One game into the spring training season, I’ve already seen some lineup complaints. This, it seems, is what Bryan Price intends to send out most days:
1. Billy Hamilton
2. Brandon Phillips
3. Joey Votto
4. Jay Bruce
5. Ryan Ludwick
6. Todd Frazier
7. Devin Mesoraco
8. Zack Cozart
9. Pitcher
Certainly, some players will slide around. Hamilton needs to prove himself. Yada yada yada.
Do I think this is ideal? No. Here’s the lineup I’d use if I were in charge:
1. Brandon Phillips
2. Joey Votto
3. Todd Frazier
4. Jay Bruce
5. Ryan Ludwick
6. Devin Mesoraco
7. Zack Cozart
8. Pitcher
9. Billy Hamilton
All that lineup does is acknowledge the studies saying the most important spots are 2nd and 4th. And then it goes in roughly descending order of OBP with Hamilton as an extra leadoff hitter at the end of the lineup.
But here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter. The difference between what I think is ideal and what will be used is so small it’s almost entirely meaningless.
What I really care about? Price doesn’t seem inclined to bunt all the time. He doesn’t seem to want to hit Cozart second. He seems rational, especially given that he does have egos to manage and I’m just somebody assuming players don’t care where they hit.
So yeah, you won’t hear me complaining about the lineup this year. It’s not worth it.