Wouldn't he be better off hitting middle of the lineup? He only has 19 RBIs with his 8 HRs. Is there explanation as to why they're keeping him there?
I don't envy the manager who has to make out a lineup with Jose Altuve and 8 guys who should all be hitting 6-7th.
George had some good swings tonight. Who do you prefer leading off? Altuve? He's been bad lately and doesn't work the count.
Springer gets on base more and Altuve gets the hits. That seems to be their reasoning. Problem is Altuve hits singles and Gattis is like tto. Altuve also swings at every pitch which gives Springer little chance at stealing. I feel like they started off stealing a lot of bases successfully and now it seems hard for them. They should go back to Springer 2 and 3 Correa then Tucker or Gattis. We need to get a bigger sample on Tucker to see what hes made of.
Needs to be Altuve Springer Tucker Gattis Correa Figure out the rest later. You can't worry about the LH/RH splits anymore when you have trouble putting up runs in the first place. Pretty much Jed needs to come back ASAP.
Springer has played very well leading off. I wouldn't place much criticism on him for our recent woes. However, I do think we're better suited with Altuve taking his leadoff place back. Altuve needs to get his mojo back, and a trip to the leadoff spot is just what the doctor ordered. He put up historic numbers in the leadoff spot last year. Yes, he's in the midst of a recent funk, but this is the type of move that will regain his swagger. Realistically, I'm okay with Altuve in any slot, but what make him an elite lead off artist isn't just his ability to set up the meat of our order--its that we can rely on him so heavily to anchors the bottom of our order. Earlier in the season, we were lethal when the bottom of the order just got on. Altuve is our best situational hitter, better than Springer. That's no knock on Springer--he has gotten on at an amazing clip--but I like our chances better with Altuve at leadoff than Springer. Regardless, lets look at the big picture: we have the pieces for a terrific lineup for years to come. We just need to find the right order. Thats a beautiful problem to have. I was a fan of starting Correa slotted lower in the lineup to begin his career, but we may have to expedite that process. After being the only Astros hitter to not swing and miss against Sale, I think he's up for the task. Realistically, with Hinch and Luhnow, I doubt we ever get a set lineup. And maybe don't put Correa 3rd immediately, but I think this is easily one of the best lineups in baseball, not factoring a return of the Jed(i): 1. Altuve 2. Springer 3. Correa 4. Gattis 5. Tucker 6. Carter 7. Castro 8. Valbuena/Marwin 9. Marisnick
I think Correa should be in that 2 or 3 spot. Altuve Correa Springer Gattis Tucker Carter When Lowire comes back Altuve Lowrie Correa Springer Gattis Tucker Carter
The power is gonna pop up eventually for Springer, and I don't want him at the top when he does. Altuve is best suited to leadoff, particularly when slumping, because his style of hitting is extremely prone to double plays. Altuve Springer Correa Gattis After those 4 it really doesn't matter, everybody else is streaky and K heavy. You can change it depending on who's hitting the best, and matchups.
Altuve Lowrie Springer Gattis Correa Tucker Carter I think you need to sandwhich Gattis with your two bes not named Altuve.
I am ambivalent on Springer batting lead-off. The following are a bunch of ramblings that I would consider: 1. Springer is likely the best leadoff hitter long term not named Correa. 2. Astros have plenty of pop in lineup. 3. Altuve gets on base a lot too, which suggests lead-off. 4. Altuve makes a ton of contact which suggests he bats after guys are on even with the double play possibilities. 5. Springer, Correa, and Gattis are likely be the best hitters going forward long term. I want to get these guys as many ABs as possible suggesting these guys should bat in top 4 some order. 6. I would want a left handed hitter in top 4. 7. Altuve batting out of top 4 appears to be madness. 8. Altuve would likely drive in more runs with a man on third and two outs than anyone else on team. 9. Do the Astros have a LH bat worthy of batting in top 4? 10. What to do with Lowrie when he comes back? 11. Springer is likely the best 2nd hitter long term not named Correa. 12. Correa likely bats 3rd long term.
He's ideally designed to hit 2 or 3 - but right now, his OB% is .350; he's far and away the best option. The Astros have a fairly terrible line-up. Lowrie and Correa might eventually provide a little stability this year (along with Springer) - but this is a bridge group that Hinch is going to have to constantly move around to find what works best on a day-to-day basis. I'd be shocked if most of these guys are here in 2 years. Correa and Springer for sure; jury is still out on Altuve, IMO. I would bet $1,000,000,000,000 Lunhow went to bed Monday night dreaming of a 2016 infield of Correa-Bregman-Altuve-Singleton. (Or 3B-Correa-Bregman-Singleton)
