2010 batting order

[rluzinski]

HiAndTight,

 

I think you'll find many at bf.net very much appreciate that drawing walks is a batter skill and not simply failure of the pitcher. You'll also find many that appreciate that, with no one on base, a walks as the same value as a single. We are just skeptical of Escobar displaying that skill for the 2009 season. I'd start him in the 7th and 8th spot and see how he develops offensively.

[1992casey]

2010 Russ? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[HiAndTight]

HiAndTight,

 

I think you'll find many at bf.net very much appreciate that drawing walks is a batter skill and not simply failure of the pitcher. You'll also find many that appreciate that, with no one on base, a walks as the same value as a single. We are just skeptical of Escobar displaying that skill for the 2009 season. I'd start him in the 7th and 8th spot and see how he develops offensively.

And I absolutely agree with that with regard to Escobar.

 

I'm sure many of these debates have been hashed out already, I was just debating that point in general, not with regard to Escobar.

I would think if you could get a line of .280/.330/.350 out of Escobar next year you'd have to be thrilled. Even that +50 is likely overly optomistic, but we'll see.

I really do see him developing a lot more power as he fills out. He's got the frame for it, and I could see him with 12-15 HR power in 2-3 years.

 

 

[silversurferr]

Mellow out, Francis! Give Escobar some time to develop. How old is he? Dude can fly, and he has a better swing than I imagined. He won't lead the league in walks, but he won't be Chucky Carr, either.

[thumperden]

"Chucky hacks on 2-0."

[chadomac]

I think we have our starting lineup finalized now that Gomez and Zaun have been added... and I'm really curious how the lineup is going to shake out. Here's my idea:

 

1 Escobar

2 Weeks

3 Braun

4 Fielder

5 McGehee

6 Hart

7 Zaun

8 Gomez

 

It's tough putting something together with Escobar, Zaun, and Gomez in the lineup. Zaun gets on base but has little power. Escobar seems to be able to hit but he is unproven. And Gomez doesn't get on base.

[logan82]

Zaun and Hart are probably better hitters than Escobar so I think it would be a mistake to give Escobar all those extra PA. Not to mention that one of Escobar's main assets would probably go mostly unused in front of Fielder and Braun.

[Vgmastr]

I'd be tempted to slot Zaun in as #2 because out of Zaun/Hart/Escobar, he's going to give you the best OBP. Plus his lack of speed won't be an issue in front of Braun and Fielder, as we likely won't be doing much running when those guys are up. You can get more use out of Hart's and Escobar's speed at the bottom of the order.

[chadomac]

Agreed, this looks pretty good I think:

 

1 Weeks

2 Zaun

3 Braun

4 Fielder

5 McGehee

6 Hart

7 Escobar

8 Lopez

9 Pitcher

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't think Zaun will turn in much better than a .340 OBP this season, with pretty limited power. He should be an upgrade over Kendall both on O & D, but no way do I want him getting the second-highest number of plate appearances. Fwiw, his CHONE projection is .227/.329/.361. Both Lucroy & Salome have better offensive projections (& Kottaras's is .235/.332/.397).

 

One reason I think Gamel is the better option at 3B is that imo he will be able to turn in the kind of performance at the plate that's well-suited to batting leadoff or second (not to mention the fact that he bats lefty). Even if the Brewers decide McGehee is the long-term solution at third, I'd even rather see him batting second ahead of Zaun. So with that said, I'd go with the following as of today:

 

Weeks

McGehee

Braun

Fielder

Hart

Zaun

Gomez

P

Escobar

 

 

Ugh. This lineup does not look very good to me. I think the Brewers are going to need Gamel's bat in 2010, so even though I think his value is greatest at 3B, I guess I'd rather see him in RF & Hart dealt somehow. But I have a sinking feeling Gamel will be dealt instead.

[Mr Southpaw]

Everybody seems to think that batting the pitcher at 8 is a good idea. If we do that why don't you move Braun and Fielder up one spot? You probably get an extra 10-15 AB out of them for the season and that might be 1-2 game winners. How about a lineup like this....

