Quote from MrPadre19 on June 18, 2023, 8:14 pm

I know most here disagree but we don’t need our best run producer leading off and getting stranded on base every game.

We have a guy with a “lifetime” .423 OBP hitting behind a guy who “averages” 48 HR’s every 162 games played.

It’s just dumb.

We need a true leadoff hitter…..but until then (and after) Soto needs to be hitting ahead of Tatis and Tatis should be hitting 3rd.

Soto still has a .395 OBP hitting 2nd….and this team has  Tatis,Machado and Bogaerts to hit behind him.

You want to change things up?

Put Tatis in the 3 hole.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on June 18, 2023, 11:31 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 18, 2023, 1:37 pm

Will this lack of clutch hitting ever end?

Game starts with Tatis HBP … steals 2B … RISP with no outs

Soto walks (at least)

Machado K

Bogaerts weak ground ball out

Than the coup de gras … Tatis picked of 3B with too big a lead at a point with no need to be that aggressive to score from 3B.

 

Noticed the 3B did not give FTJ any of the bag to tag.

Does that rule only apply to home( giving runner a path if you don't have ball)?

 

Quote from WindsorUK on June 18, 2023, 11:41 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 18, 2023, 8:14 pm

I know most here disagree but we don’t need our best run producer leading off and getting stranded on base every game.

We have a guy with a “lifetime” .423 OBP hitting behind a guy who “averages” 48 HR’s every 162 games played.

It’s just dumb.

We need a true leadoff hitter…..but until then (and after) Soto needs to be hitting ahead of Tatis and Tatis should be hitting 3rd.

Soto still has a .395 OBP hitting 2nd….and this team has  Tatis,Machado and Bogaerts to hit behind him.

You want to change things up?

Put Tatis in the 3 hole.

 

He's also our best base runner( and the leagues!)The first 2 runs we scored were 100% his speed/aggressiveness.

The kid is in an absolute groove. Why in the world would you mess with that? It's that kind of thinking that has gotten us where we are- 4th place, under .500 70 games into the season. You move FTJ down the lineup, you probably take the bat out of his hands 3 or 4 times a week( if not more). We can't afford that. We just need the other professional multi millionaires to start doing their jobs( read- Soto, Machado, Bogaerts, Cronenworth)

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on June 19, 2023, 2:08 am

Quote from WindsorUK on June 18, 2023, 11:31 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 18, 2023, 1:37 pm

Will this lack of clutch hitting ever end?

Game starts with Tatis HBP … steals 2B … RISP with no outs

Soto walks (at least)

Machado K

Bogaerts weak ground ball out

Than the coup de gras … Tatis picked of 3B with too big a lead at a point with no need to be that aggressive to score from 3B.

 

Noticed the 3B did not give FTJ any of the bag to tag.

Does that rule only apply to home( giving runner a path if you don't have ball)?

 

Yes, only an issue at home … at one time using the foot / leg to block the base was taught (if you didn’t mind getting spiked on feet first slides).

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 19, 2023, 2:53 am

Quote from WindsorUK on June 18, 2023, 11:41 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 18, 2023, 8:14 pm

I know most here disagree but we don’t need our best run producer leading off and getting stranded on base every game.

We have a guy with a “lifetime” .423 OBP hitting behind a guy who “averages” 48 HR’s every 162 games played.

It’s just dumb.

We need a true leadoff hitter…..but until then (and after) Soto needs to be hitting ahead of Tatis and Tatis should be hitting 3rd.

Soto still has a .395 OBP hitting 2nd….and this team has  Tatis,Machado and Bogaerts to hit behind him.

You want to change things up?

Put Tatis in the 3 hole.

 

He's also our best base runner( and the leagues!)The first 2 runs we scored were 100% his speed/aggressiveness.

The kid is in an absolute groove. Why in the world would you mess with that? It's that kind of thinking that has gotten us where we are- 4th place, under .500 70 games into the season. You move FTJ down the lineup, you probably take the bat out of his hands 3 or 4 times a week( if not more). We can't afford that. We just need the other professional multi millionaires to start doing their jobs( read- Soto, Machado, Bogaerts, Cronenworth)

 

 

Why would any of that change because he hits 2 spots down?

He’s the only one hitting consistently and it’s obvious we have issues hitting with runners on.

Soto seems to always work a walk with Tatis on 2nd….maybe if Soto worked his walk with Tatis up next we would actually score?

 

Quote from dusty on June 19, 2023, 5:56 am

Honestly, I think offensively these guys need to just clear their heads. They obviously have the skill and tools to make things happen. Overnight you don’t go from hitting 275 with RISP to 198. Manny finally came through with a big knock yesterday. Hopefully that is a confident boost for him. But maybe they should consider a mindfulness/wellness professional to come in and do a team guided meditation session. Have a comedian come in and do some standup/comedy in front of them before a game. Change it up and help these guys relax. Tatis is relaxed and having fun and it shows.

Stop changing the lineup every day. Set a lineup and let these guys settle in. Don’t be afraid to ruffle some feathers if you have to.

This series/this homestand was huge and really, had they stuck with their original rotation instead of matching up Darvish with McClanahan, they would be a game better. But that’s playing a lot of ifs and buts. Still should have won that game regardless. This 4 game series with San Francisco is going to be huge and if we can go in and win 3, it will be a bit deflating to the giants after the sweep of the dodgers. Will kind of bring them back down to earth with a gut check

Quote from WindsorUK on June 19, 2023, 6:50 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 19, 2023, 2:53 am

Quote from WindsorUK on June 18, 2023, 11:41 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 18, 2023, 8:14 pm

I know most here disagree but we don’t need our best run producer leading off and getting stranded on base every game.

