Making the lineup:

Jackson

Eaton

Abreu

Frazier

Cabrera

Garcia

Lawrie

Rollins///Navarro

Avila///Rollins

 

Why? Well, I think Jackson has looked great so far, especially today in the leadoff spot. He has a great approach, and if today's game was played under normal weather conditions, Jackson would easily have 2-3 home runs. Moving Eaton to second gives us a .290-.300 hitter with a high OBP and some decent pop (14 HRs in 2015) in the #2 spot. They both get on base well, which would provide for more RBI opportunities for Abreu/Frazier, in theory. I'm willing to bet that Jackson finishes 2016 with a higher OBP than Rollins, so Rollins in the 2 spot makes the 1-2 collective OBP worse than what it would be with Jackson batting there, and moving Rollins down could end up being beneficial in its own way. Bottom line, it would give Abreu and Frazier more RBI opportunities.

 

Thoughts?

Eaton is a legit leadoff stud. He should always hit 1.

Making the lineup:

Jackson

Eaton

Abreu

Frazier

Cabrera

Garcia

Lawrie

Rollins///Navarro

Avila///Rollins

 

Why? Well, I think Jackson has looked great so far, especially today in the leadoff spot. He has a great approach, and if today's game was played under normal weather conditions, Jackson would easily have 2-3 home runs. Moving Eaton to second gives us a .290-.300 hitter with a high OBP and some decent pop (14 HRs in 2015) in the #2 spot. They both get on base well, which would provide for more RBI opportunities for Abreu/Frazier, in theory. I'm willing to bet that Jackson finishes 2016 with a higher OBP than Rollins, so Rollins in the 2 spot makes the 1-2 collective OBP worse than what it would be with Jackson batting there, and moving Rollins down could end up being beneficial in its own way. Bottom line, it would give Abreu and Frazier more RBI opportunities.

 

Thoughts?

 

With how poor some of Rollins' at bats are, I would agree with this. Eaton is one of our best hitters, hitting him second is hugely beneficial. Jackson's approach this year has been great. Very patient, gets the pitcher into deep counts. He looks like he has some issues catching up to good movement and velocity though.

 

I love Eaton leading off but I want to see Jackson lead off and Eaton in the 2 spot.

Eaton is a legit leadoff stud. He should always hit 1.

Agree. I'm all for moving up Jackson to the two-hole, but I see no reason to touch Eaton.

I like Jackson as a player but his bat is going to cool down soon enough. I have no idea what to do with the 2 hole but I'm not moving Eaton out of the 1 spot.

Eaton has a higher OBP over the last five seasons, so I would leave him where he is. I would put Jackson 2 for sure.

EAton bats leadoff.

Perhaps move Jackson to #2.

I doubt Rollins stays there long. Well, I doubt he should stay there long anyway.

I like Jackson as a player but his bat is going to cool down soon enough. I have no idea what to do with the 2 hole but I'm not moving Eaton out of the 1 spot.

 

exactly the reason of playing the hot hand. as of right now, the team is going soooo good, why chg. the chg today was a necessary move, failing that, i can see and keep talking up, the leadoff hitter is essential, one who gets on base is needed b/c he sets up the whole team for that game.

 

the logical choice is to find an equally potent bat at #2 before the heart of the sox lineup can reap the hard work.

I like Jackson as a player but his bat is going to cool down soon enough. I have no idea what to do with the 2 hole but I'm not moving Eaton out of the 1 spot.

 

1 Eaton

2 Abreu

3 Frazier

 

That's what it should be. Get your three best hitters hitting 1-3.

1 Eaton

2 Abreu

3 Frazier

 

That's what it should be. Get your three best hitters hitting 1-3.

That would do nothing for Abreu. That means your 8 and 9 hitter set the table for Abreu. That doesn't make sense. He'll bat with the bases empty frequently.

Edited April 9, 20169 yr by AustinIllini

Eaton is a legit leadoff stud. He should always hit 1.

