Considering how valued walk rates are I think patience is key. Especially on first pitch breaking balls in Valbuena's case.
If you had told me last September that out of Marisnick and Springer, that Jake Marisnick would look like an infinitely better pro hitter than Springer (I'm not even talking results, I'm talking general know-how, approach and skill)...you probably would have won some money off me.
OK, how about if I say that his skillset and ability is not conducive to him hitting 2nd or 3rd? How about 5/6?
You know there's a shift in expectations when you're miffed that the Astros didn't sweep someone and had to settle for a measly series win.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> have officially activated RHP Josh Fields from the DL and have optioned IF Jonathan Villar to Triple A Fresno.</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/591103189929209856">April 23, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I guess this could be open to interpretation.. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Home plate umpire Lance Barrett is from Fort Worth.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/591085519527874560">April 23, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That was rough watching that pop out and ground out on back to back pitches. I'll take the series win though, it happens. How about Jake Marisnick..nice having him in the 9 hole but he may force his way up in the order before too long.
Um okay. #3 hitter is typically someone who hits for consistent power or high average. Springer is neither of those (up to this point in his career). Here are examples of #3 hitters...its the likes of Puig, Abreu, Holliday, Stanton, McCutchen, etc... Not sure what you're loling at, but you dont throw players who have hit like Springer into the 3 spot. In other words, find me a #3 hitter that has a career 0.220 average. Hint: You wont find many.
Soooooo... if I'm reading this as clearly as my state of sobriety is allowing me to, you are telling me that batting average is the only criteria to determine where a hitter bats in the lineup.
Did I say it's the only criteria? Batting average is most definitely a very important factor in determining who you put in the 3 hole. To think otherwise would be ignoring baseball history/strategy. The two most important factors should be batting average or power. Which does Springer have? Again, look around the league and see how many #3 hitters there are that have hit as poorly as Springer over their careers, in terms of batting average. Makes it easy to just compare one statistic (although, it's a very, very, very important statistic). There is a reason why you dont find many that hit near the mendoza line. You dont put those guys in the heart of the lineup because you end up missing out on plenty of scoring opportunities. Until Springer develops that bat, he shouldnt be batting at that spot.
Well, rez, the Stros problem is that they've got a great #2 hitter batting leadoff and 8 5/6/7 hitters filling out the lineup.
That's true...however, I would think that some tinkering of the lineup, at this point, would allow us more opportunities to put some runs on the board. Our pitching staff has been excellent and our lineup is really holding back this team. Just give me this lineup for one night and see how it plays out... Altuve Marisnick Lowrie Valbuena Rasmus Gattis Springer Carter Castro
This! In Springer's defense, he has the most potential to be a 3 hitter of anyone in the lineup. He certainly displayed that for half the season last year.
"Where" a player bats in the lineup really only matters for the first inning or so. At that point, its who you want getting the most AB's or who you want batting in front of a certain player to "protect" them. Believe it or not, Marisnick being in the #9 spot has been infinitely valuable in turning this lineup over and avoiding a long string of "easy" outs, as he's had a good start to the season. However, its important not to overreact by these first 2-3 weeks of small sample results and over-tinker the lineup. Water eventually finds its level... hitters eventually live up to their track records. Springer's track record is that while he may not hit for average, he'll get on base, hit for power, steal bases, and drive in runs. He should be getting as many AB's as this lineup allows for. Lineup construction should be a "fluid" thing. There is no such thing as a "prototypical #2 or #3 hitter" (and hopefully the front office's metrics can further hash that out)... but if you have a bunch of good hitters, it makes more sense to put the ones who get on base in front of the ones who have power to drive them in.
And Rodney walks how many people exactly? Valbuena swung at a strike... Springer swung at a strike. In both cases, the runner was put in motion. If they'd have gotten hits, people would be "praising" the aggressive approach of going after an elite closer early in the count, rather than flailing with 2 strikes at his changeup.
How so? Go through every team, every lineup, and find me 0.220 hitters at the front end of the lineup...while 0.280+ hitters hit at the bottom of the lineup. There is a reason for that. You want your best hitters to get the most at-bats.
