Tommorow nights lineup.

[thrill]

Let's just root for the fat SOB and move on to something else.

From now on if any Yadier Molina thread gets so out of hand that we have to lock it, I am posting this on to the end of it. That's great.

[Ace]

Not sure why everyone's calling for Yadi to be dropped in the lineup. Ever since Jose Oquendo helped him with his stance in the playoffs, all he's done is hit.

We all know what he did in the playoffs, he hit over .400 in Spring Training and is off to a good start after going 2-for-4 yesterday.

Don't get me wrong, I doubt he'll be winning any Silver Sluggers but maybe, just maybe, this 24 year old can progress at the plate to a point where he'll be perfect in the 5 or 6 spot.

Maybe he'll progress where he'll be perfect in the 5 or 6 spot??

Where am I? Maybe I should head over to CT for sane baseball discussion.

Do you honestly think Yadi batting 5th vs 6th, 7th, or 8th makes any major difference? I certainly don't. Most number crunching on the subject shows it really doesn't effect the offense that much... even over the course of a year.

The fact that Tags and Wilson will be seeing a major about of playing time this year is what we should be concerned about.

Do I honestly think where he bats in the lineup would make a major difference??? No.

But thats a COMPLETELY different subject. IMO

The fact is it does make SOME difference and Yadi is not the guy you want at #5.

Why? If lineup order makes only a negligible difference in runs scored over the course of a year, why should anyone really care if Yadi is batting a couple of spots before his "realistic" place in the order? Out of principal?

Any difference in runs scored is not "negligible".

[Ace]

How so? My previous statement made note that he's young and still has room to grow as a hitter, possibly even enough to make him a perfect 5 or 6 hitter.

He still continues to hit ever since he's made the adjustments that led to his postseason success which has carried over through Spring Training.

My point remains the same.

Ok, well if thats still your point I RESPECTFULLY disagree with you.

I don't think it is possible for Yadier Molina to become a "perfect" 5 or 6 hitter. (As awesome as that would be)

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Maybe the 'magic dust' from the playoffs just hasn't worn off yet.

Maybe I just desire too much from players developed in our system.

[Ace]

Maybe the 'magic dust' from the playoffs just hasn't worn off yet.

Maybe I just desire too much from players developed in our system.

They can't all be Albert Pujolses.

[maddash]

Any difference in runs scored is not "negligible".

I don't want to turn this thread into something about batting order theory, but just about every batting order simulation out there has shown that the difference in your very BEST order and your very WORST is about 30 runs, or 3 wins. Nothing to scoff at, but that's just the difference in best to worst - moving Yadi up a spot or two isn't going to even come close to a one win difference over the course of the year. And from the numbers I've seen, batting Yadi 5th versus 7th is going to give him a whopping 40 extra Plate Appearances a year.

I would call an extra 40 PA a year (or one every 4th game) for Yadi a negligible difference.

Yadi batting 5th only sounds strange, there's no real damage to the offense though. It's a big to-do about nothing.

[Ace]

Any difference in runs scored is not "negligible".

I don't want to turn this thread into something about batting order theory, but just about every batting order simulation out there has shown that the difference in your very BEST order and your very WORST is about 30 runs, or 3 wins. Nothing to scoff at, but that's just the difference in best to worst - moving Yadi up a spot or two isn't going to even come close to a one win difference over the course of the year. And from the numbers I've seen, batting Yadi 5th versus 7th is going to give him a whopping 40 extra Plate Appearances a year.

I would call an extra 40 PA a year (or one every 4th game) for Yadi a negligible difference.

Yadi batting 5th only sounds strange, there's no real damage to the offense though. It's a big to-do about nothing.

So why do I hear that we need to protect Pujols with our next best hitter behind him so much if it is only going to make a negligible difference?????????

[Richie Allen]

"I just watched all spring, and right now, he's having as good at-bats as anybody," manager Tony La Russa said. "I think there's an excellent chance that's where he'll hit [Sunday], too."

"Filling out the lineup card isn't what it used to be. Why would Tony La Russa use 146 variations--and bat the pitcher eighth? Free agency and expansion are two reasons. Trying to keep everyone happy is another."

Anyone that's penciling Yadi into the 5th spot for the balance of the season is nuts.

[Ace]

"I just watched all spring, and right now, he's having as good at-bats as anybody," manager Tony La Russa said. "I think there's an excellent chance that's where he'll hit [Sunday], too."

"Filling out the lineup card isn't what it used to be. Why would Tony La Russa use 146 variations--and bat the pitcher eighth? Free agency and expansion are two reasons. Trying to keep everyone happy is another."

Anyone that's penciling Yadi into the 5th spot for the balance of the season is nuts.

I think the only two spots in the order we can pencil in for the rest of the season with this team and as LaRussa as manager is the number one and three spot.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

What year(s) was it that Tony had the pitcher batting 8th on several occasions?