 

There is zero reason for Eaton to bat anywhere but leadoff in this line up.

1 Eaton

2 Abreu

3 Frazier

 

That's what it should be. Get your three best hitters hitting 1-3.

 

last yr, i can see JA batting 2nd. but this yr, no way. i can see him batting #3 or even #4 .... maybe #4 is not an option.

 

ref to the batting order, the player batting #2, this yr the sox really have options that can help at #2. ajax, rollins, melky - if needed, hell lawrie if really needed.

Edited April 10, 20169 yr by LDF

If I had my way with the lineup, I'd make it:

 

Eaton

Jackson

Abreu

Frazier

Cabrera

Lawrie

Garcia

Avila/Navarro

Rollins

At the very least, can we agree that Jackson should be moved up/Rollins should be moved down?

At the very least, can we agree that Jackson should be moved up/Rollins should be moved down?

 

why ????

 

it is only 1 wk into the season. it is like me who wants another quality sp.

Edited April 10, 20169 yr by LDF

why ????

 

it is only 1 wk into the season. it is like me who wants another quality sp.

 

If the sox are contending for a playoff spot at the end of the year, Jackson is hitting 9th

If the sox are contending for a playoff spot at the end of the year, Jackson is hitting 9th

 

and with your pov, i will not dispute the logic. but between now and the end of the yr, the sox will go thru some changes. nothing is written in stone.

Eaton should hit first. Jackson's OBP hasn't been great the last few years.

 

I think the lineup is right at the moment. If the Sox end up adding a lefty power hitter, then Melky can move into the 2 hole.

So Adam Eaton, the current lead off guy is hitting .450 with a .500 OBP. The team is 4-2.

 

Why do the Sox need a new lead off hitter?

Jackson has been pretty bad offensively for the better part of 1 1/2 seasons.

 

 

You have to leave your best OBP guy in Eaton at 1 (where he's most comfortable, despite his base running issues) and then see how things go with Rollins/Saladino and Jackson for the first six weeks. If Jackson's showing signs of his former self, then you move him up to #2, but Jackson is also a guy who strikes out 125 or so times even at his best, so he's not ideal for the #2 spot because of the contact (or lack thereof) issue.

 

Therein lies the conundrum. Normally you want your most professional situational hitter who makes contact and can work pitchers in that spot.

 

The best options are Cabrera (when he's hot), Rollins and Jackson, but all three of them have flaws. Lawrie could also be in that spot as well, but has many of the same contact issues as Jackson.

Edited April 10, 20169 yr by caulfield12

If the sox are contending for a playoff spot at the end of the year, Jackson is hitting 9th

 

 

The Tigers did just fine from 2011-14 not hitting him 9th. If he hasn't changed from his form of the last 1 1/2 seasons, sure, but then he's probably not an everyday player if that's the best we're going to get out of him.

If the sox are contending for a playoff spot at the end of the year, Jackson is hitting 9th

If the Sox are contending for a playoff spot at the end of the year, Rollins is not hitting 2nd

 

There doesn't seem to be a winning formula in lineups. A manager who tries to "ride the hot bat" and freely makes adjustments is accused of making players uncomfortable, the players don't know their roll from day to day, etc. A manager who dogmatically keeps the same line up each day gets blasted for leaving a guy in who isn't performing. Not taking advantage of hot hitters . . .

There doesn't seem to be a winning formula in lineups. A manager who tries to "ride the hot bat" and freely makes adjustments is accused of making players uncomfortable, the players don't know their roll from day to day, etc. A manager who dogmatically keeps the same line up each day gets blasted for leaving a guy in who isn't performing. Not taking advantage of hot hitters . . .

This isn't about going to the hot hand. I'm willing to bet that Jackson finishes the season with a higher OBP than Rollins, which is why I want them switched/moved (I put Eaton second originally because he has more power than Jackson but that wasn't a well-liked idea).