I had a friendly argument, with a Sox fan I respect very much, about whether Iguchi or Rowand should be batting 2 in the line up right now. Basically he wants Rowand at 2 because he thinks Aaron is a more accomplished hitter, and better hitters higher in the order = more runs. Says Iguchi may someday become accomplished but he would drop him low in the order until he adjusts to the bigs from Japan.

 

My argument, and this is what I want to hear your comments on, is that the two spot lets Tadahito help the team even while he is adjusting. I think making contact to the right side of the infield and getting down bunts takes less knowledge of the opposing pitchers than say the 7th hole.

 

He thought I was crazy, I thought I was right. The two are not mutually exclusive but I’ve been thinking about it all day and wanted to bounce if off of y’all.

Personally I prefer Aaron down lower in the order. First of all I like Iguchis ability to bunt, and secondly I like the balance that Row gives to the bottom of the order.

I'd bat Rowand 3rd. He's to good to be that far down in the lineup and with that kind of pop he'd be a real good 3 hole hitter.

I'd be tempted to have Aaron in the front of the lineup, but I also see the point in having Guchi up their. I'm a huge Rowand backer though and I think he'd be a tremendous 2 or 3 hitter.

i like there lineup now IMO. other then crede but theres not much u can do there.

 

its very balanced. theres 2 fast guys pod - gooch starting off. then some hitters then some fast guys.

I was happy to see Gooch hit a double today. Pods has also looked bad at the plate after two games but it's too early to consider making a change.

 

Aaron could bat third but the idea is to mix Everett in with all the righties there. I like Aaron because it seems like he hits well no matter where you bat him.

Pods looked bad?

From what I heard he hit it hard 3 times.

I don't think Rowand commands the zone as well as Iguchi does...

 

Rowand's a great hitter, but he's a swing and miss guy. That's not the type of player Ozzie wants in that spot.

 

If we had a different manager, I'd be more inclined to have Rowand in the 2 spot, but Ozzies probably going to do a lot of hit0and-running and stealing with Iggy in the box.

Podsednik had three hard hit balls today, unfortunately only one fell for a hit, but he hit the ball much better today. On the screws several times.

 

Iguchi also looked good today. He had that double, plus he had a walk and a stolen base. Getting on 50 percent of the time will get it done. Iguchi might not have looked great because the guys behind him (Carl and Paul) didn't bring him in when he got on base and in scoring position.

I don't think Rowand commands the zone as well as Iguchi does...

 

Rowand's a great hitter, but he's a swing and miss guy.  That's not the type of player Ozzie wants in that spot.

 

If we had a different manager, I'd be more inclined to have Rowand in the 2 spot, but Ozzies probably going to do a lot of hit0and-running and stealing with Iggy in the box.

Thats the one reason I think Guchi fits better in the 2 hole as of now. Guchi is going to be sucessful, but If Everett struggled I could see him and Rowand swapping in the lineup.

 

On an unrelated note, Pods hit the ball hard today.

Pods looked bad?

From what I heard he hit it hard 3 times.

Yea, he put good wood on it today. I was there and he smoked 3 balls, unfortunately only 1 was for a hit, but I will take that kind of contact ANY day of the week. Those balls are going to find the holes and the gaps eventually. As far as Iguchi goes, his double was a nice flash of what I hope are good things to come but he still looks really timid at the plate and frankly his swing and timing just lookg very sloppy right now. I do also feel Aaron would thrive in the 2 spot, HOWEVER I don't think Iguchi is suited for a bottom of the order spot so things are fine the way they are. Aaron will put up good numbers where he is at and this way it is much more balanced.

I feel sending Iguchi in with a mission to accomplish will let him help the team at the same time he's seeing all these pitchers for the first time.

ou would use Rowand more effectively down in the order because he's no adept at going to the right side or bunting as much as he is at just ripping it. GOoch, and Japanese players in general follow this, seems fundamentally sound and can do many things withthe bat

Ok, I only saw one of Pods' ABs so I didn't realize he was making good contact. Hopefully he's seeing the ball better. My advice to him is to wear less eye black.

I guess I started the year wanting Rowand to bat in the 2nd spot. I think it's too early to tell who should bat where, but right now we've gotten wins with this lineup, why change it.

One of the main reasons I wanted the sox to sign Iguchi was to have the ability to move aaron down in the order. I personally love the depth and balance of that order right now, I mean aaron in the 6 hole, aj in the 7 spot and juan in the 9 spot, I mean this team has the ability to score runs from any point of the lineup. Almost everyone looked good at the plate today I think this slump might have really been for a game and 8 innings and you'll see the offense come out with a much stronger day tomorrow.

One of the main reasons I wanted the sox to sign Iguchi was to have the ability to move aaron down in the order.  I personally love the depth and balance of that order right now, I mean aaron in the 6 hole, aj in the 7 spot and juan in the 9 spot, I mean this team has the ability to score runs from any point of the lineup.  Almost everyone looked good at the plate today I think this slump might have really been for a game and 8 innings and you'll see the offense come out with a much stronger day tomorrow.

 

 

I couldn't agree with this post more.

Having a hitter of Rowand's abilities hitting in the 6 spot is awesome. I like this line up just the way it is right now.

I don't think Rowand commands the zone as well as Iguchi does...

 

Rowand's a great hitter, but he's a swing and miss guy.  That's not the type of player Ozzie wants in that spot.

 

If we had a different manager, I'd be more inclined to have Rowand in the 2 spot, but Ozzies probably going to do a lot of hit0and-running and stealing with Iggy in the box.

 

Good points. ARow would hit 2nd for teams like Boston, Oak or Toronto, who don't play small ball at all.