The Rangers Lineup.....

by ACtheStud1980 on Apr 24, 2009 4:25 PM CDT Comment 12 comments

I think I would feel confident with the following lineup after seeing the lineup for 5 series:

1. Ian Kinsler
2. Elvis Andrus
3. Michael Young
4. Josh Hamilton
5. Nelson Cruz
6. Hank Blalock
7. Marlon Byrd
8. Chris Davis
9. Jason Saltalamacchia

I feel like Nelson Cruz is hitting right and left handed pitchers pretty well and Hank Blalock doesn't deserve to hit above him...plus he would give Hamilton more protection than Blalock. Also with this lineup, it would give other teams a difficult time with late inning left-lefty matchups.

I just want to hear some feedback...I have watched more than 75% of the games through MLB.TV so I just get sick to my stomach lately when we get to the bottom of the lineup and Andrus is hitting OK...plus if Kinsler gets on then you could sacrafice with Andrus and don't have to waste Young's At-Bats....at this point the best hitters on the team are as follows: 1) Kinsler, 2) Young, and 3) Cruz.

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Move Andrus back to 9th

and eveyone up a spot. That would be what I would go with. If facing a lefty just slide Jones into Blalock #6 spot.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Apr 24, 2009 4:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Young

I like Young hitting in the 3 spot…he looked good on Wednesday hitting in that spot. 3-5 with 2 doubles and solo home run….I know it is a small sample size but with Hamilton, Blalock, Davis, and Salty’s struggles I think he is a good option at that spot and puts alittle less pressure on Hamilton to hit in the 3 hole!!!!!!

by ACtheStud1980 on Apr 24, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he has been historically one of the worst 3 hole hitters in baseball.

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Apr 24, 2009 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

also wanted to hear some comments about the pitching

my rotation would be as follows:

1) Millwood
2) McCarthy
3) Padilla
4) Harrison….Holland if Matt can’t hold the spot down
5) Feldman/Mendoza

Bullpen:

Closer—Francisco
Set-Up—Jennings, C.J. Wilson
Situation Pitcher—-O’Day Mate,
Long Relief—-Benson, Mendoza (or Feldman), Holland (or Harrison)

Drop Pitchers: Every day Eddie

by ACtheStud1980 on Apr 24, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

crazy

by tyd3311 on Apr 24, 2009 4:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd replace

Blalock with Young.

4/10/09 - Josh Hamilton's last walk.

by DJCahill on Apr 24, 2009 4:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gah, did it again

I’d replace Blalock with Jones. I don’t see much reason to play Blalock over him.

4/10/09 - Josh Hamilton's last walk.

by DJCahill on Apr 24, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

elvis

mixed about him batting up that high.

his speed would be nice but he doesnt walk and it will probably put more pressure on him personally. leave him at 9, move everyone else up, and platoon blalock/jones

by kumizi on Apr 24, 2009 4:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

To be honest...

I wouldn’t mind seeing Andrus hit leadoff for a while. I don’t think he’s the best hitter on the team exactly, but putting him on base ahead of Kins, Young, Hammy, Cruz, etc. would make some sense to me. If he doesn’t have any success with it, stick him back in the #9 slot. That seems to have worked very well thus far.

"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin

by utlonghorn24 on Apr 24, 2009 5:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

You don’t want Andrus at leadoff. The leadoff man gets the most PAs, so you want your best player and a guy who gets on base well. I think it would be safe to say we already have that and then some with Kinsler.
Plus, Andrus is ahead of him at 9, so his speed is already ahead of alot of those guys.

by Lum on Apr 24, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A little to add on....

Kinsler isn’t exactly a slug on the basepaths either.

by Lum on Apr 24, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My odd Lineup, but i think it would be the most productive:

M Byrd
J Hamilton
Ian Kinsler
H Blalock
Nellie
Young
CD
Salty
Andrus

Couple reasons to do this…
#1: Get Hamilton into a different mindset. He is swinging at too many pitches because he thinks he has to. His OB% was high his Rookie year when he batted leadoff, he has a good eye, he just focuses too much on the RBI. Putting Kins behind him would encourage him to get on base while also giving him some awesome protection.
#2: Kinsler is one of the best hitters in the game, not just leadoff hitters. With the amount of doubles and extra base hits he gets, he need to be hitting with guys on base in front of him. I know his approach is awesome in the one spot, but id love to see what he could do in the 3 spot.
#3: The last two seasons Marlon Byrd has been one of our best on base guys, he’s not a power threat, but his on base skills would play perfectly at the top.
#4: This lineup breaks up Lefty/Righty really, really well.

I wouldnt be opposed to hitting Young in the five hole, or even the one hole, but i think he’s still right around our 5th best hitter

Chris (NJ): I am personally offended at how you ranked a prospect from my favorite team, even though I do not know said prospect, nor have I ever seen him play. In my opinion you only have your job because, like your employers, you have an unholy bias towards my favorite team’s rival. Also, you’re short.

Keith Law: You’re right. I am short.

by blalock84 on Apr 26, 2009 4:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs