Opening Day lineup?

[pravata]

Cooper said he's going to start managing like it's the regular season, here's the lineup he sent out tonight

Bourn, CF
Pence, RF
Berkman, 1B
Lee, LF   
Tejada, SS
Loretta, 2B
Wigginton, 3B
Ausmus, C

[billemite]

I really like this lineup. I guess when Kaz gets back he'll have the 2 hole all sewn up (to rerererehash that joke). I'm not crazy about Spaz hitting 6th, but he'll get his anywhere in the order. I just keep picturing him kicking Tejada or Lee in the ass trying for extra bases. Feel free to bash the clark.

[Bench]

When Towles plays in the second game of the season, Loretta to 8 and Wiggy to 6?

[Mr. Happy]

When Towles plays in the second game of the season, Loretta to 8 and Wiggy to 6?

I think that Towles will hit eighth.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

That'd be my assumption with regard to Towles, too.  He could move up in the lineup if his production deserves it.

Right now, I think he's the starter with the most to prove, health- and production-wise.

[Zac D]

I'm trying to figure out if I'm surprised that Loretta and Wigginton aren't switched.

[TheWizard]

Cooper said he's going to start managing like it's the regular season, here's the lineup he sent out tonight

Bourn, CF
Pence, RF
Berkman, 1B
Lee, LF   
Tejada, SS
Loretta, 2B
Wigginton, 3B
Ausmus, C

I like it.  I'd prefer to see Tejada hitting 6th rather than Berkman.

[SaltyParker]

I like it.  I'd prefer to see Tejada hitting 6th rather than Berkman.

In what scenario was Berkman ever slotted as 6th?

[HudsonHawk]

I really like this lineup. I guess when Kaz gets back he'll have the 2 hole all sewn up (to rerererehash that joke). I'm not crazy about Spaz hitting 6th, but he'll get his anywhere in the order. I just keep picturing him kicking Tejada or Lee in the ass trying for extra bases. Feel free to bash the clark.

Not bashing, but what's wrong with Pence hitting 6th?  If you think Pence is going to hit .320 again, or even .300, you're going to be disappointed.

[HudsonHawk]

In what scenario was Berkman ever slotted as 6th?

Or Tejada.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Not bashing, but what's wrong with Pence hitting 6th?  If you think Pence is going to hit .320 again, or even .300, you're going to be disappointed.

I'm thinking he sees it as negatively impacing Pence's ability to get around the bases.  Probability wise, it's not likely to be a huge problem.  However, I can definitely see people screaming bloody murder when Pence is held up at second because one of the three guys in front of him (Berkman, Lee, or Tejada) can't go first to home on a well hit ball. 

[MikeyBoy]

I'm thinking he sees it as negatively impacing Pence's ability to get around the bases.  Probability wise, it's not likely to be a huge problem.  However, I can definitely see people screaming bloody murder when Pence is held up at second because one of the three guys in front of him (Berkman, Lee, or Tejada) can't go first to home on a well hit ball. 

Will they scream bloody murder when Pence fails to move Bourn off of first base? Look, like Coop said, Pence has attributes that fit into many spots in the line up, so it's an arguable position. I personaly think that Pence's highest value to this point in his Major League career, and the value most likely to continue, has been his power numbers. HH pointed out that it will be difficult for Pence to continue with the batting average he posted last year and if that in fact proves to be the case, then it doesn't bode well for his OBP either, because the boy doesn't take many pitches, so walks don't look to be part of his arsenal. I think 4/5 is his future, but those spots are currently held down.

[JimR]

I really like this lineup. I guess when Kaz gets back he'll have the 2 hole all sewn up (to rerererehash that joke). I'm not crazy about Spaz hitting 6th, but he'll get his anywhere in the order. I just keep picturing him kicking Tejada or Lee in the ass trying for extra bases. Feel free to bash the clark.

oh yeah, right. neither one of them can or will go from first to third on a double Pence hits. the owner is cheap too, right?

[HudsonHawk]

I'm thinking he sees it as negatively impacing Pence's ability to get around the bases.  Probability wise, it's not likely to be a huge problem.  However, I can definitely see people screaming bloody murder when Pence is held up at second because one of the three guys in front of him (Berkman, Lee, or Tejada) can't go first to home on a well hit ball. 

I don't think that's really going to be a problem.  Tejada is no Willie Mays Hayes, but he's not a slug either.  I can't really envision a scenario where Pence will be held up because of Tejada's particular inability to advance a base.

[Rebel Jew]

Cooper said he's going to start managing like it's the regular season, here's the lineup he sent out tonight

Bourn, CF
Pence, RF
Berkman, 1B
Lee, LF   
Tejada, SS
Loretta, 2B
Wigginton, 3B
Ausmus, C

not bad.  should be fun this year.

[billemite]

oh yeah, right. neither one of them can or will go from first to third on a double Pence hits. the owner is cheap too, right?

ummm...no?

[Reuben]

Will they scream bloody murder when Pence fails to move Bourn off of first base? Look, like Coop said, Pence has attributes that fit into many spots in the line up, so it's an arguable position. I personaly think that Pence's highest value to this point in his Major League career, and the value most likely to continue, has been his power numbers. HH pointed out that it will be difficult for Pence to continue with the batting average he posted last year and if that in fact proves to be the case, then it doesn't bode well for his OBP either, because the boy doesn't take many pitches, so walks don't look to be part of his arsenal. I think 4/5 is his future, but those spots are currently held down.

All very good points.

[Duman]

Will they scream bloody murder when Pence fails to move Bourn off of first base? Look, like Coop said, Pence has attributes that fit into many spots in the line up, so it's an arguable position. I personaly think that Pence's highest value to this point in his Major League career, and the value most likely to continue, has been his power numbers. HH pointed out that it will be difficult for Pence to continue with the batting average he posted last year and if that in fact proves to be the case, then it doesn't bode well for his OBP either, because the boy doesn't take many pitches, so walks don't look to be part of his arsenal. I think 4/5 is his future, but those spots are currently held down.

As a purely antidotal sample of his power.  I went back and looked at his stats way back in Salem.  I like to see Salem as a barometer for power because the stadium has 20 foot high walls all around the outfield.  Guys hit a lot of doubles but not as many homers.  Pence hit 6 homers in his 151 at bats in his partial season in Salem.  That's 1 HR every 25 AB.  Only 3 guys have a better ratio since 1996 in Salem. 

Matt Holiday in 2001 hit 11 HR in 255 AB (1 HR every 23 AB) (Salem was the Rockies affiliate then)
Brad Hawpe in 2002 hit 22 HR in 450 AB (1 HR every 20 AB) (1st guy to hit 20 HR for a Salem team since 94)
*Lou Santangelo hit 18 HR in 360 AB (1 HR every 20 AB) in 2006. *Santangelo served a 50 game suspension for PED in 07.

That is some fine company. 

[Taras Bulba]

Much appreciated, Duman.