I guess I mean that normally your best offensive weapon is slotted 3, which use to be Berkman. So is he automatically best suited at 4 where Lee hit all year last year and did it well.
Have you read
Lineup Machinations 101 yet? Much of what you're asking has been discussed.
I'm basing that statement on Purpura's comments going into last seasons void. IIRC, didn't he say their priority was to aquire a power bat to protect Berkman?
Well, the outcome is whoever hits in front of Lee is protection, but he wasn't signed to specifically provide that outcome. No one is. In the year that Berkman had no one (Ensberg was a big flop) behind him, he had almost MVP numbers. What the Astros knew they needed was a middle of the lineup bat to take pressure off Everett and Ausmus having to drive those runs in because of the failure of Ensberg, Wilson and Lane in the 4, 5 and 6 hole.
Are you thinking that the 5 hole is not as important to driving in runs as the cleanup spot? Because if you are, you are wrong on that assumption. It is a *HUGE* need on a team to have a great run producer in the 5 hole. Not since the days of Kent and Alou before him have the Astros had that part of the lineup solidified. Those were the days of playoff contending teams too.
What you need to understand is that 3-4-5 are solved only if 1-2 perform up to expectations... basically, you can't drive in runs if guys ahead of you don't get on. If 1 through 5 do their job well, 6 becomes much more easier to handle for either Towles (a rookie) or Wiggington (my chalk pick for that spot). 7 and 8 are not in any pressure any more to have to pick up the ducks left behind by an inept 4-5-6 in the lineup. That would probably bode well for a team that is carrying a rookie catcher and a shortstop known more for his glove than his bat.
