Hardy.The best # 8 hitter in the N.L.

[bigbrewkahuna]

I don't ever recall in recent memory an all star just a month removed from the all star game being dropped to the # 8 spot in the line-up .What a truly odd turn of events.

I don't see anyone else in the leauge batting 8th doing better than JJ with his 20+ Hr's ,so perhaps it's a real luxury for the Brewers for the time being.

 

But I was just wondering if Ned has given any indication as to whether this is to be temporary , permanent ,or semi permanent for the rest of the year?

 

I can't decide where the best spot for Hardy is in the lineup even though there has been plenty of debate about it before.

But I just find it a bit amusing that our All Star representative slugging shortstop is now a # 8 hitter,and is this truly the best spot for him.At least for now?

[bullox]

My gut feeling is that as long as he is hitting well there, and the team is playing well with him there, he will remain in the 8-hole. Ned likes to stick with things that seem to work. Sometimes a little too long, but he doesn't have a crystal ball or hindsight to work with.

[RU Rah Rah]

I read something ambivalent from Ned in the JS recently. To very roughly paraphrase, he sort of jokingly suggested that he would keep JJ in the 8 hole until he got hot, and then he would move him up -- at which time JJ probably would go cold again.

 

For whatever reason, he has pretty much raked from that spot, and I wouldn't mess with a good thing. With maybe Rickie and Billy also heating up a bit, and Jenkins putting up his typical August numbers, the lineup has been looking a bit better over the last couple of games. (And that guy Gross has done OK, too.)

[Samurai Bucky]

I had to look twice at my fantasy baseball team when I saw that JJ had just as many homers as Paul Konerko. JJ had a good game again last night. Keep it up, buddy!

[Team Canada]

But I just find it a bit amusing that our All Star representative slugging shortstop is now a # 8 hitter,and is this truly the best spot for him.At least for now?

 

Well, he's only hitting 8th because he dropped off the face of the earth after the break. It's not like it wasn't undeserved.

[endaround]

What was undeserved was hitting 2nd to begin with. One of my complaints with Yost is that he tends to view his players as he thinks they should be instead of what they are.

[bigbrewkahuna]

I don't know where the best spot for J.J. is in the lineup.I just find it hard to believe that the 2 catchers ,Mench,or Counsell ,all deserve to bat higher than Hardy.

[hauser42]

I would look at how Hardy has hit when 8th in the order if you are going to compare him to the other 8 hitters in the league. He had some very good hitters behind him so he saw some great pitches to hit early now he is not seeing those kind of pitches.

 

Who cares if Hardy was playing above his level early on he helped get this team off to a fast start.Jenkins still has not gotten his second half streak that many have claim is his birthright, if his April and May are his best months once again he has stolen money from the Brewers.

[Loopee]

I would look at how Hardy has hit when 8th in the order if you are going to compare him to the other 8 hitters in the league. He had some very good hitters behind him so he saw some great pitches to hit early now he is not seeing those kind of pitches.

What in the world are you talking about?

 

Hardy's stats as an 8 hitter per ESPN

 

BA .393 OBP .414 SLG 1.000 OPS 1.414

 

Contrary to your argument, in the 8 hole Hardy has come back to life. I also fail to see how slamming Jenkins is relevant to this thread at all.

 

As far as Hardy goes, I think that he'll be moved up in the line-up shortly. He deserved to get moved down when they did it, and in my opinion he's earned his way back.