 

vs Lefties

 

1 Weeks

2 Braun

3 Fielder

4 McGehee**

5 Hart**

6 Escobar

7 Right handed Catcher

8 Pitcher **(Counsell, Gamel, Gerut or other PH double switch as defense is need late in games)

9 Gomez

 

vs Righties

 

1 Weeks

2 Braun

3 Fielder

4 Gamel**

5 Gerut **

6 Zaun

7 Hart

8 Pitcher **(Gomez, McGehee or other PH double switch as defense is need late in games)

9 Escobar

[logan82]

You want your 5th best hitter 3rd since that spot comes up the most often with 2 outs and nobody on base. Moving fielder or Braun up to 2nd would be a great idea. To bad nobody thought of that before...

[JohnBriggs12]

I know it will be a while before everyone realizes it, but Escobar is potentially the 3rd best hitter on this team and having him hit 9th while it makes for a nice 2nd leadoff guy, the missed PA aren't going to be worth it. If I'm going to hit the pitcher 8th, I'd have Gomez 9th, followed by Weeks and Escobar.

[zzzmanwitz]

I agree that he is potentially the 3rd best hitter on the team, but I think its asking a lot from Escobar to expect that this season.

[kramnoj]

I know it will be a while before everyone realizes it, but Escobar is potentially the 3rd best hitter

 

How are you defining hitter, and when do you think that potential will be realized?

[brewtank34]

I've got a couple here that I like...

 

Escobar, Weeks, Braun, Fielder, McGahee, Hart, Zaun, Pitcher, Gomez

 

Escobar, Hart, Braun Fielder, Weeks, McGahee, Zaun, Pitcher, Gomez

 

(In either line-up, Weeks is the key. I feel he will, and the the Brewers offense will, excell better if Weeks is protected better)

 

I'd rather not see Weeks in the leadoff role. With our new additional speed this year, I feel that we can utilize Weeks' set of tools in a better way finally.

[TooLiveBrew]

I know it will be a while before everyone realizes it, but Escobar is potentially the 3rd best hitter on this team and having him hit 9th while it makes for a nice 2nd leadoff guy, the missed PA aren't going to be worth it. If I'm going to hit the pitcher 8th, I'd have Gomez 9th, followed by Weeks and Escobar.

Escobar isn't even close to Weeks, Hart will likely be better in 2010, McGehee should be better, and I think Gomez will be even money to be better than Alcides next season too. That statement is just way off-base. Somewhere down the road, Escobar might develop into the team's second or third-best hitter, but he's not even close to that yet.

[BrewCrewForever]

I wish Escobar or Gomez could prove to carry a high OBP in 2010 so one of them could beat leadoff so Weeks could move down in the order in more of a run producing role. But I don't see it happening. So I am sure Weeks will once again be miss cast as a leadoff hitter.

[wishicouldhit]

BrewCrewIn2004[/b]]I wish Escobar or Gomez could prove to carry a high OBP

I will have to put that request on the christmas list. If both of them could prove to be decent 1 & 2 hole hitters that would be the making of a dynamic lineup

[logan82]

With their power, they would probably have to be in the .350+ OBP range to be in the top 5 hitters on the team. Your top 5 hitters should be in the top 5 spots of the order.

[dragoon84]

I wish Escobar or Gomez could prove to carry a high OBP in 2010 so one of them could beat leadoff so Weeks could move down in the order in more of a run producing role. But I don't see it happening. So I am sure Weeks will once again be miss cast as a leadoff hitter.

I'm all for batting Escobar leadoff, even if he doesn't have a stellar OBP. If Rickie is back in form and his wrists stay healthy, he should be batting second or fifth. I like his speed and OBP at both positions in the order; Ryan to drive him in easier, Prince we have a fast person batting behind him.

 

If he ends up batting fifth, bat McGehee second. If Rickie gets hurt again, bat Counsell second. Bat Gomez at eighth or ninth until he proves he can put up a decent OBP.

[logan82]

Bat Gomez at eighth or ninth until he proves he can put up a decent OBP.

 

Why does Gomez have to prove himself but Escobar doesn't?

[dragoon84]

Escobar is the home grown prospect, he pans out at best to be a lead off hitter, and I think he should get the first opportunity to prove himself there. Gomez can be tried if Escobar doesn't work out.

[TooLiveBrew]

Escobar should prove he can get on base better than ~.325 or so before he gets to prove anything about being a leadoff hitter. Same for Gomez.

[logan82]

I give up. Bat Escobar 1st and Gomez 2nd. It will be great fun to see Braun come up so often with 2 outs and nobody on. Forgot about the pitcher batting ahead of those 2. Braun would hardly ever see guys on base.