We have a guy with a “lifetime” .423 OBP hitting behind a guy who “averages” 48 HR’s every 162 games played.

It’s just dumb.

We need a true leadoff hitter…..but until then (and after) Soto needs to be hitting ahead of Tatis and Tatis should be hitting 3rd.

Soto still has a .395 OBP hitting 2nd….and this team has  Tatis,Machado and Bogaerts to hit behind him.

You want to change things up?

Put Tatis in the 3 hole.

 

He's also our best base runner( and the leagues!)The first 2 runs we scored were 100% his speed/aggressiveness.

The kid is in an absolute groove. Why in the world would you mess with that? It's that kind of thinking that has gotten us where we are- 4th place, under .500 70 games into the season. You move FTJ down the lineup, you probably take the bat out of his hands 3 or 4 times a week( if not more). We can't afford that. We just need the other professional multi millionaires to start doing their jobs( read- Soto, Machado, Bogaerts, Cronenworth)

 

 

Why would any of that change because he hits 2 spots down?

He’s the only one hitting consistently and it’s obvious we have issues hitting with runners on.

Soto seems to always work a walk with Tatis on 2nd….maybe if Soto worked his walk with Tatis up next we would actually score?

 

BIG difference! Just see Soto, Juan, who himself has professed to wanting to hit in the 3 or 4 hole. And with Manny Machado on your team, Soto ain't hittin' 3rd.

Obviously a different approach at the plate when FTJ is on in front of you. You( as the 2 hitter) have to allow him to do his thing on the basepaths, which with a guy like Soto, obviously throws him off( hence the Mendoza line dance this year in that spot)

Another reason why it's nice to have Grisham and Kim at the bottom of the order- you've got 2 guys that won't slow FTJ on the basepaths, which I think is what would happen if Soto bats in front of him( Juan is definitely not a speedster).

Ultimately, the kid is our most dangerous threat - at the dish, on the bases, in the field. Anything that would diminish his impact( like less AB's because he's batting 4th, which is where most HR hitters still reside) hurts the team overall.

As I said, we just need to hope our East Coast sluggers( Xander and Juan) along with our other All Stars( Machado and Cronenworth), start putting up regular career numbers. Because as you've correctly stated, FTJ will hit no matter where he is in the lineup. That just doesn't appear to be the case with evreyone else.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on June 19, 2023, 6:55 am

Quote from dusty on June 19, 2023, 5:56 am

Honestly, I think offensively these guys need to just clear their heads. They obviously have the skill and tools to make things happen. Overnight you don’t go from hitting 275 with RISP to 198. Manny finally came through with a big knock yesterday. Hopefully that is a confident boost for him. But maybe they should consider a mindfulness/wellness professional to come in and do a team guided meditation session. Have a comedian come in and do some standup/comedy in front of them before a game. Change it up and help these guys relax. Tatis is relaxed and having fun and it shows.

Stop changing the lineup every day. Set a lineup and let these guys settle in. Don’t be afraid to ruffle some feathers if you have to.

This series/this homestand was huge and really, had they stuck with their original rotation instead of matching up Darvish with McClanahan, they would be a game better. But that’s playing a lot of ifs and buts. Still should have won that game regardless. This 4 game series with San Francisco is going to be huge and if we can go in and win 3, it will be a bit deflating to the giants after the sweep of the dodgers. Will kind of bring them back down to earth with a gut check

That is SO old school Dusty!

And I second the approach! AJ and his nerds appear to be overthinking this thing. See ball, hit ball! Much easier when you know where you're going to be on a daily basis. Plus, I will once again bring up superstition. Like it or not, believe in it or not, MLB players are among the most superstitious of all athletes. Shouldn't take 70 games to find a line up that works, especially one with 5 all stars in it.

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 19, 2023, 11:37 am

That's just the thing...what we've been doing hasn't worked in the RISP regard.

Soto needs to be more aggressive...he's taking too many borderline 3rd strikes...which even if a ball they are calling strikes.

I wish he would be swinging at these borderline pitches with 2 strikes...it's what we were taught in Little League...but he isn't.

That leads me to my point..."right now" his best asset is working the walk...Working a walk with Tais on 2b hasn't been leading to many runs.

Like I said...I know most of you disagree....but having you best run producer on 2nd while others fail to drive in runs isn't working.

IF we had an Arraez or an Austin Hays leading off this wouldn't be an issue....but we don't.

If it isn't working try something different..put your high OBP guy in front of your 40+ HR guy....it's not a radical idea.

It's not rocket surgery and forever it was:

1-best OBP guy (Soto)

2-best contact/bunting guy (Xander?)

3-best over all hitter (Tatis)

4-next best hitter/run producer (Manny)

5-next best hitter/run producer (Cronenworth)

Hopefully we can add a true leadoff guy at the deadline or for next season...if we do I'd want New Guy-Soto-Tatis-Manny-Xander-Crone

Tatis can still run and wreak havoc on the bases...but this way there will almost always be at least one guy on base for most of his HR's

It's lonely here on this "Lineup Island" I'm all alone on....:)

 

Edit:if not a high OBP guy to lead off I'd also be OK with Ohtani to hit 4th!