keep seeing lineups being suggested with the focus on on getting the most number of at-bats for the better hitters.
On the one hand that is understandable but an important part of lineup construction is balance.
Too many pure lefties (or righties) in a row makes the Tribe vulnerable to pitchers that are very good against that side of the plate.
Having the switch-hitters is an advantage lost when they are all bunched together (RHP who gets lefties out/ LHP who gets righties out).

What is the best lineup for the Tribe? I don't know but that is the job of Tito & the coaches - to tinker & experiment thru spring training to find the best combination..
 
I keep seeing lineups being suggested with the focus on on getting the most number of at-bats for the better hitters.
On the one hand that is understandable but an important part of lineup construction is balance.
Too many pure lefties (or righties) in a row makes the Tribe vulnerable to pitchers that are very good against that side of the plate.
Having the switch-hitters is an advantage lost when they are all bunched together (RHP who gets lefties out/ LHP who gets righties out).

What is the best lineup for the Tribe? I don't know but that is the job of Tito & the coaches - to tinker & experiment thru spring training to find the best combination..
Well, our three best hitters are switch hitters who are dangerous from both sides of the plate. Those guys needs to be in the top 5 along with Reyes.

Hernandez and Mercado should probably flip spots depending on the starter with one at the top and one near the bottom.

Perez, or whoever is catching, should probably be 8.

Then, Luplow/Domingo/Naquin/Bauers/whoever should fill in at 6/7.

Seems like good balance to me with our best hitters in the most important spots.
 
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Hernandez and Mercado should probably flip spots depending on the starter with one at the top and one near the bottom.
Perez, or whoever is catching, should probably be 8.
Then, Luplow/Domingo/Naquin/Bauers/whoever should fill in at 6/7.
Seems like good balance to me with our best hitters in the most important spots.
Granted a lot will depend is the opposition starter is RH or LH. A majority of time it will be RH
Good balance is not 4 switch hitters in top 5 spots & 4 righties in a row to end the lineup (DSantana/ Luplow/ RPerez-catcher/ Mercado.
Mercado (or another RH) needs to added to Reyes in the top 5 spots so Hernandez can breakup items lower in the lineup.
 
Granted a lot will depend is the opposition starter is RH or LH. A majority of time it will be RH
Good balance is not 4 switch hitters in top 5 spots & 4 righties in a row to end the lineup (DSantana/ Luplow/ RPerez-catcher/ Mercado.
Mercado (or another RH) needs to added to Reyes in the top 5 spots so Hernandez can breakup items lower in the lineup.
You’re overthinking the lineup balance. Plus, there will surely be a left-hander (Bauers/Naquin/Zimmer) or a switch-hitter (Allen) in one of those spots if there’s a righty on the mound or in a late game situation for pinch-hitting or defensive replacement purposes.

Mercado only got on base 32% of the time last year (platoon splits were pretty even), and is projected at 31% for this upcoming year.

It’s simply bad lineup construction to have a guy like that toward the top of your order.

Add in Hernandez getting on base 35-38% of the time vs righties over the last four years, and it’d be malpractice to ignore that difference in on-base abilities.

Heck, as long as the Indians believe Hernandez’s struggles vs lefties last year were a fluke (his previous numbers were stellar), they should keep him in the lead-off spot always.
 
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At the moment I think the lineup will start the season this way:

Lindor
Mercado
Santana
Reyes
Ramirez
Hernandez
Bauers(LH OF)/Luplow
Allen/DeShields
Perez

I just have a hunch that’s kind of how the first lineups will be constructed in a sense and as the season progresses I think things will change up a bit. I know none of us like Lindor in the first hole, but I am not sure if I trust either Mercado or Hernandez there.

Now if I had my way I would actually leadoff Luplow against Lefties. .439 OBP and 26 walks to 32 SOs against LH. He is known for taking pitches and I think that would be a perfect place to put him since he should be getting on base in front of Lindor, Ramirez Santana etc.

So we could go
Righty/Lefty
Hernandez/Luplow
Lindor
Santana
Reyes
Ramirez
Mercado
Bauers (LH bat)/Hernandez)
Allen/DeShields
Perez

This is on if our new addition doesn’t make it in the OF/DH. I feel like Reyes in the 4 hole would be a good idea. Santana takes a ton of pitches and Ramirez should be the All-Star again. This would allow Reyes to get very good opportunities to get pitches to hit in my mind.
 
I'd like to think this is just class Tito pre-season coach speak, but:

The Indians were tied for 14th in OAA as a team in 2019. DeShields’ above-average defense may be enough to push Mercado over to left, as Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti noted the two are expected to play an equal role in 2020.

Hmm.
 
I'd like to think this is just class Tito pre-season coach speak, but:



Hmm.

Yikes. Mercado doesn’t profile as a corner outfielder, and struggled defensively in limited action in LF last season, while DeShields‘ weak bat limits him to be primarily a defensive replacement and pinch runner. Other than that, it would be a great move to give them equal playing time.
 
Michael Martínez has entered the chat.
 
Yikes. Mercado doesn’t profile as a corner outfielder, and struggled defensively in limited action in LF last season, while DeShields‘ weak bat limits him to be primarily a defensive replacement and pinch runner. Other than that, it would be a great move to give them equal playing time.

Im far less concerned with Mercado’s ability to transition to LF in this home ballpark as I am with starting two guys who project to be way too far below average offensively.
 
With the Domingo signing official:

1. Hernandez - 2B
2. Ramirez - 3B
3. Lindor - SS
4. Santana, C - 1B
5. Reyes - RF
6. Santana, D - DH
7. Luplow - LF
8. Perez - C
9. Mercado - CF

This would be my preference, with most of these guys playing almost every day. I'd probably flip Luplow and Domingo in the lineup against lefties.

I would not go with any true platoons, but Naquin (if healthy) would rotate into the corner spots with Luplow and Santana. Should be able to get each of them over 400 PA.

DeShields shouldn't get anything more than occasional starts and pinch-running/defensive replacement duty.
 
I feel like we are going to fuck around and win the World Series
 
I know many have spoken as if Domingo Santana in the everyday lineup is a foregone conclusion, and while I liked the signing, I wouldn't mind giving Bobby Bradley an opportunity at DH platooning with Domingo.

With Bauers continuing to struggle, we need a backup 1B on the roster, and Bradley fits the bill as we get him near-everyday at-bats as the strong-side member of our DH platoon.
 
So far I've seen them use:

Lindor
Hernandez
Ramirez
Santana
Reyes

as our top 5 multiple times. I have to think that's what we should expect when the season rolls around.
I wish they'd put Hernandez at 1 and Lindor at 2, but I understand that's just not going to happen.
 

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