New Batting Order

[tmtrk]

Brian Dozier has 8 solo HRs. I would like to see a new batting order with Sam Fuld leading off. So the new batting order should be Fuld, Mauer, Plouffe, Dozier, Colabello, Kubal, Pinto, Suzuki, etc

[Beezer07]

I'm not so sure putting an offensive black hole at the top of the lineup is worth the small advantage gained by putting Dozier 4th.

[Twins Twerp]

I remember a gleeman and the geek episode last year where both guys killed gardy for batting dozier in 2 hole because of bad he was...then 2 hours about how awesome and drunk one of them gets...last time i listened actually.

 

as far as dozier in the 4 spot...i dont like. He is probably a 2 hitter but fuld is no leadoff man. Buxton will take over next may and it will be a pretty good 1, 2, 3 top of the order (with sano to come).

[oldguy10]

And Vargas too, the ultimate Big Papi clone! Buxton, Sano, Vargas, the ultimate new age murderers' row. Look it up if you do not get who I mean by that.

[ashbury]

There's no guarantee Dozier sees the same pitches further down in the lineup, and his HR rate could easily go down.

[blindeke]

Nah, they should move Dozier down. You shouldn't have the team leader in HRs hitting first. That's a no brainer.

[SwainZag]

Dozier also leads the team in walks by a wide margin. While I'm not one of those thinkers who thinks you need speed at the top of the lineup, having someone that gets on base is a must for me. If he can keep the OBP up, I don't see why we can't stay leading off for now.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Good hitters need more appearances. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

All of Dozier's homers are solo. There are guys hitting directly in front of him (Hicks, Herrmann, Florimon) who are having trouble keeping up with what an NL Pitcher could hit there. The power is kind of missing from guys like Plouffe (who I'm concerned about again). So I think moving Dozier is a good discussion to start having.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Good hitters need more appearances. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

 

On the other hand, this too.

 

But it's worth discussing!

[zakprior]

Having Fuld to lead off is not a great idea. Just don't see the same production continuing. Ideal situation is this line up with a resurgent Hicks at the top of the line up upon his return. Maybe, just maybe and I mean maybe if Suzuki continues to hit as he has, he could head to the top of the line up? Ultimately with an OBP around .350 Dozier remains an excellent lead off guy, his ability to hit a HR just allows us to get going quickly. Maybe an Ian Kinsler types from his time in Texas.

[Thegrin]

Keep Dozier where he is until someone proves he can maintain a high on base average. I agree with the poster who says that the real problem is Hicks and Florimon aren't getting on base.

[Hawkeye12]

I'd keep Dozier right where he is, especially if he's drawing walks and stealing bases (tied for league lead!). This year and in the past though, when he's had the chance with guys on base, he seems to strike out at a higher than normal rate. I like to call him a K-RISPy hitter, which we seem to have several of on this team during the past week. Maybe it's the pitcher being in the stretch, maybe it's distraction from base runners, maybe it's just putting too much pressure on himself, but something changes for him when he has a chance to drive someone else in. Only having one double so far might be a result of that as well. Maybe he's trying to hit it out of the park because he's heard all about nothing but solo homers? But he's scoring runs, stealing bases, and playing Gold Glove defense, and they are winning games so I wouldn't rock the boat with him right now.

[DuluthFan]

Dozier is batting well at leadoff. Why change something that is working? For that matter the offense is one of the league leaders in run scoring. Why would you consider sabotaging the top of the line up with a weak hitting back up center fielder? If you want to improve this line up, provide a workable solution to the bottom of the order. And by workable, I mean using players already on the roster or in the Twins system, not using players on another team.

[ashbury]

There are guys hitting directly in front of him (Hicks, Herrmann, Florimon) who are having trouble keeping up with what an NL Pitcher could hit there.

 

Drop Dozier to 7th in the lineup, put Mauer 8th, Plouffe 9th. Problem solved.

[Siehbiscuit]

Dozier's ability to get on base and then run the bases is the reason he is in the 1 spot. Just because he is doing his job REALLY well doesn't mean we need to move him. His HR's are a bonus. Plouffe is hitting a ton of doubles, but if he, Colabello, Kubel and/or Pinto were hitting 6-8 HR's each we wouldn't be concerned about moving Dozier. We should have higher expectations for our 3-5 hitters.

[LaBombo]

I remember a gleeman and the geek episode last year where both guys killed gardy for batting dozier in 2 hole because of bad he was...then 2 hours about how awesome and drunk one of them gets...last time i listened actually.

I... what?

 

Agree about Fuld not being a leadoff guy.

[nicksaviking]

I think the biggest reason this year's lineup is scoring and the past couple years they were not is because they have a guy getting on base in the leadoff spot. Dozeir needs to stay where he is until another adaquate option develops.

 

I also don't like that his power is being wasted as no one is getting on base, but perhaps Eduardo Escobar batting 9th will help change that. If it doesn't, I'd be more in favor of batting Suzuki and/or Pinto at the bottom of the order to get on base for Dozier. Having a hole in the 7th spot would be better than at leadoff.

[Brandon]

Let's see here. Dozier has 1 double, bunch of walks, 11 stolen bass and 8 HR. having a few more HR and fewer doubles isn't going to drive in that many more runs compared to say Colabello. He sets the table so other hitters can get a good look at the starting pitcher. You can see he has a high pitch per plate appearance. He leads the league in runs scored,which means everyone is doing there job behind him. Why mess with that?

[howeda7]

As long as Escobar is swinging this way (and if Gardy will actually play him) I'd put him up there and at least drop Dozier to 2 (or 3 if you leave Mauer 2nd). In general, I'd put whoever is swinging better between Escobar/Fuld up there. I know Gardy would never go for that though. The 1st 4 spots in the order must be the same 4 people or their substitute.

[Paul Pleiss]

I'm not completely adverse to moving Fuld to the top of the order, he's getting on base over 30% this season and has looked good since joining the Twins, but in 2012 he posted a .270 OBP and his career OBP is only .313. Ideally Fuld is not the everyday CF for this team, but with Hicks still looking lost (and battling a concussion), I've got to stop living in a ideal world. With Mauer out moving Fuld to the 2 spot is a good place.

 

My main argument against Fuld at leadoff is Brian Dozier. There's no reason to move him from the leadoff spot. He's getting on base at a great clip, he's stealing bases, he's doing everything you want him to be doing as a lead off hitter. I'm not sure he'll sustain this HR rate. And using the "team leading HR hitter" argument is more an admonishment of the rest of this lineup than a reason to move Doizer. Having a leadoff hitter who hits 20+ HR isn't a bad thing. They're not all going to come as leadoff HRs. You want your best hitters getting the most at bats, and the leadoff guy gets the most at bats. Let Dozier keep putting in his work at the top of the lineup.