According to The Book on optimizing lineup construction, it is ideal to bat your fastest player at 6 in the lineup. This gives that player the most opportunities to utilize their speed in a way that maximizes run scoring. 

 

Taking extra bases, whether stealing or on a ball in play, has more value with guys at the plate with a lower OPS than guys with a higher OPS. This makes intuitive sense as you don't want guys making outs on the bases when you have run producers coming up.

 

That risk carries a higher reward with lower OPS batters, particularly high average/low OPS batters. Staying out of the double play and putting yourself into a position to score on singles has a ton of value when the lower third of your lineup is coming to the plate.

 

So, in my perfect world, that's where he'd bat in the order, the 6 hole. In that world of mine, Astudillo bats 7th and then the worst batter in the day's lineup (Adrianza, Gonzo, Cave or Cron right now) bats 9th.

 

The 5 spot would be advantageous as well. I would not bat him higher than that though. Not unless he can get on base at a high rate than .340.

Somehow Baldelli has got this offence rolling, and it should even be better when he can get Gonzales out of the lineup. I'd leave everything as is, as it's putting up some unexpected numbers.

No one is forcing him to put Gonzales in the lineup now.

No one is forcing him to put Gonzales in the lineup now.

Not forcing him, no. But Sano coming back should move Gonzalez back to the utility role he was signed for.

 

I'd guess that either they don't view Astudillo's bat as sustainable, or they really don't like his 3B defense, as he's really the only other option before Sano gets back.

I doubt that. Falvine signed Gonsalves as his super utility player to have Rocco sit him and play his 3rd? string catcher ahead of him this early in the season. Not that I would object, but don't think for a minute that Rocco is in total command of the lineup. That form of front office/dugout collaboration seems to be becoming more prevelant as baseball "evolves".

Edited April 24, 20197 yr by Platoon